Interview & Intake: Your therapist will review your chart and ask you about any special conditions or issues you may have prior to each session. You will be asked to complete a comprehensive intake form on your first visit, including a review of surgeries, major illnesses, accidents, and any contraindications for treatment. We also look at a short, general subjective quality-of-life survey.

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Treatment Documentation: Pre- and post-treatment photographs are recorded for each session, documenting compensation patterns and the progress of your structural integration treatment program. The photographs are a critical component of the treatment planning process, as well as a documentation of of your progress, something you can view each session. It is not uncommon for new clients to feel uncomfortable about having their photographs taken, however, they are often very surprised to see their body for the first time in four views. It is revealing and educational. Even the most shy about their photos, often come to enjoy viewing their progress and appreciate the value as their treatment program progresses. All photos are strictly confidential and only used within the clinic, unless otherwise released by the client for educational purposes.

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Objective Measurements: Specific myofascial length tests (MFLT) will be performed to provide objective measurements of your progress, both before and after treatment. This evaluation step provides more detailed information about myofascial restrictions in specific areas of your body. Your therapist will explain how these restrictions create compensation patterns and how they affect daily activities in your normal life, exercise, and sports.

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Evaluation, Analysis & Client Education:Your therapist will go through each of your photos with you and explain what types of compensation patterns are present in your fascial structure. The results of the myofascial length tests will be explained and how they confirm and objectively measure aspects of your compensation patterns.

One of the most valued parts of the treatment program for clients is the education they get about their body and how it functions (or the "why" behind the dysfunction). Our clients become empowered to participate in their own healing. The pain or dysfunction they have experienced ceases to be a "black box" generating fear or frustration. With understanding and education, they begin to engage in the treatment process and become partners with their therapist.

At a deeper level, the body itself incorporates the consciousness of new information and moves toward function and healing. Research has shown that the quality and level of pain experience by patients is directly influenced by their belief system about their condition, often exacerbated by fear or frustration from lack of knowledge about their condition or mode of healing.

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Education - Computer Graphics: Your therapist may show you computer graphics to provide educational information about your condition or treatment, such as anatomy views, session photographs, or functional anatomy models. While your therapist is working with you on the treatment table, she or he may show you images of the muscles, ligaments, or fascia that are being manually treated.

Often our clients comment how valuable this educational tool is for them, helping them to understand what is happening to them as we treat them. Most important, the client begins to both see and feel how interconnected their body is and why dysfunction result from seemingly distant, unrelated parts of their body.

A typical response from a client goes something like this:
"I know I hurt 'there', but in never understood why. Now I do. It makes sense now. I wasn't imagining something".

Validation and removing the mystery behind pain and dysfunction goes a long way toward healing.

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Treatment & Structural Integration: Treatment is performed on a massage table, using manual myofascial release and other integration techniques, as well as movement therapy. Clients are encouraged to actively participate in the treatment sessions and are draped during treatment

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Client Movement & Postural Reeducation: Movement education is an important component of the treatment process. Habitual movement patterns often accompany dysfunctional compensation patterns. Your manual therapy treatment program works on your fascia and neuromuscular system to release dysfunctional patterns and restore the natural, intrinsic functional organization. Movement education helps "link up", connect, and integrate all the changes that occur from the treatment and allow your body to move in a more efficient, less painful manner.

Movement education taps into the wisdom of your body and brings that wisdom back into consciousness, often lost due to injury, trauma, or habitual posture or emotional holding patterns.

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Brochures and Educational Handouts: We have educational handouts, personal diary forms, brochures, and other information available to our clients to help them participate in their treatment program. We also have other associates in health services whom we refer clients.

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Library & Reception: Clients are welcome to peruse our library of books available in your reception area, view videos, and look at our binder of recommended books.

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