Instructor: Beth Villante, RN, LMT, BSN, with Sasha Silverman LCP
Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
Time: 9am-6pm
Cost: $230 – price goes up closer to date of class!
CE Hours: 8
NCBTMB-approved course CE4022004
This continuing education course is designed to provide massage therapists with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to integrate trauma-informed care into their practice. Trauma can manifest in the body in various ways, and it is crucial for massage therapists to understand how to create a safe, supportive environment for clients who have experienced trauma. This course will cover the principles of trauma-informed care, the neurobiological impacts of trauma, the body’s physical and emotional responses, and how massage therapy can facilitate healing in a trauma-sensitive manner.
Participants will learn how to modify their massage techniques and communication strategies to promote client safety, trust, and empowerment. Through lectures, case studies, and practical applications, this course aims to help therapists create therapeutic sessions that are mindful of trauma’s impact while supporting the client’s healing process.
Learning Objectives
Define trauma and explain its various forms (e.g., acute, chronic, complex trauma) as well as describe how trauma affects the nervous system, including the fight-flight-freeze response and the impact on the body and mind.
Explain the principles of trauma-informed care and why they are important in massage therapy, including safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, including physical, emotional, and behavioral indicators that may emerge during a massage therapy session.
Demonstrate the ability to create a trauma-sensitive environment in their practice by adapting communication, consent, and boundary-setting techniques to promote a sense of safety and control for the client.
Modify massage techniques to be trauma-sensitive, including using grounding techniques, adjusting pressure and touch, and recognizing when to pause or stop a session based on client feedback or body language.
Identify and utilize appropriate self-regulation techniques for both the therapist and the client to manage emotional responses during a session and prevent re-traumatization.
Understand the role of the body in trauma recovery, including how massage therapy can help release tension, facilitate somatic awareness, and support emotional processing and healing.
Develop a referral network and understand the importance of collaboration with other healthcare professionals (such as mental health providers, trauma specialists, and somatic therapists) when working with clients who have experienced significant trauma.
