By Ariana Vincent, LMT, MTI, NCBTMB CE Provider
Throughout my career as a massage therapist and educator, I have been deeply influenced by professionals who helped shape my understanding of trauma and healing. Among the most significant are Rick Levinson, LCSW, and Dr. Peter A. Levine, whose work emphasizes the importance of combining somatic therapies with qualified psychological support when addressing trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Their teachings helped me recognize that trauma is not simply a psychological experience—it is also held within the body. Healing often requires both emotional support and physical approaches that help restore a sense of safety, balance, and connection.
When Disaster Strikes
Several years ago, a series of devastating wildfires swept through Central Texas, forever changing the lives of many people in our community. Among those affected were two of my clients.
One client lost her beautiful two-story home, her son’s cottage, and the pottery studio she had lovingly built on her property. Another lost her home, yoga studio, massage practice, and pottery studio. Although both women experienced profound loss, each navigated the grieving process in her own way.
Fortunately, they were surrounded by strong support networks, and I was honored to be included as part of their recovery team.
During this difficult period, I provided massage therapy sessions for both women as they worked to rebuild their lives. While massage could not replace what had been lost, it offered a space where they could regroup, center themselves, and begin restoring a sense of balance.
Creating a Sanctuary for Healing
Massage therapy, regardless of the specific modality, often creates an opportunity for individuals to reconnect with themselves. It can help quiet the nervous system, ease tension, and bring awareness back to the present moment.
For my two clients, whose peaceful and creative lives had been suddenly disrupted by disaster, the treatment room became more than just a place for massage.
They described it as a “sanctuary” and an “oasis” amid the chaos surrounding them.
In a season filled with uncertainty and loss, having a safe space where they could relax and simply be present became an important part of their healing journey.
A Letter I’ll Never Forget
One of the women later sent me a Christmas letter that profoundly touched my heart.
She wrote:
“As the year draws to a close, it is fitting to write you, who helped us recover from the fire, and to assure you that we are at peace and settling into our new life. We are far from finished; everywhere we look we see our next task on this burned-out earth, but life is resiliently returning and there is magical beauty emerging within the dramatic changes that fire has wrought.”
She continued:
“The act of consciously embracing what ‘is,’ no matter how unthinkable, opens up a deep reservoir of faith and strength that provides a surprising lightness of being. Incredibly, we have been blessed every step of the way with help and support from our friends. Right now it is a time to quietly pull inward, allow the tight layers of stress to unwind, and let the creative process complete the healing.”
Her words remain one of the most powerful testimonies to the resilience of the human spirit that I have ever received.
Reading her letter reinforced something I have witnessed countless times throughout my career: healing is rarely about “fixing” what has happened. Rather, it is about creating the conditions that allow people to reconnect with their inner strength and move forward with greater peace and resilience.
Learning Through Service
Many of my clients have been among my greatest teachers. Their courage, vulnerability, and determination continue to inspire me and affirm the path I chose as a massage therapist.
As I deepened my education in trauma-informed care, I also experienced my own personal growth and healing. Understanding trauma from both a professional and human perspective has allowed me to serve others from a more grounded, compassionate place.
This journey ultimately led me to develop the Ariana Institute’s Soothing PTSD and Trauma continuing education course.
Teaching Massage Therapists to Support Trauma Survivors
The goal of the Soothing PTSD and Trauma course is to help massage therapists work more compassionately and effectively with clients who have experienced trauma.
Topics covered include:
- Establishing trust and safety
- Effective communication skills
- Maintaining healthy professional boundaries
- Finding your personal comfort zone
- Centering and grounding techniques
- Self-care for practitioners
- Honoring the scope of practice
- Trauma-informed approaches to massage therapy
The course emphasizes that massage therapists are not mental health counselors. Instead, our role is to create a safe, supportive environment where clients can experience comfort, regulation, and a renewed connection with their bodies.
The Importance of Trauma-Informed Touch
PTSD and trauma affect millions of people worldwide. Survivors often experience symptoms such as hypervigilance, anxiety, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, and physical tension held within the body.
When provided appropriately and ethically, massage therapy can help support nervous system regulation, reduce stress, encourage relaxation, and foster a sense of embodiment.
Perhaps most importantly, it offers clients an opportunity to experience safe, nurturing touch and reconnect with the core of themselves that trauma may have obscured.
As massage therapists, we may not be able to erase painful experiences, but we can provide a compassionate environment where healing can begin.
A Shared Commitment to Healing
Exploring trauma and PTSD from a therapeutic perspective has enriched my life and expanded my ability to serve others as both a massage therapist and educator.
To everyone who is interested in supporting trauma survivors—whether as a therapist, healthcare professional, educator, or caring human being—I honor your commitment and appreciate your presence in the healing community.
As Franklin D. Roosevelt wisely stated:
“If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships—the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace.”
By helping survivors of trauma reconnect with balance, safety, and peace within themselves, massage therapists contribute to healing not only individuals but also the communities around them.
I remain deeply grateful to Rick Levinson and Dr. Peter Levine for their guidance and influence, and to every client who has trusted me to accompany them on their healing journey.
As author Clarissa Pinkola Estés beautifully reminds us:
“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.”
