A few things you may want to know.
You don’t need to understand the work before coming in. But it can help to know what to expect. Here are answers to some of the questions I’m most often asked.
Before your first session
Do I need to know what kind of work I need?
No. You don’t need to decide whether you need Rolfing®, craniosacral work, movement, nervous-system work, or anything else before you come in.
Part of my job is to understand these different approaches and how they may relate. You can simply tell me what you’re experiencing, what you’re hoping might change, and anything you think is important for me to know. We can begin there and figure out together what might be useful.
What happens during a first session?
We’ll usually begin by talking for a little while about what brings you in, your history, and anything you’d like me to know. I may ask you to stand, walk, move, breathe, or notice something about what you’re experiencing.
From there, the session can take many forms. We might work on a table, seated, standing, or moving. Touch can range from firm and direct to extremely light. We may work with movement, sensation, awareness, or conversation. Sometimes there may be relatively little touch.
There isn’t a standard first session that I apply to everyone. What we do develops from what brings you in and what we discover together.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing that allows you to move is usually best.
Depending on the work, sessions can be done fully clothed or with some clothing removed. You are always welcome to remain fully clothed, and you never need to undress beyond what feels comfortable to you.
How many sessions will I need?
There isn’t a number I can predict in advance, and you don’t need to commit to a particular number of sessions before we begin.
If you’re interested specifically in the traditional Rolfing® Ten-Series, that is something we can do. But Rolfing doesn’t have to be done as a Ten-Series. Some people come for one or a few sessions, some work through a shorter or longer series, and others work with me more regularly or return periodically over time.
If you’re not coming specifically for Rolfing, there’s no reason for the work to follow that structure at all. We can see how you respond and decide together what seems useful as we go.
How often should I come?
It depends on what we’re working with, how you respond, your schedule, and what feels sustainable.
Some people begin weekly or every other week. Others come monthly or simply return when it feels useful. There doesn’t need to be one schedule that works for everyone.
What might I feel after a session?
People respond to sessions in different ways. Some notice an immediate change in comfort, movement, or awareness. Others notice changes more gradually over the following days, sometimes in ways they hadn’t expected.
Occasionally, someone may experience temporary soreness or fatigue, particularly after more physically involved work. And sometimes the changes are subtle or difficult to put into words.
There’s no particular response you’re supposed to have. If something concerns you after a session, you’re always welcome to reach out.
Rolfing, touch, movement & more
Is this Rolfing?
Yes. I’m a Certified Rolfer® and Certified Rolf Movement® Practitioner, and Rolfing remains central to how I understand and practice this work.
There’s a bit of a running joke among Rolfers that if you ask several of us what Rolfing is, you may get several different answers. I was taught to think of Rolfing largely in terms of relationships—how different parts of the body relate to one another, how we organize ourselves in gravity, and how movement, perception, and experience influence that organization.
My understanding of those relationships has expanded over the years through studying movement and somatic education, craniosacral and osteopathic approaches, neuroscience and pain science, trauma, meditation, and other fields.
So what I do may not always resemble someone’s idea of traditional Rolfing, particularly the intense work for which Rolfing became known decades ago. But I still understand what I do as deeply rooted in Rolfing and its way of looking at the person as a whole.
Does Rolfing hurt? Do you use deep pressure?
Rolfing has a reputation for being painful, partly because of how it was sometimes practiced historically. I don’t believe pain or intensity is evidence that something useful is happening.
At times I may use firm or direct pressure. At other times the touch may be extraordinarily light. The amount of pressure depends on the person, the tissue, what we’re trying to explore, and how your body is responding.
You should always feel able to tell me that something is uncomfortable, too intense, or simply not something you want.
Do you always use touch?
No.
Touch is an important part of my work, but it isn’t required for us to work together. A session might include movement, changes in position, attention to sensation, orientation, conversation, or other ways of exploring what is happening.
Sometimes working with less touch—or no touch at all—is the more useful choice.
Do you work with trauma, anxiety, or nervous-system concerns?
Yes. People sometimes come to me specifically because of trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, overwhelm, difficulty settling, or feeling disconnected from their bodies. These experiences can have very real physical dimensions: changes in breathing, muscle tone, movement, sensation, pain, sleep, or how safe and comfortable it feels to inhabit the body.
I don’t assume that every physical pattern is caused by trauma or that trauma is stored somewhere in a muscle waiting to be released. I’m interested in how your experience is showing up now—whether or not trauma is part of the story—and in finding ways of working with what is actually there.
You can read more about my approach on the Working With Trauma page .
How is this different from massage?
There can certainly be overlap, particularly because both may involve hands-on work.
But the intention is often different. Rather than primarily trying to relax muscles or provide temporary relief, I’m usually interested in how different parts of the body relate, how movement and support are organized, what you perceive, and what possibilities for change become available.
That said, relaxation and feeling better are perfectly legitimate outcomes. Not every session needs to become a project.
Why does bodywork create lasting changes for some people but not others?
This is a question I’ve spent considerable time exploring, especially when working with people who have experienced temporary relief from different therapies without much lasting change.
There are many factors that may influence how someone responds to bodywork, including their physical history, movement patterns, expectations, everyday circumstances, and how they experience and respond to changes. Sometimes the effects last, sometimes they’re temporary, and sometimes we don’t fully understand why.
I’ve written a longer exploration of this question, drawing on my experiences working with people and considering what might contribute to meaningful, lasting change.
Read: Why Do Some People Experience Lasting Change from Bodywork While Others Don’t? →
Can I do this while seeing other practitioners?
Yes. Many of the people I work with are also receiving other forms of care, and I don’t see this work as a replacement for appropriate medical or mental-health care.
Sometimes the different forms of care simply happen alongside one another. In other situations, when it would be useful, I may communicate or work collaboratively with your other practitioners—with your consent and any appropriate paperwork in place—whether that’s a physical therapist, psychotherapist, physician, trainer, acupuncturist, or someone else involved in your care.
Scheduling, cost & locations
How long are sessions?
Cambridge sessions are currently scheduled for 75 minutes.
Boston / Back Bay sessions are 60 minutes.
Over the years, I’ve gradually shortened my sessions. Earlier in my career, longer appointments gave me more time to explore, develop my understanding, and refine my skills. With experience, I’ve found that I can often work more precisely and accomplish what we’re hoping to accomplish in less time.
I’ve also become increasingly attentive to the potential drawbacks of doing too much. More time on the table doesn’t necessarily mean more benefit. Our bodies and nervous systems have limits to how much input they can comfortably respond to, and continuing to work beyond what’s useful can sometimes create unnecessary fatigue, discomfort, or overwhelm.
Part of my work involves recognizing when something needs more attention and when it’s better to allow space for what’s already happening. Sometimes pausing or ending a session is itself a meaningful choice.
And the process doesn’t necessarily end when someone leaves the office. People may continue noticing changes in their movement, comfort, and awareness over the following hours and days.
I’ve found that 60–75 minutes generally provides a useful amount of time for the work we do together.
What does a session cost?
Cambridge: $200
Boston / Back Bay: $210
Payment is due at the time of the session.
At my Cambridge office, there is a $10 discount for payment by cash, check, or Zelle.
Do you accept insurance?
All sessions are paid for at the time of service. I do not bill insurance companies directly.
Cambridge: My Cambridge practice is private pay. I do not provide insurance superbills for sessions at this location.
Boston / Back Bay: At Boston Holistic Health, eligible manual-therapy services may qualify for insurance reimbursement. I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company.
If you’re considering using insurance, I recommend checking with your insurer before booking to ask whether your plan covers manual therapy under CPT code 97140 when services are provided through a naturopathic physician’s office.
Coverage depends on your individual plan, and reimbursement cannot be guaranteed.
HSA and FSA funds may also be usable for eligible services, depending on your plan.
Where are you located?
I work in two locations:
Cambridge
872 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 2-3
Cambridge, MA 02139
Boston / Back Bay
376 Boylston Street, Suite 403
Boston, MA 02116
Parking and public transportation information is provided below.
Is parking or public transportation available?
Cambridge — 872 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 2-3
Free client parking is available during your session with me, and street parking is generally easy to find nearby. Specific parking instructions will be provided before your appointment.
The office is a short walk from Central Square Station (Red Line).
Boston / Back Bay — 376 Boylston Street, Suite 403
Street parking and nearby parking garages are available, although finding parking can sometimes be challenging.
The office is close to Arlington Station (Green Line). Boylston Station (Green Line) and Back Bay Station (Orange Line and commuter rail) are also within walking distance.
Do you offer phone or Zoom consultations before booking?
I used to offer phone consultations more regularly, and I’m still happy to arrange one when it feels important. Over time, though, I’ve found that these conversations aren’t always as helpful as we might hope. Sometimes they can even make things feel more complicated, as it’s difficult to get a real sense of this work through conversation alone.
Much of what we do is experiential, and I’ve found that meeting in person is usually the most helpful way to begin. My schedule has also become quite full, so I have less availability for calls than I once did.
That said, I understand that some people would feel more comfortable having a conversation before coming in, and I respect that. If there’s something you’d like to discuss beforehand, please feel free to reach out. I’m happy to see whether we can find a time that works.
What is your cancellation policy?
I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Late cancellations and missed appointments may be charged the full session fee. I also understand that illness, emergencies, and unexpected situations happen, and I try to approach those situations reasonably.
How do I schedule?
You can schedule online and choose the location and available time that works best for you.
You’re also welcome to contact me if you have a question that isn’t answered here or aren’t sure whether scheduling makes sense.
Still have questions?
Not every question fits neatly into an FAQ. If there’s something you need to know before scheduling, you’re welcome to reach out.