Hi there. My name is Heather. I have been working as a licensed therapist/bodyworker for 20 years, and have had the pleasure of operating businesses in three of our nation's beautiful states. I have been living here in Asheville & running Studio 3 since 2013. I am located inside of Asheville Chiropractic and Wellness Center where I share space with a small group of doctors and professionals. Read more about us here.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Therapy // Psychology in 1999 and within the duration of my internship, accepted a full time position with a local mental health facility upon graduation.
After some time, I experienced the desire to transition into a role that allowed me to focus on the concepts of health & healing from not only a mental health perspective, but also a physical & spiritual one. At that time I made the decision to enroll as a full time student at the Healing Arts Institute in 2003 while also working full time as a Program Coordinator for northwest Ohio's community-based mental healthcare system. After a couple more years of engagement with both avenues, I committed myself to the art of massage full time.
As we all know, when physical problems are ignored, these biochemical machines we operate within may begin to "glitch". One persistent glitch can ricochet into a myriad of physical issues, sometimes leaving us feeling overwhelmed, stressed and confused about what to begin addressing first. I really do understand. As these issues accumulate, they unfortunately have the potential to cause life changing disruptions which we begin to identify as stress, pain, depression, fatigue, sleeplessness and various forms of dis-ease.
It remains tremendously important to acknowledge that therapeutic bodywork, proper hydration, a nutrient-rich diet, and some type of consistent physical exercise are the most significant Core aspects of our self care. Surrounding this Core are what I call Supporting Factors -- these include things such as the quality of our relationships with friends & family, making time for creative outlets, connecting with the joy of laughter, reading about [or even more modernly, listening to podcasts] that ignite our ideas for personal growth and spiritual discovery. I find these to be just as important as The Core, and often times influence the way we interact with ourselves & the world around us even more deeply than we realize.
Massage is just one of many tools to help us heal. Whether it's stress, illness or simply to escape the usual patterns of our life, the benefits of massage can be tremendous. I would be honored to begin that journey with you.
Adjunctive therapies can also play an important role in your path to healing. If you need the name of an Acupuncturist, Chiropractor, Dietician, Physical Therapist or Counselor please do not hesitate to ask. If I can't provide the name immediately, I am happy to put in a few phone calls to ensure you have access to a well-respected healthcare provider.
It is extremely import to invest your time with a therapist who you feel "gets you", both as a person as well as a client. The journey of bodywork is a very personal one for both of us, so looking forward to your visit is just as important to me as it is you. If we find we are not a good fit, I am happy to explore finding a therapist who we both feel may more appropriately suit your current needs. Essentially, I am interested in you building a relationship with a therapist, even if that therapist is not me.