Areas of Care

Because the body is interconnected, I do not treat diagnoses in isolation. Instead, I look at how the tissues, nervous system, organs, circulation, lymphatic system, and movement patterns may be influencing one another.

The areas below are examples of the kinds of concerns and body systems I may work with. Treatment is always individualized based on your history, symptoms, goals, and what your body is showing during the session.

Pain & Movement

I work with many people who have chronic pain, stiffness, restricted movement, or recurring areas of tension.

Depending on what is contributing to the problem, treatment may involve the muscles, fascia, joints, ligaments, nerves, organs, spine, or other deeper tissues.

Areas of care may include:

  • Chronic or recurring pain

  • Restricted range of motion

  • Joint stiffness

  • Neck, back, shoulder, hip, or limb discomfort

  • Postural or movement restrictions

  • Scar-related tension

  • Compensation patterns after injury or surgery

  • Pain that seems to move, return, or does not respond fully to more localized treatment

The goal is to identify and address underlying restrictions that may be influencing how the body moves and functions, rather than simply working where the pain is felt.

Brain & Nervous System

I work with structures and systems related to the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, meninges, sensory systems, and autonomic nervous system.

Areas of care may include:

  • Chronic pain and central sensitization

  • Nerve-related pain, tingling, or altered sensation

  • Headaches, migraines, or head pressure

  • Balance, dizziness, and coordination concerns

  • Proprioception and body awareness

  • Stress-response patterns and nervous-system regulation

  • Limbic-system patterns related to stress or trauma

  • Cognitive concerns involving memory, learning, attention, or comprehension

Treatment is aimed at supporting mobility, communication, and regulation within the nervous system and surrounding tissues, while staying within the scope of manual therapy.

Sensory Systems

I may work with structures related to the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, face, cranial nerves, and the brain regions involved in sensory processing.

Areas of care may include:

  • Vision and eye-related function

  • Hearing and ear-related function

  • Sense of smell

  • Sense of taste

  • Touch and altered sensation

  • Sensory sensitivity or processing differences

  • Coordination between sensory input and movement

This work is not intended to replace medical evaluation for vision, hearing, or other sensory disorders. The goal is to support the mobility and function of the tissues and nervous-system structures involved in these senses.

Head, Jaw & Face

I work with structures throughout the head, face, jaw, mouth, throat, and neck, including the tissues that influence movement, sensation, swallowing, and facial function.

Areas of care may include:

  • TMJ dysfunction and jaw tension

  • Facial tension or restriction

  • Headaches related to jaw or facial structures

  • Tongue and mouth restrictions

  • Swallowing-related tension

  • Throat and hyoid-region restrictions

  • Intraoral restrictions

  • Scar tissue or tension after dental work, surgery, or injury

When appropriate, treatment may include intraoral techniques performed with gloves and your consent.

Pelvis, Abdomen & Internal Organs

I work externally with structures throughout the abdomen and pelvis, including the organs, surrounding fascia, ligaments, and tissues that help support normal movement and function.

Areas of care may include:

  • Abdominal or pelvic restrictions

  • Bladder-related tension or mobility restrictions

  • Uterine and pelvic-organ mobility

  • Pelvic floor tension

  • Scar tissue after abdominal or pelvic surgery

  • Restrictions related to C-sections or other procedures

  • Digestive-area tension or restriction

  • Sacral and pelvic mobility

All pelvic and abdominal work is performed externally. I do not perform vaginal or rectal internal techniques.

Lymphatic & Swelling Concerns

I work with the lymphatic system, surrounding fascia, lymph node regions, and fluid movement throughout the body.

Areas of care may include:

  • Swelling or fluid congestion

  • Lymphedema support

  • Lipedema support

  • Post-surgical swelling

  • Recovery after injury

  • Scar-related restriction that may affect lymph flow

  • Chronic areas of puffiness or heaviness

  • Supporting tissue drainage and fluid movement

  • General lymphatic support when circulation or movement has been limited

Treatment is gentle and individualized. Depending on the situation, work may involve both superficial and deeper lymphatic pathways.

Post-Surgical & Injury Recovery

I work with people recovering from surgery, accidents, falls, and other injuries, once it is appropriate to begin manual treatment.

Areas of care may include:

  • Scar tissue and surrounding restrictions

  • Swelling or fluid congestion

  • Changes in movement after surgery or injury

  • Protective tension and compensation patterns

  • Reduced mobility or stiffness

  • Restrictions around joints, nerves, organs, or deeper tissues affected by trauma

  • Supporting recovery after periods of immobilization or limited activity

After a significant impact injury, such as a car accident or major fall, I may recommend allowing time for medical evaluation and the body’s early healing response before beginning deeper manual work.

Gentle lymphatic techniques may sometimes be appropriate earlier, depending on the situation and overall medical status.

Developmental & Neurological Differences

I work with people who have a range of developmental, neurological, sensory, and communication differences.

Areas of care may include:

  • Autism

  • Sensory processing differences

  • Developmental disabilities

  • Attention and regulation challenges

  • Coordination and proprioceptive differences

  • Learning and processing difficulties

  • Communication differences

  • Increased sensitivity to touch or movement

Sessions can be adapted for positioning, communication style, sensory needs, pacing, and tolerance for touch.

My five years working at Chileda in La Crosse gave me practical experience supporting children and young adults with a wide range of developmental and behavioral needs. I do not consider myself an autism specialist, but I am comfortable adapting care to the individual.

Pregnancy & Postpartum

I work with people during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with positioning and techniques adapted for comfort and safety.

Areas of care may include:

  • Pregnancy-related tension or discomfort

  • Changes in posture and movement as the body adapts

  • Pelvic, abdominal, hip, or low-back restrictions

  • Swelling and fluid congestion

  • Scar tissue after C-section or other procedures

  • Postpartum recovery and changes in body mechanics

I have a pregnancy bolster system that allows many pregnant clients to lie face down comfortably and fully supported when appropriate. Treatment can also be done side-lying, semi-reclined, or seated as needed.

Mobility & Adaptive Care

I work with people who have mobility limitations, difficulty changing positions, balance concerns, joint stiffness, or other physical challenges that may make treatment positioning more complicated.

Care can be adapted with:

  • An electric hi-low treatment table

  • An adjustable back section that can move from flat to a fully seated position

  • Side-lying, semi-reclined, or seated treatment

  • Extra time for transfers or position changes

  • Modified techniques based on comfort and tolerance

  • Wheelchair-accessible office doorways for standard-size wheelchairs

The goal is to make treatment as safe, comfortable, and accessible as possible while adapting to the individual rather than forcing the individual to adapt to the treatment.

Chronic & Complex Health Conditions

I often work with people who have long-standing, multi-system, or medically complex conditions where symptoms may involve more than one part of the body.

Areas of care may include:

  • Persistent or widespread pain

  • Fatigue-related movement limitations

  • Multiple areas of restriction or compensation

  • Nervous-system sensitivity

  • Chronic swelling or congestion

  • Reduced resilience after illness, injury, or prolonged stress

  • Complex histories involving several surgeries, injuries, or diagnoses

  • People who have tried multiple therapies and still feel that something is being missed

Treatment is individualized and focused on supporting movement, reducing restriction, and improving function, rather than treating a diagnosis by name.

Care Across the Lifespan

I adapt treatment for people at different ages and stages of life, from infants and children through older adulthood.

Areas of care may include:

  • Infants and young children

  • Adolescents

  • Older adults

  • Age-related changes in mobility or tissue tolerance

  • Developmental or sensory differences

  • Joint stiffness or reduced range of motion

  • Difficulty lying flat or changing positions

  • Complex health histories that require a gentler pace

Techniques, positioning, pressure, and session length can all be adjusted to fit the individual’s age, comfort, communication, and physical needs.

Breathing, Rib Cage & Thorax

I may work with structures involved in breathing and movement through the chest and upper abdomen, including the ribs, diaphragm, sternum, spine, fascia, and surrounding tissues.

Areas of care may include:

  • Restricted or uncomfortable breathing patterns

  • Rib or chest-wall restrictions

  • Diaphragm tension

  • Reduced rib-cage mobility

  • Restrictions after illness, injury, or surgery

  • Upper-back and thoracic tension

  • Postural patterns that affect breathing mechanics

  • Fascial restrictions involving the chest and upper abdomen

The goal is to support greater mobility and ease through the tissues involved in breathing, rather than treating respiratory disease itself.

Circulation & Vascular Restrictions

I may work with structures related to blood vessels, circulation, fascia, and the tissues surrounding vascular pathways.

Areas of care may include:

  • Areas of restricted or reduced tissue mobility around blood vessels

  • Circulatory changes related to injury, surgery, or scar tissue

  • Tension patterns that may affect how vessels move within surrounding tissues

  • Coldness, heaviness, or altered sensation associated with restricted tissues

  • Supporting healthy tissue mobility around vascular structures

  • Restrictions involving the chest, abdomen, pelvis, neck, or limbs

This work is not a treatment for vascular disease itself. The goal is to support mobility and freedom of movement in the tissues surrounding the vascular system.

Digestive & Organ Mobility

I work with the organs, surrounding fascia, ligaments, and tissues of the abdomen and torso to support healthy movement and reduce restriction.

Areas of care may include:

  • Abdominal tension or restriction

  • Digestive-area discomfort associated with tissue restriction

  • Reduced mobility around the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, or other organs

  • Scar-related restrictions after abdominal surgery

  • Tension patterns involving the diaphragm, ribs, abdomen, or pelvis

  • Restrictions that may influence posture, breathing, or movement elsewhere in the body

  • Changes following illness, injury, or surgery

The goal is to improve mobility and ease within the tissues surrounding the organs, not to diagnose or treat digestive disease itself.

Stress, Trauma & Limbic-System Patterns

Physical tissues and the nervous system can be influenced by stress, trauma, protective responses, and long-standing patterns of tension.

Areas of care may include:

  • Persistent muscle guarding or bracing

  • Increased nervous-system sensitivity

  • Stress-related tension patterns

  • Limbic-system and autonomic nervous-system responses

  • Physical patterns associated with past trauma

  • Difficulty relaxing or feeling safe in the body

  • Chronic pain patterns influenced by central sensitization

This work is not psychotherapy and does not replace mental health care. The goal is to support the physical and neurological patterns held in the body and help the nervous system move toward greater ease and regulation.

Silent Counseling

I also offer Silent Counseling as a separate session. It uses focused attention, tapping, breathing, and body-based techniques to work with emotional stress, limiting patterns, and nervous-system responses without requiring you to verbally revisit every detail of an experience.

As clients become familiar with the process, I may also explore ways of integrating elements of this work with manual therapy when appropriate, particularly when working with limbic-system and stress-related patterns.

Not Sure Where You Fit?

If you don’t see your specific concern listed here, that does not necessarily mean this work is not appropriate for you.

Many people I work with have complex or overlapping concerns that do not fit neatly into one category.

If you are unsure whether my approach may be a good fit, please contact me and we can discuss your situation before scheduling.