Melissa is a certified Rolfer, craniosacral practitioner, somatic experiencing practitioner in training, and a plant ecologist. She loves to work with fellow humans to help them move and feel better. During her time off, she enjoys playing outside with her dog Ruby and in the flower garden. As a passionate advocate for natural healing methods, Melissa is thrilled to offer her skills in Rolfing and craniosacral therapy. She firmly believes in the body's innate ability to heal and is excited to guide her clients on their journey to wellness and vitality, using the gentle, yet profound, techniques of these therapies.
"Melissa is amazing. She is kind and professional. I started seeing her to help reduce chronic pelvic pain and she ended up healing my whole body. She released years of stored trauma I didn’t even know I had. Don’t think twice just book an appointment!” - Maggie
Why do I love Rolfing®?
After spending ten years working in Grand Canyon National Park as a plant biologist, I decided it was time for a new direction. Now, instead of working to protect plants and enhance habitats, I focus my energy on people, enhancing the way they move and play in the world. I finished my initial training at the Rolf Institute in Boulder, Colorado in July 2017, and continue with my training there now. I absolutely love the work and am so inspired by the results I see in my clients.
I first heard about Rolfing® in college: some of the modern dancers I knew talked about how Rolfing® had helped them. I noticed they moved more fluidly and effortlessly than the rest of us. I was intrigued.
In 2012, I had my own first experience through the 10 Series. While I had a few chronic aches and pains, I was mostly just curious about Rolfing® and its transformative power. That first series was profound for me, both physically and psychologically: my chronic hip pain and leg length difference was gone, I gained more mobility in my shoulder after surgery, and my life-long habits of inefficient walking and running were re-patterned so that those movements felt more graceful and fluid. The incredible changes that I experienced inspired me to study Rolfing® Structural Integration, so that I could help others gain that same sense of freedom of movement and well-being.
Rolfing Structural Integration Certification® - Dr Ida Rolf Institute®, Boulder CO, July 2017
Craniosacral Therapy Techniques 1, Assessment of Central Nervous System and Fascia for Full Body Treatment Protocol -Upledger Institute, Salt Lake City, March 2019
Craniosacral Therapy Techniques 2, Moving Beyond the Dura for Assessing Acute and Chronic Conditions - Upledger Institute - Virtual, April 2020
SomatoEmotional Response 1: Full Range of CranioSacral Therapy Tools for Gentle Trauma Resolution - Upledger Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 2023
Touch Skills for Trauma Therapists: Module 1, 2, and 3- Kathy Kain - Developing tactile skills, somatic awareness, and other touch-related skills in the context of working with the resolution of trauma. Seattle, WA, March, June, and September 2024
Somatic Experiencing, Beginning I: Somatic Experiencing Institute- January 2025.
Body Flow for Rolfers with Jen Hayes, Sept-Nov. 2021, Online movement program that focused on each of the sessions in a 10-series and how different movements relate to the fascial line.
Polyvagal Theory Workshop, Moylan Ryan, March 2020
Practice Building Workshop, Richard Ennis, Spring 2020 SI Study Groups, Michael Polon, Spring 2020
Upledger's Beyond the Dura Exploration & Research Conference seminarApril 22-23, 2023
Education
Bachelors of Science - Utah State University, Logan, UT 2001
Masters in Forest Ecology - Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 2010
Professional Memberships Rolf Institute International Association of Healthcare Practitioners
"I’ve been working with Melissa for a little over 2 years now. I am 30 years old and live a very active lifestyle. My work as a river guide and a firefighter takes a toll on my body. My experience with rolfing has been solely through Melissa, and has been extremely beneficial in my life both physically and mentally. Whether I am hurt or injured, she is my go to. She has helped equalize the imbalances in my body (favoring one side or the other due to injury) and brought more symmetry to my movements. She has helped me recover more quickly from multiple shoulder, back and hip injuries. Knowing I have someone to go to with these injuries that really knows the human body and how to manipulate it in a safe a positive way has been such a relief these last couple years! I am going to continue to go to Melissa, and would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for quality care." -McNeil