Rebecca Smith, LMT, LLCC
$320
8 CEs NCBTMB/NY Certified
Date: Jan 14, 2017
Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Online bookings are not available for this class, please see registration info below.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Oncology Massage (or equivalent)
Contact vanessa@catanyc.com to register
This one-day course is designed to guide massage therapist through the critical thought process needed to offer safe and effective touch therapy to clients with breast cancer.
Through lecture and discussion, participants will receive an overview of the basic pathophysiology of breast cancer, including the concepts of disease progression and staging. Lecture will include identifying the types of breast cancer, standard treatment approaches, and the physical/emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Discussion will include identifying postural imbalances and common complaints post diagnosis, surgery, radiation treatment and more. Discussion will also include the interdisciplinary team approach to care.
Hands-on instruction and practice will focus on palpation, assessment, and massage techniques for addressing the muscles and fascia of the targeted area in a focused and specific way. Therapists will learn how to help clients restructure their holding patterns to generate pain relief, fluidity and ease of movement.
Therapists will leave the class with tools to critically think through all the information provided by the client and design a safe, effective, therapeutic massage treatment.
This course is appropriate for licensed massage therapists who are considering entering the field of oncology massage, whether in a paid hospital-based position or a volunteer capacity. It is also designed to help support LMTs in private practice who may encounter serious breast cancer related issues in the course of working with clients.
Rebecca Smith is a licensed massage therapist and certified Lymphedema Therapist (LLCC). She received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied anatomy and kinesiology in addition to her arts education. Her interest in manual therapies began at UNCSA while receiving on-going physical therapy for chronic and acute injuries. After graduating she continued her movement education, adding Pilates instruction and personal training to her repertoire before continuing her manual studies. These studies include CranioSacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute and Lymph Drainage Therapy through the Chikly Institute. She has deepened her understanding of anatomy by studying human dissection with Gil Hedley, and studied lymphedema therapy with Renee Romero of the Lymphedema Institute of America. Rebecca is a graduate of the renowned Swedish Institute in New York City, taught Wellness classes at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s NY chapter, and worked for NYU’s Perlmutter Cancer Center administering massage to patients while they underwent chemotherapy as well as lymphatic therapy treatments at the Integrative Health Program. Rebecca currently works with a wide range of clients, including current and former cancer patients, clients with lymphedema, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, chronic migraines, or severe anxiety issues. She also works with clients who are looking to address chronic issues, restore function, decrease pain, and or bolster their immune system function. In addition to her private practice, Rebecca is a lymphatic therapist and Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Integrative Medicine Service. Rebecca’s work, whether via manual therapy or movement re-education, helps clients restore and bring more balance to their body. Her goal is to help them find more confidence and freedom of movement on multiple levels.