WHAT TO EXPECT

We wish to increase access to this important work of trauma-informed, body-oriented healing to all in our community who need it, regardless of income level. Therefore, we utilize an open-ended pricing structure that offers flexibility for our one-on-one sessions (Massage Therapy and Somatic Healing Sessions). Our standard rates (which are shown below) are determined to be a fair price for the value you receive at Studio A. They are actually slightly below market rate for the credentials, training, experience, and dedication we bring, but that is intentional because of our commitment to removing barriers to access. We see great value in involving our community in these endeavors to reach all who need healing from chronic pain and other body-based symptoms of trauma, therefore we extend an invitation to join us in our generosity if you are able. For those who have more than enough financial resources and can afford to pay true market rate for the work, there is an option when booking appointments to "Give Support to Others", which adds $15 to the total. This extra amount goes directly to subsidize the cost of those who have trouble affording appointments, via the lower-paying option detailed below and via the Sliding Scale program. If you are interested in giving more toward this endeavor or at a different time than when you are booking appointments, you can do so by clicking here. For those with currently limited financial resources who need supplemental funds to cover their appointment, there is an option when booking appointments to "Receive Support from Others", which deducts $10 from the total. Rates for Massage Therapy: $85 per hour, $106 for 75 minutes, $127 for 90 minutes Prenatal Massage: $85 for 1 hour, $127 for 1.5 hours Rates for Somatic Healing Sessions: New Client Appointment: $175 (lasts 90 minutes) Subsequent sessions: $110 per hour, $138 for 75 minutes, $165 for 90 minutes Add-on massage rates: $28 for 15-minute, $55 for 30-minute add-on In addition to these measures to ensure greater access to everyone in our community, we also have a Sliding Scale program that applies to Somatic Healing Sessions that can further reduce appointment costs. See the section on that for more info.

During one-on-one sessions, you can depend on your therapist's undivided attention for the full length of the appointment, which is anywhere from 1-2 hours long depending on what kind of session you book. Compare this to some other kinds of body-oriented therapy where you might pay much higher rates and yet may not receive one-on-one attention, and the value of this becomes clear. Beyond receiving our full attention, as a client you will also be supported in a number of other ways that can add immense value in your healing journey: We have a Lending Library with a full and growing collection of self-treatment tools and therapy balls, available to borrow at no extra charge, to see what works for you before you spend your own money. Also, we have the best books available on the stress-pain connection, how the body holds trauma, chronic pain interventions, and somatic (body-based) modalities for holistic heath and wellness that you are also welcome to borrow at no extra charge. We regularly do consultations with senior/advanced practitioners across the globe on client cases (no names revealed) to better grasp how we can best support our clients with their unique presentations and symptoms. You will no doubt benefit from the vast and ever-growing network of professionals and resources, both locally and globally, that has come as a result of Allie's outgoing personality and time in the field. We are keenly aware of the issues we are trained to address and the ones that we are not, and are happy to provide referrals and recommendations to ensure you receive all that you need. The top-notch care and attunement you receive as a client is something rarely experienced, even in therapeutic spaces. We are proud of the level of connection that we maintain with clients, and enjoy holding a space that fosters vulnerability, trust, openness, and safety. We pursue collaboration and partnership with other local professionals on your care team. The human body and its mechanisms for holding onto stress and trauma are complex and sometimes require a multi-faceted approach. Our clients benefit from the time we put into working with their other care providers, to maximize the effectiveness of the therapies. We continually work with you to develop self-treatment and self-care routines and rituals that reduce pain levels and help build a lifestyle of wellness. We show our clients appropriate and issue-specific methods for treating their tight or painful muscular/fascial areas, as well as give guidance on how to implement other forms of self-care that address the emotional and spiritual components of life. At Studio A we are regularly advancing our skills by attending continuing education and advanced-level specialty trainings, which are costly to attend. We do our best to keep our rates as low as possible while still maintaining the highest level of service, and this requires a delicate balance without much wiggle room because of our commitment to make this work accessible to everyone in our community regardless of financial status. "If you think wellness is expensive, try illness." Have you ever come across that quote? We understand that bodywork can seem expensive; in our society there is generally not a high value placed on taking care of one's body, and that is reflected in what people spend their money on (or don't). You will need to resolve in your heart if it is worth it to you and if you are at a point in your life in which you value your health and want to improve it with what we at Studio A offer. Of course you are welcome to try it out for a while to see if it is helpful to you; there is never any pressure or obligation to do a certain number of sessions or to complete some course of treatment. That being said, it is difficult to gauge if any particular therapy is affecting change after only 1 or 2 sessions; 4-5 visits is the typical amount of time it takes before there may be noticeable shifts. We accept HSA/FSA cards and provide email receipts afterwards. We also take all other major credit/debit cards, cash, or check. Payment is expected at the time of service for one-on-one appointments. For group classes and programs, we require pre-payment to hold your spot.

At Studio A, we offer a Sliding Scale for those who simply cannot afford Somatic Healing Session appointments at our standard rate, even with the "Receive Support from Others" rate of $10 less per appointment. First appointments are always at full price, and the Sliding Scale program is not offered until after the first session in which we have had a chance to get to know one another and we both agree we are a good fit. Studio A is under no obligation to offer the Sliding Scale program to any client. We can only afford to have a certain number of clients on the Sliding Scale at a time, so if you express a need for it you may be asked to wait until a spot becomes available. Entering the Sliding Scale program involves an agreement that the client signs, committing to: book their own appointments online using the unique coupon code provided maintain the agreed-upon frequency of appointments engage in self-treatment between sessions to maximize effectiveness of the therapy The Sliding Scale rate is good for 6 sessions at an agreed-upon discounted rate and session length (60, 75, or 90 minutes), after which we can reevaluate if we want to continue working together and if you are still in need of the discounted rate. When a client is on the Sliding Scale program, they are not to also make use of the "Receive Support from Others" pricing option when booking appointments, which would get them an additional discount. If at any time we discover that the program is being misused or the agreement is not being adhered to, Studio A reserves the right to revoke the agreement and cancel any remaining sessions. We also reserve the right to end the agreement if, during the course of treatment, it becomes clear to us that we cannot provide the kind of care the client needs, or if something is discovered medically about the client that causes myofascial and/or somatic therapy to be contraindicated. We enjoy making this work accessible to all who need it in our community, and trust that the Sliding Scale program will be a help to those who sincerely need it and who truly want to better their health with what we offer at Studio A. If you are interested in giving financially toward this endeavor to further our efforts, you can do so here.

When booking one-on-one appointments, you are required to enter credit card information to hold the appointment. We will process the payment at the end of the appointment, using either the credit card you entered upon booking or a different one that you provide at that time. For drop-in classes, full payment must be made at the time of booking. For programs, a deposit is required upon enrollment, and the remaining payment is processed later, closer to the start of the program. See the specific program page for more details. To make the booking and payment process more efficient, you can create a login after your first time scheduling with Studio A, which saves your information, so that you do not have to enter your credit card again each time you book a session. HSA/FSA cards are accepted at Studio A, but the HSA/FSA card cannot be the card that is saved in the system for booking appointments; please choose another credit card to save in the system when booking, and present the HSA/FSA card in person at the time of the appointment. (We will always check with you at the end of each appointment which credit card you wish for us to charge for that day's session.) It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the policies and approved services of your particular HSA/FSA account, as each are different. It is also recommended that you have a note on file from your primary care physician recommending therapeutic massage, in the case that your HSA/FSA account is audited--but again, check with your particular account for specifics on what types of services are approved. Receipts can be provided electronically for each of your appointments, if you need, and sometimes, depending on the form of payment, are automatically sent by email after payment. If you need a receipt, please ask and we will make sure you receive one. They will likely come from Stripe, our credit card processor, instead of from a Studio A email address. Other forms of payment besides credit cards and HSA/FSA cards that we accept are cash and check. Even if you are intending to pay for the appointment using cash or check, keeping a current credit card on file within the system is still required in order to book and hold appointments. We do not accept insurance, nor can we provide itemized bills or receipts with the proper CPT codes for you to submit to your insurance, unfortunately. Medical coding for insurance is dependent on the type of license the provider holds, and unfortunately there is one (and only one!) code that applies to the services that a Licensed Massage Therapist provides, which severely limits our ability to work with insurance. Most insurance companies do not cover services with that particular CPT code anyway, as "soft tissue manipulation" (the code description) is rarely seen as "medically necessary". To make matters even more difficult, even when insurance does cover the particular CPT code associated with massage, they almost always have strict limits in place regarding how many sessions will be covered in a certain time frame. These arbitrary limitations do not serve the client/patient well, and have no use in a practice such as Studio A, where we are deeply interested in working at the pace of the client's nervous system. We understand that paying for appointments can be difficult when not covered by insurance. Please see the other topics covered on this page about our rates and the ways we have worked to make our services accessible to all who need it.

We operate by appointment only and do not take walk-ins. However, you will find that we often have immediate openings available for our Massage Therapy services. Somatic Healing Sessions can only be booked by those who are established as clients with Allie and have been given the password to book appointments via the Client Portal. Massages can currently be booked within the following times: Monday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Tuesday 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm Wednesday 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm Thursday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday (2 per month) 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Somatic Healing Sessions can be booked during these times: Tuesday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Wednesday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Thursday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm Saturday (1 per month) 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Emails and texts from clients will be responded to within 2 days unless urgent. Communication from non-clients generally involves a longer response time. Group classes and programs are open to anyone, and may take place at times other than the listed hours above. Check the website for current group offerings, and stay informed about new offerings via our email newsletter (sign up here).

Massages, group classes, and programs can be booked via our online scheduler. Please see the corresponding pages for each of those services to book, or you can also do so here at the main scheduling page. Somatic Healing Session clients schedule their own appointments via the online scheduler in the Client Portal, which Allie will provide the password to when accepting a client. In order to maximize our time doing hands-on work in your session, we do not leave time at the end of a client's session in the studio for booking future appointments, but instead kindly ask that you do all your own scheduling via the website. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we also ask that you do that yourself, by following the instructions in the confirmation email for the appointment. Group classes and programs are open to anyone and are not limited to already-established clients, and may take place at times other than the studio's regular hours. Check the website for current group offerings, and stay informed about new offerings via our email newsletter (sign up here).

One-on-One Appointments Cancellations can be made up to 24 hours before your appointment time, via a link in the original email confirmation you received upon booking the appointment. Cancellations that need to be made within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time must be made by texting us directly, at (463) 235-7171. Clients who cancel with less than 24 hours before their scheduled appointment time may be charged 50-100% of the original rate, using the payment method entered during the booking process. We understand that urgent issues occasionally arise, forcing you to cancel within the 24-hour window. Please understand that we strive to provide top-notch quality service while keeping our rates as low as possible, and we work by appointment only (therefore the later you cancel your appointment, the lesser chance we have to fill it with another client). Because of these factors, we will only accommodate a last-minute cancellation (meaning one that happens within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time) ONCE; any further cancellations of this type WILL in fact result in you receiving only 50% maximum refund of the amount you paid at the time of booking. A no-show will result in a full charge (no refund) of the session rate. ​​ If you are ill, please contact us as soon as possible to inform us so that we can fill your appointment time with another client. If you have symptoms such as fever, cough, chills, difficulty breathing, vomiting, etc. or if you have been in close contact with anyone with such symptoms, then for the safety and well-being of everyone, please cancel your appointment right away and focus on getting better. We will see you back in the studio after you return to full health. ​ Exceptions to our cancellation policy are made in the event of a true emergency or crisis, but of course if it happens repeatedly then we will have to revert to the policy of charging for missed appointments, or blocking further appointments from being made by clients who continually cancel late or do not show for their sessions. ​ Please note that if you show up late to your appointment, the duration of the session will be shortened so that it ends at the originally designated time. We must preserve the amount of time we place between clients to allow enough space for cleaning and prepping. You can expect us to show up on time and be fully present for your appointment, and we hope you will do the same. Thank you for understanding. ​ ​ Free Exploratory Calls (via Zoom) These 30-minute calls are listed as being $45 and require a valid credit card to book, but the credit card will only be charged in the event of a no-show or cancellation made too late for us to book another client for that time slot. Otherwise, the appointment is free and provides us with a chance to connect over what issues you are facing and how the work provided at Studio A may or may not be of help to you. Cancellations can be made up to 24 hours before your appointment time, via a link in the original email confirmation you received upon booking the appointment. Cancellations that need to be made within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time must be made by texting us directly, at (463) 235-7171. Clients who cancel with less than 24 hours before their scheduled appointment time will be charged 50-100% of the original rate ($45), using the payment method entered during the booking process. No-shows are guaranteed to result in a full charge of $45. ​ ​ Drop-In Classes (e.g. Release & Refresh) You may cancel your registration for a drop-in class up to 24 hours before class start time, by clicking on the "cancel/change" button within the confirmation and reminder emails for the class. A refund for the class minus a $5 processing fee will be provided. No refunds are available for no-shows. Anyone arriving at a class more than 10 minutes past start time will be considered a no-show and will not be allowed in, as it disrupts class flow and compromises the work for everyone who arrived on time. Thank you for being considerate and doing your best to show up on time. We appreciate a text message if you are running late, although we will still have to hold to the policy listed here. If you are showing symptoms of a potentially contagious sickness within 24 hours of the class, please do us all a favor and stay home. If within 24 hours of class start time, please text us at (463) 235-7171 to let us know so we can adjust accordingly. Group Programs Should you need to cancel your enrollment in an extended group program (such as the Feel to Heal Program), a full refund will be provided minus a $5 service fee if the cancellation is made prior to 7 days before the date of the first group session. Cancellations between 4-7 days prior to program start date will be refunded at 50%. Any cancellations after that will not be refundable, unfortunately, including an inability to finish the program once it has begun. Cancellations can be made by clicking the orange "change/cancel appointment" button within the confirmation email for the class, up to 4 days prior to the start of the program. To cancel after that, you must contact us directly by texting (463) 235-7171. If you are not already an existing client at Studio A, then after enrollment you may be contacted to ensure you are a good fit for the program. In the event that it is determined that you are not a good fit, a full refund will be given. ​ As a participant in groupwork, you will be asked to commit to attending all weekly sessions and to wholeheartedly engage in any homework between sessions. You can count on us to fully "show up" to each and every session, and we ask that you please do the same. The group setting adds a very valuable dynamic to the healing process, which can be compromised when members of the group skip sessions or otherwise do not fully participate. Please commit to being present at all in-person sessions as best as you can, as well as to doing any homework assigned to you. Of course missing a session due to illness or serious issues is always understood. Thank you for understanding. ​ ​ Zoom-only Programs Should you need to cancel your enrollment in a Zoom-only program, a refund will be provided minus a $5 service fee if the cancellation is made prior to 4 days before the date of the first group session. Between 2-4 days prior to the program start date, a 50% refund will be given in the event that you need to cancel. Any cancellations after that will not be refundable, unfortunately, including an inability to finish the program once it has begun. While we will make reasonable attempts to assist you with the use of Zoom software for the group meetings, any issues you have that prevent you from fully engaging during the meetings such as joining the meeting, hearing audio, seeing video, etc. are not the responsibility of Studio A, and do not entitle you to a refund.

For Massage Therapy appointments, a simple intake process to discover your intentions and needs for the session happens when you first arrive. If you arrive early for your appointment, we have intake forms and clipboards in the waiting area so you can go ahead and fill it out ahead of time while you wait for your appointment to begin. Your first Somatic Healing Session involves going over a lengthy intake form that clients fill out before their first appointment. During the first session, your already-completed intake form guides our questions, as we seek to understand you and your history. You will be asked to share "headline versions" of the things you have experienced to help us understand what is perhaps contributing to your present-day pain and other symptoms. We do NOT ask for, nor do we encourage you to share full details and stories of traumatic events you have been through. Most of that content is actually not necessary in order to work together and in order to bring resolution to the symptoms of the trauma, and can actually be overwhelming for your system and can re-traumatize. However, even without telling full stories, some people find the first appointment and intake process difficult, as it can bring up a lot of stuff. Please understand that you CAN and should communicate if you need to stop, take a break, etc. AND that you don't have to share what you're not comfortable with. Please also be aware that not all sessions are like the first one. We only have to do an intake once! From session #2 onwards, we can typically jump right into the work.

It is crucial that you are completely comfortable for your appointments as far as how clothed/unclothed you are. We would never ask you to undress to a certain level simply because it makes our work easier, if it's at the expense of you being able to really settle into the session and get comfortable. Typically clients at massage establishments are made to feel that they must remove their clothing for the therapist to do their job, but we are flexible and can work directly on skin OR through clothes, if needed. If you wish for the therapist to work directly on your skin, you will need to remove clothing; we do not reach under clothing to do our work, but rather consider your clothing to be our boundary as far as skin contact. Per massage laws in Indiana, you will always have a covering/blanket over you if you have chosen to remove clothing, and your chest (women) and genitals (all genders) will never be exposed, or worked on. The only exception within the law to working on female breast tissue is if the massage therapist has undergone specific training for it and asks for consent before working in that area. At Studio A we operate with great care and assume nothing as far as areas you wish for us to work on or stay away from; we will ask for consent, communicate clearly, and clarify expectations at the beginning and throughout the session as needed. If you do choose to keep your clothing on, you'll want to wear clothes that are stretchy or loose-fitting and that are modest and comfortable.​ The main things to stay away from are especially bulky/thick clothes, hard buttons and zippers, and clothes with no stretch or give to them (like denim, super thick sweatpants, or things with hard seams that make it difficult to stretch in). You will be given time to change in private, if needed when you arrive. For those who remain clothed, you will be offered a blanket to cover up with for extra warmth when doing hands-on work.

You will never be forced to do anything you do not wish to during a session. There are ALWAYS workarounds to get at what we need while making sure you feel safe and comfortable. We believe in getting your consent not only by having you sign a waiver at the beginning of each session, but also verbally at each step of the work together. This ensures we are continually on the same page, that you are never surprised, and that we have given you a chance at each point in the process to voice your concerns, limits, or boundaries. See next point about communication...

The important piece about consent only works if clients do their part to communicate honestly with us about what they need and want. We know that speaking up for oneself can be difficult, especially for those with trauma in their history, but if there is something you feel strongly about that you do not tell us, then we have no way of knowing and cannot be expected to accommodate it. Every person is so unique, including what they've been through, and while we do our best to stay attuned to our clients, we also need you to be open and honest with what you need as things come up. We can accommodate all sorts of special situations, and actually enjoy finding creative solutions to the unique challenges that clients bring, so don't be shy, speak up!

It is important that you understand that at Studio A we are not psychologists, psychotherapists, or other mental health clinicians. We provide massage and bodywork services that are trauma-informed, which requires that we thoroughly understand trauma, mental health, and the body's role in holding it. We work with people in a forward-moving, goal-oriented way to overcome the effects of stress and trauma on their lives, using bodywork, education, coaching, and providing resources to aid them in their journey of holistic healing. Despite what the various state licensing suggests, there is no actual clear-cut way to delineate between a person's mind and body; mental health is expressed in the body, and what one experiences in their physical body is a part of or an expression of their mental health. What those with a mental health license (LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, PsyD, Doctor of Psychiatry, etc.) have is the legal authority to assess, diagnose, and treat a person's mental health. So if you are looking for a professional who can provide support in the way of providing a diagnosis for you according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, along with insurance-approved clinical treatment for that diagnosis, Studio A will likely not be a good match for you. Our focus at Studio A is more directed at providing holistic care for the body/soul/spirit, providing interventions that facilitate nervous system regulation, the renegotiation of survival energy held in the body from trauma, and the release of tension in the myofascial structures of the body. For massage therapists, the law permits work on soft tissues of the body for the purpose of enhancing health, providing muscle relaxation, increasing range of motion, reducing stress, relieving pain, or improving circulation of the human body. Allie, owner of Studio A, is also a certified coach, and so adheres to the definition of coaching provided by the International Coaching Federation (ICF): "partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential." Allie's credentials as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and NARM-Informed Professional fit within the framework and scopes of bodywork and coaching. Coaching is distinguished from mental health therapy in that it is for "individuals who are well-functioning, psychologically healthy, successful, and strongly motivated to pursue their goals." While there is a lot of room for interpretation within that statement, the key here is that the client is not relying on Studio A for psychological therapy or utilizing services at Studio A instead of psychotherapy, if that is what is really needed. A coaching relationship "is premised on an assumption that coaching clients are robust enough to accept or reject ideas and perspectives that coaches might offer." Also note-worthy, "coaching is action-oriented rather than a protracted analysis of issues." (All quotes from Foundations of Professional Coaching: Models, Methods, and Core Competencies by James Gavin.) Many mental health therapists refer their clients to Studio A to address bodily/physical symptoms the client is experiencing. The somatic therapy offered at Studio A works really well as an adjunct to traditional mental health therapy, or can also be a stand-alone service, depending on what the client needs and wants. If you ever have any questions about what we do and what we don't do, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask.

You will receive our honest feedback about if we are a good fit to work together and if we feel that we can be of help to you in some way or not. Not every client and therapist will make a perfect match. We have a growing list of other somatically-trained bodyworkers and mental health therapists that we may refer you to, either in conjunction with sessions at Studio A or in place of them, depending on the situation.

At Studio A we advocate hard for self-care, and a big part of that is self-treatment. So, we spend time educating our clients on how to tune into what their body needs, and how to be their own therapist at home and on the go. We have a Lending Library of tools and resources in the studio that clients can borrow from, to see if a particular thing works for them and their body before spending their own money on it. (We do not sell items, but provide links to the Amazon listings on my Resources page.) It is important to us that our clients are equipped with the knowledge, resources, and capacity to take care of the body that they will inhabit for the rest of their lives.