I have been a practicing, certified massage therapist since 2000, having completed my coursework in 1995 at the respected Potomac Massage Training Institute in Washington DC.

I have been fortunate to train with Gayle MacDonald and Tracy Walton, leaders in medical and oncology massage. Their mentorship has significant impact on how I approach my work; they inspire attention to research and detail but reinforce the simple power of healthful touch.

My work is also enriched by training at the Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage, in which flow, movement and metta or "loving-kindness" is the heart of this practice.

As my life’s path has turned through time, I have had great fortune to experience and travel to many places and to know many people. Throughout these experiences, my passion for and dedication to the field of massage has strengthened.

I am drawn to all aspects of massage and bodywork, though I am most interested in how pain and restrictions in our body’s structure and movement affect our daily lives. My goal is to continually improve and learn to facilitate pain relief and increase ease in physical being.

To this end, I will be entering the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin. With the PT degree I envision an expansion of my practice, with many more tools at my disposal.

I moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 2006 with my partner. I love it here and plan to stay. Some of my sources of energy and interest are live music, amateur photography, bicycling and adding to my birding life list.

Please see my Recommendations for information about outstanding practitioners in the Madison, WI area.

Helpful questions to ask of a practitioner or therapist before you schedule an appointment

• What kind of training do you have?
• What type of work do you find most rewarding?
• Do you have a specialty? Why do most of your clients come to you?
• I am experiencing [X] issues and/or have had [X] injuries/procedures. Have you worked with this/these before?
• In addition to your regular fee, do you offer sliding scale or barter?
• Do you do outcalls? [An outcall is when a therapist comes to you – your home or office—to work with you.]
• Do you offer chair massage?

There are certain conditions or situations for which you need a specially trained (and sometimes certified or licensed in that specialty) practitioner. Some of these include:

• lymph edema
• cancer treatments
• scar tissue
• deep abdominal (visceral) trauma/issues

The laws in Wisconsin differ from other states and jurisdictions. To find out more about the laws which govern our practice, please visit The State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing: http://drl.wi.gov/profession.asp?profid=25&locid=0

Special Note: A law governing the amount and type of training, as well as the titles we are allowed to use for ourselves, looks likely to pass the Wisconsin Assembly this spring (2010). If it does, it may exclude some therapists who are currently practicing, including Thai Massage therapists who are not also licensed massage therapists.

This law would require licensure for most massage and bodywork providers, as opposed to the current certification.

Online Databases
Each of these databases is searchable by practitioner name, location, and modality.

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork^® (NCBTMB)'s online database for certified bodywork practitioners
http://www.ncbtmb.org/consumers_find_practitioner.php
NOTES: Searchable for countries other than the United States

American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)'s "Find a Massage Therapist^®" Online Locator
http://amtamassage.org/findamassage/locator.aspx
NOTES: Searchable for USA, Canada and US territories

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)'s Online Referral Service
http://www.massagetherapy.com/find/index.php

Susan Frikken, CMT
State of WI license #3580-046
(608) 240-9327

Practicing in the Marquette neighborhood of Madison's
East side.