What to Expect in a Session
A trauma-informed structural integration session
Not knowing what's going to happen creates anxiety. Anxiety activates your nervous system. An activated nervous system makes bodywork less effective and potentially triggering. So let me walk you through exactly what happens, step by step.
Every session is trauma-informed, which means you have control, consent is ongoing, and nothing happens without explanation first. This isn't a mysterious process. It's collaborative work where you're an active participant, not a passive recipient.
Here's what to expect from arrival to completion:
Intake and Assessment (First 15-20 Minutes)
We start with conversation. I'll ask about what brought you in, what you're experiencing, your goals. You share as much or as little as you're comfortable with. If there's trauma history that affects how I should work with you, you can mention it. If you'd rather keep things purely physical, that's fine too.
I'll ask about injuries, surgeries, and any conditions that might affect the work. Not to be nosy, but to work safely and effectively. Then we'll do a brief movement assessment. I watch you stand, walk, maybe do some basic movements. I'm looking at your structure, how you organize yourself, where you compensate.
This assessment informs the work but doesn't lock us into anything. Sessions adapt based on what I'm feeling in your tissue and what you're experiencing. The plan is a starting point, not a script.
Consent Before We Start
Before any hands-on work, we establish consent and boundaries:
- What areas we'll work on today
- What areas are off-limits or need careful approach
- How you prefer to communicate discomfort
- That you can say no, stop, or adjust at any point
- What "good pressure" vs "too much" feels like for you
This isn't a formality. It's establishing that you're in control. Your consent isn't locked in at the beginning. It's ongoing throughout the session. Learn more about consent and boundaries in bodywork.
What to Wear: Clothing and Draping
For structural integration work, I need to see and access the tissue. That means minimal clothing: shorts and a sports bra or tank top for women, shorts for men. If that's not comfortable for you, we can adjust or focus on movement education instead. Your comfort matters more than ideal working conditions.
Professional draping is maintained at all times. You're never exposed unnecessarily. If we're working on your hip, for example, I'll adjust your shorts just enough to access the tissue, then cover everything else. The goal is access for effective work while respecting your privacy and boundaries.
If you're not comfortable with minimal clothing, that's completely valid. We can work through clothing (less effective but still helpful) or focus more on movement education where you stay in regular workout clothes. There's flexibility here.
The Hands-On Work: What It Feels Like
Structural integration uses slow, sustained pressure on fascia. This isn't massage. The pressure is specific and intentional, working with the connective tissue layer, not just muscles. It can feel intense, but it shouldn't be painful.
I'll explain what I'm about to do before doing it: "I'm going to work on your hip flexor now. You'll feel sustained pressure here. Let me know if it needs to be lighter or deeper." Then I work. You give feedback. I adjust. This is collaborative, not something done to you.
Most people describe the sensation as "hurts so good" or "intense but productive." Some areas might be tender. That's okay. But if something feels wrong, overwhelming, or too much, you say so immediately. We're working at your edge, not past it. Your nervous system needs to feel safe for the work to be effective.
Feedback Loops During the Session
We use a simple intensity scale: 1-10, where 7 is your working edge. Below 7, nothing much is happening. At 7-8, you're feeling it but it's manageable. At 9, it's too much. At 10, stop immediately.
I'll ask "where are you?" regularly. You tell me. I adjust. This keeps you inside your tolerance window where actual change can happen. Too light, and nothing releases. Too intense, and your nervous system braces against it, which is counterproductive.
I'm also watching your breath, your muscle tone, your facial expression. If I see you holding your breath or bracing, I'll check in even if you haven't said anything. You shouldn't have to advocate constantly. I'm monitoring and adjusting based on what your body is communicating.
What to Expect After: Soreness vs. Overwhelm
Normal after-effects: Some soreness for 24-48 hours, like you worked out. Feeling "different" in your body, movement feels easier or changed. Sometimes emotional processing (your system integrating the work). Feeling tired or needing extra sleep. All of this is your body adapting and reorganizing.
Not normal: Severe pain. Feeling retraumatized or emotionally overwhelmed. Numbness or loss of function. Extreme fatigue lasting more than a few days. If you experience any of these, contact me immediately. This means we worked outside your tolerance window, and we need to adjust our approach.
Most people feel good after sessions. Some have profound releases and feel amazing immediately. Others need a day or two to integrate. Both are normal. Your nervous system is reorganizing. Give it space to do that.
Follow-Up and Progressive Work
Sessions typically happen weekly, giving your body time to integrate between. Each session builds on the last. We're systematically addressing your structure, not just chasing pain around.
I'll check in at the start of each session: how did you feel after last time, what changed, what's showing up now. This feedback guides the work. We're responding to your body's process, not following a rigid protocol.
Between sessions, I might give you simple movement practices or awareness exercises. These aren't homework. They're tools to reinforce the work and help your nervous system integrate the changes. Use them if they're helpful. Don't stress if you don't. The hands-on work is what creates the core change.
Ready to Start?
Book a Body Systems Check. It's a comprehensive assessment where we'll discuss your goals, assess your structure and movement, and create a clear plan forward.