Policies & Frequently Asked Questions
Please read before booking your massage
Frequently asked questions
Do you accept insurance?
Unfortunately I do not accept insurance. However, if you have a health savings account that you plan to utilize please let me know and I will work with you to create an appropriate receipt.
How often should I get a massage?
The frequency of your massage therapy sessions will depend on your overall personal goals for treatment and can range from 1-2 times a week to once a month.
The biggest benefits of therapeutic massage are expressed through consistency. Consider strength training or studying; consistently engaging in those activities will lead to a stronger body and a sharper mind. Receiving frequent and consistent massage therapy teaches your nervous system over time to relax, calms your mind, and increases your body's ability to focus on healing.
We need to train and teach your nervous system to calm down so that you can overcome the restrctions of physical pain and operate from a calmer emotional state.
I've never had a massage before, what should I expect?
Some of the key purposes of massage therapy are to help decrease tension in soft tissues, prevent repetitive injury, and induce relaxation by calming the nervous system.
Every massage session will start with an intake assessment where we will discuss the areas where you are experiencing dysfunction/discomfort and your goals for treatment.
It's important to inform me of any recent or past injuries, surgeries, or diagnoses you have/had that may be relevant, as well as any emotional stress you may be experiencing that, is relevant to a specific physical complaint (e.g. frequent anxiety which you feel may be contributing to your upper back pain). This information allows me to gain some insight into how your body could be compensating to balance out an injury/surgery and can help inform me of how your nervous system may be influencing your physical discomfort.
After the intake process and treatment plan are established, I will leave the room and you will undress to your level of comfort and will get onto the massage table underneath a sheet and blanket. During your massage, I will only undrape the regions of the body that I am currently working on and the rest of your body will remain covered. You are encouraged to communicate any experience of discomfort/pain or adjustments to pressure throughout your massage.
After your massage treatment, I will leave the room again so you can slowly get off the table and get dressed. We will then discuss how the massage went and go over any areas of concern as well as future treatment plan recommendations.
What does "undress to your level of comfort" mean?
This means that you will get undressed to the level in which you are most comfortable. Typically, a client will get completely undressed or will keep their underwear on; however if you choose to keep more layers of your clothing on that is absolutely acceptable and I have therapy techniques that can accommodate for this. The main reason to undress is to allow your therapist to address various muscle group regions of the body without having to work around the restriction of clothing.
No matter what level you undress to, genitals, breasts, and any requested specified areas of the body will never be exposed.
What kind of lotion do you use?
The two products I use are:
-BIOTONE® Pure Touch® Organics Massage Creme
-TheraPro™ Grapeseed Massage Oil-100% Pure Grapeseed Oil
Both of these products are unscented.
If you have a concern about a particular ingredient in these products let me know and we can discuss an alternative.
Should I tip after my massage?
I politely decline gratuity in my private practice as a policy.
If you feel inclined to emphasize any appreciation or support for the therapy I provide for you, please consider leaving me a review or sharing your experience with others. This is a wonderful way to support a small business and will also expand your healing experience through sharing with others!
Make a Google review here:
https://g.page/r/CZco4iooukTzEBA
or
email a client testimonial to:
hello@bellinghamtherapeuticmassage.com
Clinic Policies
Client Cancelation Policy
A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to reschedule or cancel your appointment.
If you cancel with less than 24-hour notice you will be charged $97 for a 90min massage booking and $130 for a 2-hour massage booking for your first cancellation. Any future cancellations will result in a 100% charge of the service rate. You will not be able to book a future massage until any outstanding invoices are paid. Fees will be waived if your appointment slot can be filled; however, reoccurring cancellations could result in scheduling restrictions.
If you need to reschedule your appointment and are unable to do so within a 24-hour window, you will be charged $65 for a 90-min massage booking and $86 for a 2-hour massage booking. This fee will be waived if your appointment slot can be filled in your absence; however, reoccurring rescheduling could result in scheduling restrictions.
While you are ultimately responsible for managing your scheduled appointments, two appointment reminders will be sent out as a courtesy one week & 48 hours before your appointment.
I understand that circumstances happen and recognize that emergencies and illnesses can arise out of your control. Please communicate with me as soon as you know you are unable to make it to your appointment so we have the opportunity to take action toward filling your appointment spot and avoiding late cancellation fee charges.
Out of courtesy for yourself, myself, and other clients who will be sharing the clinic space, please stay home if you are feeling unwell and contact me as soon as possible to inform me of your absence.
Therapist Cancelation Policy
If for any reason I need to cancel or reschedule our appointment due to an emergency or illness on my end, I will inform you as soon as possible and will also reschedule your appointment for the next convenient availability.
Late Arrival Policy
Please aim to arrive on time for your scheduled appointment to ensure that our whole treatment time together is maximized. If you are running late, contact me as soon as possible so that I know when to expect you. Please let me know at the beginning of our time together if you need to end your session early so that I can accommodate your treatment time for this. Both late arrival and early ending of your massage appointment are not subject to service rate changes; full rate charges of your booked session will be collected at the end of your appointment.
No-Show Policy
If you fail to show up to your appointment without communication you will be charged $97 for a 90-minute massage booking and $130 for a 2-hour massage booking for your first no-show. Any future no-shows will result in a 100% charge of the service rate. You will not be able to book a future massage until all outstanding invoices are paid. Future appointments will need to be made through direct contact.
Behavioral Policy
Massage therapy is intended for therapeutic purposes and relaxation only. There is ZERO TOLERANCE for inappropriate sexual gestures, insinuation, or conversation. Any violation of this will result in immediate termination of your session. You will be charged the full-service rate of your appointment regardless of when your session ended. You will be refused any future services and booking capabilities. Report to local authorities will be pursued if necessary.
Card on File Policy
You will need a valid credit/debit card on file in order to book your appointment. Your card will not be charged until after your session or otherwise in accordance with these stated policies. You will always be notified of charges before any payment processing.
Policies & Frequently Asked Questions
Please read before booking your massage
Frequently asked questions
Do you accept insurance?
Unfortunately I do not accept insurance. However, if you have a health savings account that you plan to utilize please let me know and I will work with you to create an appropriate receipt.
How often should I get a massage?
The frequency of your massage therapy sessions will depend on your overall personal goals for treatment and can range from 1-2 times a week to once a month.
The biggest benefits of therapeutic massage are expressed through consistency. Consider strength training or studying; consistently engaging in those activities will lead to a stronger body and a sharper mind. Receiving frequent and consistent massage therapy teaches your nervous system over time to relax, calms your mind, and increases your body's ability to focus on healing.
We need to train and teach your nervous system to calm down so that you can overcome the restrctions of physical pain and operate from a calmer emotional state.
I've never had a massage before, what should I expect?
Some of the key purposes of massage therapy are to help decrease tension in soft tissues, prevent repetitive injury, and induce relaxation by calming the nervous system.
Every massage session will start with an intake assessment where we will discuss the areas where you are experiencing dysfunction/discomfort and your goals for treatment.
It's important to inform me of any recent or past injuries, surgeries, or diagnoses you have/had that may be relevant, as well as any emotional stress you may be experiencing that, is relevant to a specific physical complaint (e.g. frequent anxiety which you feel may be contributing to your upper back pain). This information allows me to gain some insight into how your body could be compensating to balance out an injury/surgery and can help inform me of how your nervous system may be influencing your physical discomfort.
After the intake process and treatment plan are established, I will leave the room and you will undress to your level of comfort and will get onto the massage table underneath a sheet and blanket. During your massage, I will only undrape the regions of the body that I am currently working on and the rest of your body will remain covered. You are encouraged to communicate any experience of discomfort/pain or adjustments to pressure throughout your massage.
After your massage treatment, I will leave the room again so you can slowly get off the table and get dressed. We will then discuss how the massage went and go over any areas of concern as well as future treatment plan recommendations.
What does "undress to your level of comfort" mean?
This means that you will get undressed to the level in which you are most comfortable. Typically, a client will get completely undressed or will keep their underwear on; however if you choose to keep more layers of your clothing on that is absolutely acceptable and I have therapy techniques that can accommodate for this. The main reason to undress is to allow your therapist to address various muscle group regions of the body without having to work around the restriction of clothing.
No matter what level you undress to, genitals, breasts, and any requested specified areas of the body will never be exposed.
What kind of lotion do you use?
The two products I use are:
-BIOTONE® Pure Touch® Organics Massage Creme
-TheraPro™ Grapeseed Massage Oil-100% Pure Grapeseed Oil
Both of these products are unscented.
If you have a concern about a particular ingredient in these products let me know and we can discuss an alternative.
Should I tip after my massage?
I politely decline gratuity in my private practice as a policy.
If you feel inclined to emphasize any appreciation or support for the therapy I provide for you, please consider leaving me a review or sharing your experience with others. This is a wonderful way to support a small business and will also expand your healing experience through sharing with others!
Make a Google review here:
https://g.page/r/CZco4iooukTzEBA
or
email a client testimonial to:
hello@bellinghamtherapeuticmassage.com
Clinic Policies
Client Cancelation Policy
A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to reschedule or cancel your appointment.
If you cancel with less than 24-hour notice you will be charged $97 for a 90min massage booking and $130 for a 2-hour massage booking for your first cancellation. Any future cancellations will result in a 100% charge of the service rate. You will not be able to book a future massage until any outstanding invoices are paid. Fees will be waived if your appointment slot can be filled; however, reoccurring cancellations could result in scheduling restrictions.
If you need to reschedule your appointment and are unable to do so within a 24-hour window, you will be charged $65 for a 90-min massage booking and $86 for a 2-hour massage booking. This fee will be waived if your appointment slot can be filled in your absence; however, reoccurring rescheduling could result in scheduling restrictions.
While you are ultimately responsible for managing your scheduled appointments, two appointment reminders will be sent out as a courtesy one week & 48 hours before your appointment.
I understand that circumstances happen and recognize that emergencies and illnesses can arise out of your control. Please communicate with me as soon as you know you are unable to make it to your appointment so we have the opportunity to take action toward filling your appointment spot and avoiding late cancellation fee charges.
Out of courtesy for yourself, myself, and other clients who will be sharing the clinic space, please stay home if you are feeling unwell and contact me as soon as possible to inform me of your absence.
Therapist Cancelation Policy
If for any reason I need to cancel or reschedule our appointment due to an emergency or illness on my end, I will inform you as soon as possible and will also reschedule your appointment for the next convenient availability.
Late Arrival Policy
Please aim to arrive on time for your scheduled appointment to ensure that our whole treatment time together is maximized. If you are running late, contact me as soon as possible so that I know when to expect you. Please let me know at the beginning of our time together if you need to end your session early so that I can accommodate your treatment time for this. Both late arrival and early ending of your massage appointment are not subject to service rate changes; full rate charges of your booked session will be collected at the end of your appointment.
No-Show Policy
If you fail to show up to your appointment without communication you will be charged $97 for a 90-minute massage booking and $130 for a 2-hour massage booking for your first no-show. Any future no-shows will result in a 100% charge of the service rate. You will not be able to book a future massage until all outstanding invoices are paid. Future appointments will need to be made through direct contact.
Behavioral Policy
Massage therapy is intended for therapeutic purposes and relaxation only. There is ZERO TOLERANCE for inappropriate sexual gestures, insinuation, or conversation. Any violation of this will result in immediate termination of your session. You will be charged the full-service rate of your appointment regardless of when your session ended. You will be refused any future services and booking capabilities. Report to local authorities will be pursued if necessary.
Card on File Policy
You will need a valid credit/debit card on file in order to book your appointment. Your card will not be charged until after your session or otherwise in accordance with these stated policies. You will always be notified of charges before any payment processing.
Scope of Practice Disclaimer
Bellingham Therapeutic Massage, LLC is inclusive of people from all backgrounds; however, rights are reserved to decline service to anyone who may need assistance and care for physical and/or mental concerns that are beyond my (Sydney Blackman, LMT) scope of practice.
Please note that while one of the goals for my private practice is to acknowledge the impacts and influences that mental/emotional stress can have on the physical body, I am not a licensed mental health care provider and it is not within my scope of practice to diagnose or treat any mental illness, nor directly correlate physical symptoms with a clients emotional experience. However, I can appropriately recognize if you share direct verbal communication and confirmation that a physical symptom you have is correlated to an emotional experience.
If you suspect that you may have an undiagnosed mental health or mood disorder, please consult your primary care doctor and relevant healthcare professionals. If you have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition, you agree to notify me in your intake forms where applicable as well as note any medications that you may be taking.
Scope of Practice Disclaimer
Bellingham Therapeutic Massage, LLC is inclusive of people from all backgrounds; however, rights are reserved to decline service to anyone who may need assistance and care for physical and/or mental concerns that are beyond my (Sydney Blackman, LMT) scope of practice.
Please note that while one of the goals for my private practice is to acknowledge the impacts and influences that mental/emotional stress can have on the physical body, I am not a licensed mental health care provider and it is not within my scope of practice to diagnose or treat any mental illness, nor directly correlate physical symptoms with a clients emotional experience. However, I can appropriately recognize if you share direct verbal communication and confirmation that a physical symptom you have is correlated to an emotional experience.
If you suspect that you may have an undiagnosed mental health or mood disorder, please consult your primary care doctor and relevant healthcare professionals. If you have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition, you agree to notify me in your intake forms where applicable as well as note any medications that you may be taking.