Last update: May 2024

Table of Contents

My Professional Pledge to You
What to Expect ... Pre-, Mid-, and Post-Therapy
About Chronic Illness and Pain
Dealing with Fear or Mistrust
​What Not to Do
New or Nervous?
Consultations, Conditions, and Confidentiality

My Professional Pledge to You
  • ​I will give you my integral best at each visit with no decline in effectiveness or quality, even though my methods may change.
  • Palpation will be used to determine the conditions at hand and their priority, because palpation is the best guide.
  • The most effective remedial methods will be chosen for the conditions revealed. 
  • The most permanent solutions are the main focus, not "managing your pain."
  • If I am doing my job right, no two visits will feel the same.
  • I won't sales-pitch you into return visits.
  • I will let you know if a situation genuinely calls for follow-up work, yet leave the choice of returning up to you - where it belongs.
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What to Expect ...

Pre-Therapy

  • Arrive on time, prepared, and aware of office policies, so that we can get straight to work.
  • Early admittance is not possible unless pre-arranged. If you arrive early, visit the shops around the corner on Amsterdam.  
  • If intercom is not working, text your arrival to 212-663-8366.
  • Remove shoes after entering the office, and wash hands at sink. Wash face, too, if needing sinus, headache, or neck work.
  • Mask Policy: Varies depending on circumstances. If you are asked to wear a mask, it is a requirement. If you are not asked and you are feeling unwell, please voluntarily mask. Ms. Mae will wear a mask as needed. Masks are not only about viral contagions, but also for the immunocompromised and allergic.
  • Tell Ms. Mae what your symptoms are, where you feel them, and when you most experience them. Avoid, the best you can, histories and explanations, for time is limited and they matter less than you might think!
  • Limit questions to those that are clarifying and on-topic.
  • Set aside trust issues the best you can, because the more genuine trust there is, the more healing is possible. See the section on: Dealing with Fear or Mistrust if help is needed.
  • Disrobing is preferred for the use of oils, ointments, and palpation, but disrobing is optional. Your comfort is more important than the use of oils. When you are asked to get on the table, disrobe in private to your comfort level and cover yourself with the sheet. In most cases, you will be asked to lie face-up with the big pillow under your knees and the small pillow under your neck.

Mid-Therapy

  • Report any pain, discomfort, or fear immediately, not afterward.​
  • Report any sensation or change that happens someplace other than where Ms. Mae is working, even if it is subtle or seems imaginary. It's often an important clue!
  • Ms. Mae intuitively shares information throughout the session for your benefit. Don't listen to a word she says unless something resonates with you; then later check it out for yourself. Ask for a less-informative session if any communications make you uncomfortable. Note: Passion about bodywork and aging means Ms. Mae can also overshare. It’s okay to ask her to stay on point! 
  • It is common to need to use the restroom during a session, even more than once. Please feel free to do so as needed.
  • Potential unexpected responses you may experience during therapy are: sinus congestion, lower blood pressure, and release of emotions or old/forgotten memories. Sexual arousal is rare, discouraged, not to be acted upon, and may get you banned for life.
  • If used, gua sha and cupping may bring color to the skin's surface through a therapeutic siphoning action. The coloring is temporary and does no harm. It is blood and connective tissue fluids and may look like a bruise, but it is not a bruise.
  • Note: Immune-compromised individuals will receive a gentler, but no less effective session, appropriate to their condition. Eg. Cancer patients receiving chemo, radiation, immunotherapy, or clinical trial.
  • If Ms. Mae discovers that there is more going on than meets the eye, so to speak, she will say so and ask you to return at a future date to finish what was started.
  • Occasionally, clients need more than Ms. Mae can give them. If this happens, you will be referred out or to another medical professional. ​​​

Post-Therapy

  • Save post-session questions for your next consult, or visit the Post-Session-Help page where explanations exist for many things Ms. Mae may bring up during session.
  • There are 2 recovery periods: 72 hours for soft tissue therapy; 5 full days for bone-level  or osteo therapy.
  • Your 72-hour recovery period may include fatigue, soreness, headache, cold- or flu-like symptoms. This is less likely if hydrated and you don't overdo physical activity. It is also less likely due to the new methods Ms. Mae is using, yet hydration and taking it easy are still advised. Your 5-day recovery period, if applicable, may include locations that are tender to the touch, but otherwise unnoticeable.
  • Hydrate with plain, non-carbonated water. Use Mayo Clinic formula: Drink half your weight in ounces, daily. (140 lbs = 70 ounces of water/day.) Coffee, tea, alcohol, fruit juice, sugary drinks, and carbonation do not count - these dehydrate. Dehydration may be the leading cause of chronic pain and inflammation in some people. One great way to break your nighttime fast is to start with a glass of water before your first cup of coffee or tea.
  • Even if you feel better, unless told otherwise, engage only in your 'normal' activities during your recovery period. Do not overdo, or you risk injury.
  • Although rare, if you experience side effects that are dramatically different or longer than stated here, email Ms. Mae within your recovery period to see if there is a quick fix for it.
  • All forms of bodywork can open a window to underlying emotional or physical issues that may or may not be known to you, and yet are valuable to healing. If you experience strong emotional response or fatigue beyond your recovery period, inform Ms. Mae and seek the appropriate medical support for your situation.
  • If you want to know when to return after your visit, see article: How Often Should I Come Back? Ms. Mae is not in the business of prioritizing your health, you are. So, use this article for useful, lifetime guidance.​
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About Chronic Illness and Pain
  • Diet, attitude, and lifestyle may not be the cause, but they have an astoundingly significant impact on symptoms.
  • Ms. Mae does not diagnose or give orders, but she will inform you if evidence suggests something in your diet or lifestyle is aggravating or exacerbating your symptoms. Whether or not you act on the information is up to you. A bad attitude is dangerous to both self and others, and will not be tolerated; pain and illness are not a just excuse.
  • If someone you love suffers from chronic illness and pain, help them by helping to break down the social barriers that keep them from being full participants in life, and read this Harvard article: Chronic Illness is not widely viewed as a disability. This needs to change.
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Dealing with Fear or Mistrust
  • Clients often come to Ms. Mae with serious or scary situations that may involve fear or mistrust of therapy, therapists, or both.
  • If there is fear or mistrust: 
    • Manual therapies can be literally blocked by your body, preventing the very healing you come in for;
    • You may suffer from the effects of trauma, in which case just being aware can improve your outcomes;
    • Your therapist can sense fear and mistrust, which can reduce their focus, ability, or both, which may also prevent the very healing you come in for;
    • Fear or mistrust can also manifest as a challenging or unhelpful attitude resulting in the same risk of reduced outcomes.
  • Conquer fear and mistrust:
    • Tell your therapist the truth, and let yourself laugh a little - whatever it takes to break the tension and create understanding;
    • Understand that effective bodywork may appear mechanical but is not. Great bodywork involves intense awareness, tactile listening, and accurate responsiveness, all of which work best in a mutually trusting, respectful environment.
    • Read Ms. Mae's bold thoughts on Trauma Informed Care.
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What Not to Do
  • Do not wear perfumes, colognes, or other strong scents to any healthcare setting. See Perfume Policy.
  • Do not receive bodywork for obvious contraindications, but also: Respiratory illness, blood clot risk, or while under the influence of recreational drug or alcohol use.
  • Please avoid seeing Ms. Mae for 1 week after returning from international travel during flu season. Use best judgment whenever around sensitive, high risk individuals, of which Ms. Mae is one.
  • Do not forget to inform Ms. Mae at the start of your session if you are planning any strenuous activity within 72 hours of seeing her. Normally, it is wise to avoid above-normal activities for 72 hours after your session. 
  • Do not exhibit disrespectful behavior or attitude for it will be either reported as misconduct or treated as bullying and the session will end with no refund. 
    • Sexual arousal may be natural, but it is not to be acted on or encouraged in any way. Those who lack self control will experience an abrupt end to their session with no refund. They may also be reported to authorities as well as professional massage schools and associations.
  • Do not consume alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after any bodywork session. There are many reasons, but one is that it reverses at least some of the therapy you just paid to receive.
  • Do not ask for extra time while in session, even if you are willing to pay for it. Ms. Mae is a naturally generous person and has often gone overtime to help clients, sometimes at her peril; this is no longer an option. 
  • Do not hang out to chat after the session is over. It's understandable! Also, you may be feeling so good and spacey that breaking the inertia to get outside is difficult. You will not be rushed, but do make an attempt to leave the office once dressed. You may finish grounding, if need be, at a nearby cafe like The Hungarian Pastry Shop across from the peaceful and world renowned grounds of St. John's Cathedral.​
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New or Nervous?
  • Don't fear or discredit bodywork! It's often about finding the right therapist for you.
  • You have a right to prioritize your health, and manual therapies do wonders for most people.
  • If this is your first time getting therapeutic massage or bodywork, or if you have a bad experience and are concerned about trying again, these insights may help: What Should I Know Before I Go?​ or FAQ or Trauma Informed Care.
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Consultations, Conditions, and Confidentiality
Consultations
​To serve everyone honestly and competently: 
  • No advance consults are given;
  • No advance information will be given as to what methods Ms. Mae might use or how she might approach your particular situation;
  • Medical history is taken at time of appointment not before. Note: This is less important than most people realize because most diagnoses are for insurance, medication, and communication purposes, not for resolving or improving the issue.
  • During the consultation portion of your visit, be upfront with your objectives, health history, and any appointment-related fears you may have. 
  • No post-therapy consults are given. Please visit the Help page for answers to most post-therapy questions, including and especially to figure out when or if you should return. 
  • Follow-up appointment consultations are for answering leftover questions and documenting what changed and for how long, so please keep track!
Conditions
  • Almost all conditions can be improved through Ms. Mae's brand of palpation-proofed, massage therapy and osteo therapy - except for blood clots, Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and bad attitudes. If you are high risk for blood clots, get permission from your medical professional for bodywork of any kind. If you have ITP, consider tuning fork therapy, instead. We all have bad attitudes on occasion but they don't contribute to healing, so please leave yours at the door.
  • Stroke is a condition Ms. Mae has worked with to the satisfaction of both client and therapist, but stroke recovery is a long and slow process requiring frequent and consistent therapies, and the cost-benefit is difficult to justify. Ms. Mae recommends stroke patients seek out vibrational therapies where affordable and practical. Even unusual vibrational therapies like Trager and therapeutic tuning forks might prove to be statistically significant in the long run in speeding recovery, and should be studied.
  • Chronic pain/illness conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune labeled diseases are conditions Ms. Mae has had very interesting successes with, however - these conditions are dramatically affected by diet, environment, and attitude. Bodywork, alone, is not going to make lasting change, but it absolutely can facilitate needed change. These are also long-term conditions, by and large, that make ongoing work with Ms. Mae difficult to afford. However, a half-dozen sessions are useful for learning, hands-on, that great change is possible, especially if the client is willing to make lifestyle changes, as well. Trauma is a big part of the history behind these conditions, and Ms. Mae is a trauma-informed therapist. For an overview of some of the lifestyle issues to be evaluated, look at this article that started out being about fibromyalgia yet likely applies to all autoimmune and chronic pain/illness conditions. 
Confidentiality
  • Confidentiality and privacy are guaranteed.
  • Ms. Mae is passionate about sharing information, and may share personal or client stories about similar conditions or circumstances to highlight a lesson learned, current research, or to bring comfort.
  • For the most-shared client stories, permission to share has been asked for and received. 
  • For all client stories, no identifying or overly specific information will be shared.