I became a massage therapist in 2011 and have been practicing myofascial trigger point therapy as my main modality of choice from day one.  My decision to become a massage therapist was driven by my desperate need for relief from my own pain.  In 2002, I had an accident that injured my neck and left me with pain and numbness that radiated from my head to my fingertips. I also had swallowing issues, and began having pain throughout my whole body.  I was at the point where it hurt for anyone to even hug me or touch me.  This led to my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. My doctor's advice was to keep working as long as I could because being sedentary would only make my pain worse. After dealing with the pain, trying to continue working and changing jobs several times only to find that each job was making things worse, I began researching treatments for Fibromyalgia and I prayed that God would lead me to find answers.  I was already the type of person that did not take medications for pain.  I wanted to find answers that would be natural. Massage therapy was the number 1 treatment for managing Fibromyalgia and I knew this was my answer.  I had never had a professional massage when I enrolled in massage school but by the time I finished I had gained so much more than a new career.  I had been given the answers I had prayed for.  I had learned about Janet Travell and Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy and had learned that trigger points were the cause of so much of my pain. When I began my career, I began with a focus on helping others who suffered with chronic pain and started a support group for Fibromyalgia.  In the process, I learned a lot from my clients. I saw their tension and knots go away. I saw them being able to eliminate pain medications and become active in the things they enjoyed doing.  And best of all, my own pain went away and today I can say I no longer suffer from Fibromyalgia.   I completed my massage therapy training at Manatee Technical Institute in Lakewood Ranch, Fl.  Afterwards, I continued my education pursuing a BA in Psychology at USF.  In addition to my skills as a myofascial trigger point therapist, I also have a certifications in  ACE massage cupping, and training in Active Isolated Stretching, Orthopedic Massage, and Sports Massage. I was also a member of the FSMTA sports massage team. Through my education and having dealt with my own health issues I have a real understanding of how pain can affect the body on a physical, psychological, and emotional level.  I am dedicated to treating the body, mind, and spirit.