Bodywork
I have been in practice since 2007, always focused on injury recovery. In early 2009, I began specializing in abdominal care for adhesions. Over the years, I have worked extensively with people recovering from:
- abdominal and/or pelvic surgeries
- recovery from childbirth (cesarian and vaginal)
- unexplained/undiagnosable abdominal and pelvic symptoms
- and much more
While I utilize techniques from many different protocols and traditions, I do not work within a single framework. Simply put, clients’ needs vary a lot and not everyone responds to the same approach. I pride myself on the flexibility of my work.
I also pride myself on being very transparent about what I can and cannot help. I strive to be as clear as possible in my communication and will not make false promises or lead you on.
If you are interested in scheduling a session with me for:
post-partum abdominal recovery
abdominal pain or distress
abdominal adhesions
pre-surgery preparation
post-surgical recovery
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Reviews
“I have been seeing Isabel for a little over a year now. When I first started seeing her, I was considerably uncomfortable due to adhesions from my 12-year-old c-section scar. I was also having difficulty with bowel movements and occasional shooting pains when I urinated. After the first few sessions with Isabel, I was feeling much better. My pain was gone when I urinated and my bowels moved much easier. She also helped immensely with the scar tissue that had attached to other areas of my abdomen and taught me how to self manage those moving forward. Since then, I see Isabel on a regular basis for work-related tendonitis, neck, shoulder and arm pain, as well as some old neglect to my hip. Her hands are magic, and she is constantly giving me things I can do on my own to maintain our work between sessions. Having seen multiple practitioners, physical therapists and doctors over the years, my only regret is that I didn’t find her sooner.”
– Amie
“I have been a client of Isabel’s for almost two years now, first coming to her after a second trimester loss which left my abdominal muscles and pelvic joints in a great deal of pain. I had been dealing with chronic SI joint pain for 18 years since the birth of my first son, and after working with Isabel through my loss and subsequent pregnancy I attained a higher quality of life because of her high skill set and knowledge. I have lived all across the US, practiced massage myself and can say that Isabel is a one of a kind healer.”
-Emily
“I saw Isabel about 8 weeks after my second vaginal delivery. I was having trouble with pubic symphysis pain and a general discomfort in my belly. After one session, my pelvic pain was greatly decreased and my belly felt better.”
– Nikki
“I had a difficult labor and a c-section in 2014. Two years later, my full flexibility in yoga still hadn’t returned. After two sessions working on my c-section scar with Isabel, I could do every pose I wanted again! I had no idea this could be fixed. I’m so grateful.”
– Kristen
“I have been working with Isabel for about 2+ years now and I am so very glad that I found her. After more than 10 years of trying to figure out what was happening in my gut and trying everything from conventional medical practices, to eating only raw for two years, to homeopathy and herbs, etc., etc… I finally received a diagnosis that hit all of the marks, and knew that my suffering had been caused by abdominal adhesions (scar tissue) brought on by a few health issues culminating with and appendectomy… the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back! After years of periodic, intense abdominal and painful spasms/cramping (some of which would last more than 12 exhausting hours and include diarrhea, vomiting and severe dehydration) I knew what I had to do to address this very unwelcome condition. Abdominal massage!
When I met Isabel I felt at ease instantly. She is very professional but also very personable and very relaxed in her interaction with her clients. She is also very accessible, honest, focused and trustworthy. Isabel has a special intuition about her work that is very comforting and reassuring. Ever since my first session with her, I noticed change in my very consistent and long standing issue. The most important thing I have learned, however, is patience. Since I had suffered for so very long with this condition I realized that it would take a little time to resolve and unravel my rather bound up intestinal tract.
Today I can say that I rarely have an episode and if I do, it is very slight with a dramatically reduced duration, no added symptoms, and I can manage them with my own self care in which Isabel has instructed me. I am very confident that, in very short order, I will finally be free of any concern about ever having to think about abdominal spasms ever again! Thank you so much, Isabel!”
-Judie
“As a chiropractor who has worked with Isabel co-treating patients and as a client treated by her; Isabel is one of the best massage therapists I have known in my 20 years of practice. I highly recommend Isabel to many of my patients when they need specific soft tissue work. The feedback from my patients has ben 100% positive!” – Dr. Cheryl Gross, D.C.
“After six years of abdominal discomfort following surgery requiring an abdominal incision and after two bowel obstructions all apparently related to post-surgical adhesions, I saw Isabel for treatment of abdominal adhesions. After her first treatment I felt very different with everything feeling like it was moving without catches for the first time in years. After the initial treatment I had some ups and downs and Isabel taught me some self-massage techniques which have been very effective. After six months of treatments and self massage I have been on a smooth course with few flare-ups which are handled with self massage and an occasional tune up from Isabel. Isabel has been a delight to work with and I highly recommend her care and work.” -AB
“Abdominal adhesion can be very debilitating. The symptoms often appear in mysterious patterns and refer to other areas of the body. It requires specialized care to determine the involved tissues and the best approach to resolving the adhesion and the associated symptoms. Isabel’s approach to abdominal adhesion balances precision and gentle care. She provides a comprehensive session including relaxing taught tissues, enhancing circulation, optimizing the posture of the muscles. She possesses insight to the quality of tissues based on their response to palpation and massage. Isabel’s expertise on the pain referral patterns promote ease of mind during the healing process. She teaches self-massage for health maintenance at home.” – CH, Occupational Therapist and client
“I have had abdomen and groin pain for over five years with little to no pain relief. I left a trail of doctors, specialists, and testing procedures with little to no relief or understanding to my condition or associated pain pattern. I was given a referral to Isabel from a chiropractor who recommended a commitment of four to five sessions with her to see if my pain would lessen or gain more flexibility and motion. At this point, I was desperate. After seeing over 10 doctors, endless testing and procedures, and being reliant on pain medications to function on a day to day basis…I scoffed at the idea of massage as a pain reliever. I decided that this would be my final approach before I would entertain the idea of surgery.
Isabel did a very thorough evaluation of my medical history at my first session. I found pain relief around session 5 and continued to work with Isabel for pain relief on a regular basis. I found a viable mode to offset the possibility of surgery and to provide pain relief that allowed me to cease taking pain medication on a daily basis. In many ways, Isabel gave me my life back in the true sense of being able to participate and navigate my daily life without pain. Before working with Isabel Amber, I was hampered in both professional and personal life and was dependent on medication just to get through the day and to sleep at night.
I highly recommend Isabel for adhesion work if you have not found a remedy for pain or mobility.” -JS
“When I first saw Isabel I had been suffering from abdominal pain for over a year resulting from prostate surgery. I had received no relief through physical therapy, my primary doctor and surgeon had no real ideas for treatment, and x-rays and an MRI revealed no major concerns. Isabel immediately zeroed in on several pain areas and went to work. After the first session I felt immediate relief and through subsequent sessions I have felt significant relief and improvement.
I have appreciated greatly Isabel’s expertise and ability to find the “spots” that are causing my discomfort. When she works on these spots, scar tissue and adhesions, we both feel the resistance and most often the release that comes through her work. I have worked with Isabel for a year now and at this point we seem to be in this dance where my pain symptoms go up and down between treatments. At times I am virtually pain free and at other times, always due to increased physical activity, the pain symptoms increase. At this point, I do feel my body establishing new rhythms of improvement and recovery on its own.
I really have appreciated Isabel’s style, expertise and artistry. She listens, is thoughtful in her approach and very much in touch with me as a person. “ – GH
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