Making Self-Care

Chelsea DeSouza explores the financial and regulatory landscape of the massage therapy profession, questioning the roles and influence of associations and key figures like Deborah Persinger. She emphasizes the importance of understanding where money flows and how it impacts the profession's future. keywordsmassage therapy, associations, regulation, FSMTB, Deborah Persinger, professional fundin...

Subscribe to  @chelseacdesouzalmt  to not miss Part 2 of Following The Money. In this episode, Chelsea DeSouza reevaluates the massage therapy profession by following the money trail, comparing it to physical therapy, and exploring how associations fund and influence the industry. She discusses the financial structures, organizational transparency, and the potential impact on the future of massage...

In this heartfelt conversation, Chelsea DeSouza sits down with Krista Dickd from The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast to talk about the realities of building a long-term career in massage therapy. Together, they explore the emotional ups and downs of the profession, the tension between creative fulfillment and business demands, and why so many massage therapists struggle with discontent, burnout,...

In this episode, Amy Gimmy discusses the importance of boundaries, ethics, and self-care for massage therapists. She shares her journey of writing 'The Protected Practice' and offers practical advice for maintaining sustainability and well-being in the profession.massage therapy, boundaries, self-care, professional ethics, burnout, The Protected Practice, therapist support, mental health,...

In this episode of Making Self-Care, host Chelsea D'Souza speaks with Kaci Jones, an LMT from Pro Health Defense, about the critical importance of legal literacy for massage therapists. They discuss the lack of education surrounding client accountability, the necessity of documentation, and the role of police and legal support in protecting therapists. The conversation also addresses the chall...

Solo Episode with Chelsea DeSouza, sharing why your customer service will make or break your business. With the frustrating real life example of having to get a root canal, Chelsea compares how her experience showed her the mistakes massage therapists make in their customer service. Massage therapists are always reading the room and preparing to regulate their clients no matter what type of day th...

In this episode, Chelsea DeSouza hosts Billy Bossa of BossaMassages and Wellness to discuss the benefits of lymphatic drainage, especially for women experiencing menopause. They explore different modalities, the importance of education in alternative health, and the evolving role of massage therapy in healthcare. Main Topics: How lymphatic massage can support hormone health and menopause symptoms...

When someone goes viral it is normal to want to know more about the people in the video and thats exactly why I wanted to know more about the truth of the Human Garage. I sat down with Joseph Gonzales of Posture Lab in Santa Monica. We break down the timeline of WHEN, HOW, and WHO started the Human Garage and it's infectious protocols that the world can't wait to get their hands on. - We b...

Painful Jaw Releases are going viral on social media and the Human Garage is gaining a lot of traction. Chelsea introduces Joseph Gonzales, the true face behind the protocols of the Human Garage. - Why was the fascial jaw release so viral? - Is this a real treatment? - Are the people behind the Human Garage certified? - The truth behind this company that isn't pretty. Take a listen. On the Pod...

Join Chelsea as she asks the question Do You, a Massage Therapist, actually have a voice in the profession. There is an obvious disdain for Massage Therapist but why? and who is creating it? And the fascial system is getting a real makeover, but not the system, but the people doing the treatment... It's not all that it seems. Todays Sponsor: HAFEN BEAUTY You're in oil all day, make it good...

Episode Summary In this episode of Making Self-Care , host Chelsea Nenno explores the growing tension between massage therapists, local government regulations, and the rise of alternative healthcare. She shares concerns about city ordinances — particularly those affecting solo massage practitioners — that may unintentionally limit public access to massage therapy and make it harder for independent...

What does it actually mean to be well as a massage therapist, and why does it matter more than anything else in your practice? In this episode of Making Self-Care, Chelsea DeSouza dives into the reality that when you’re well, you excel. She shares a powerful perspective shift from her own practice, how prioritizing therapist wellness transformed her business, and why avoiding confrontation may be...

In this episode of Making Self-Care, Chelsea DeSouza-Nenno speaks directly to massage therapists about something that often gets overlooked in a profession built around caring for others: the health of the therapist. Drawing from her experience running a thriving clinic with multiple therapists, Chelsea reflects on what she learned about protecting the well-being of the practitioners themselves. W...

Massage therapy has been in the headlines again, and unfortunately not always for the right reasons. In this episode of Making Self Care, I start by unpacking some of the latest news stories involving massage, from Prince Andrew’s alleged taxpayer-funded massage appointments to the Deshaun Watson lawsuits that brought national attention to misconduct within massage settings. These situations conti...

Massage therapy is back in the headlines, and not for the reasons we would hope. In this episode, I discuss how the Epstein files have once again pulled the word “massage” into conversations about abuse, trafficking, and criminal cover-ups, and what that means for legitimate Licensed Massage Therapists. I also share concerns about a newly formed Washington Massage Education Alliance that currently...

In this episode, I share a personal decision I made early in my massage therapy career: I stopped trading sessions with other therapists. Trading is common in our profession, and it’s not wrong — I’ve traded with ranchers, accountants, juice makers, and other providers. But when it came to trading with other massage therapists, I realized it was costing me more than it was helping me. I talk about...

In this episode, I share what’s happening right now in massage therapy — nationwide and here in Washington State — from recent license suspensions tied to felony charges, to human trafficking enforcement discussions, interstate licensure compact updates, and new laws targeting illicit massage businesses. I also break down Washington House Bill 1093 (Medicaid coverage for massage), substitute bills...

In this episode, I’m speaking directly to massage therapists about something that has been deeply bothering me: social media trends, provocative content in the massage space, and how it impacts the credibility of our profession. As a Licensed Massage Therapist in Washington State, I practice under the Department of Health as a healthcare provider, and that comes with a level of accountability, eth...

Why do so many massage therapists quit — marketing campaigns, new programs, social media, even entire business models? In this episode of Making Self Care, Chelsea DeSouza, Licensed Massage Therapist and LMT advocate, shares one of her biggest entrepreneurial mistakes: quitting. From stopping marketing campaigns after five days… to pivoting too quickly… to watching AI disrupt nutrition and protoco...

I’ve been a Licensed Massage Therapist in Washington State for 10 years, and lately I’ve been asking myself — what’s missing in our profession? In this episode, I’m sharing my personal perspective on massage therapy in Washington. We talk about being classified as healthcare providers, the Board of Massage, legislation season, insurance vs. cash practices, professional associations like AMTA and W...

Welcome back to Making Self-Care! I’m your host, Chelsea De Souza, and today we’re diving into a powerful connection between gut health and intuition. As women, we often say, “I just had a gut feeling,” and more often than not, we’re right. But can we truly trust our gut if our health is imbalanced? In this episode, we explore how stress, diet, and lifestyle impact our microbiome and intuition. I...

Stress is inevitable, but chronic stress doesn’t have to control our lives. In this episode, I dive into what really happens when stress hits—from the hormones involved (hello, cortisol!) to the ways it impacts our bodies, minds, and hearts. We’ll explore how men and women experience stress differently, common everyday stressors, and why the typical solutions might not be enough. Then, I’ll share...

keywords: cycle phases, work dynamics, decision fatigue, self-care, team collaboration, energy management, leadership, women empowerment, productivity, emotional intelligence Summary: In this conversation, Chelsea discusses the significance of understanding the different phases of the menstrual cycle and how they can impact work dynamics, energy levels, and decision-making. She emphasizes the impo...

In this conversation, Chelsea and Paige discuss the challenges that female CEOs face in taking care of themselves and balancing their work with different demographics. They highlight decision fatigue and the tendency to take on too much as common traps. They also introduce the concept of seasons in business, aligning work schedules with the natural cycles of the body. Paige shares how she has impl...

Chelsea and Mclean emphasize the need for community and support, especially for mothers, and the importance of receiving help and nurturing oneself during the postpartum period. The role of a postpartum doula is explained, highlighting the need for rest, warm foods, and emotional support during this time. The conversation touches on the societal expectations and pressures placed on mothers and the...