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Bodywork & Somatic Therapies: Choosing a Practitioner of Massage and Bodywork   Share   William Collinge MPH, PhD © After Marianne's next session two days later there was no increase in pain and she felt even greater relief. Within two weeks she could move her neck freely, had minimal pain, and was able to receive and benefit from the prescribed physical therapy.

Nurse Healers Professional Associates, Inc., provides information about Therapeutic Touch and training for health care providers. The length of trainings varies and there is no formal certification. Address: P.O. Box 444, Allison Park, PA 15101, phone (412) 355-8476.

Jin Shin Jyutsu, Inc., is an organization for practitioners who have completed a five-day training course in this method. Practitioners are encouraged to repeat the basic training several times, but there is no formal certification. There is also an advanced course. Address: 8719 E. San Alberta, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, phone (602) 998-9331.

Jin Shin Do® Foundation for Bodymind Acupressure^tm; is a network of authorized teachers and registered practitioners who have received standardized training in this approach. Registered practitioners have 250 hours of training plus practical experience. A directory of registered practitioners and authorized teachers is available from the foundation. Address: 366 California Ave., Suite 16, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or P.O. Box 1097, Felton, CA 95018, or call J.S.D.F. in Palo Alto, CA at (415) 328-1811.

American Oriental Bodywork Therapy Association (AOBTA) is an educational and certifying organization for practitioners of a variety of forms of oriental bodywork. Associate members have at least 150 hours of training with a certified instructor and a hundred hours of practice. Certified practitioners have completed five hundred hours of such training and passed a certification exam. AOBTA has about eight hundred members and publishes a membership directory. Address: 6801 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset, NY 11791, phone (516) 364-5533.

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) provides professional support and legislative advocacy for massage therapists and bodyworkers. Membership is of two levels: practitioner level requires a hundred hours of training. Professional level requires five hundred hours or state licenser or registration. ABMP also publishes Massage and Bodywork Quarterly. Address: 28677 Buffalo Park Rd., Evergreen CO 80439, phone (303) 674-8478.

The Upledger Institute, Inc., is an educational and clinical resource and training center for manipulative therapies such as CranioSacral Therapy™, visceral manipulation, and other holistically oriented approaches used by bodyworkers. Founded by John Upledger, D.O., it conducts training nationally and internationally. It also produces several instructional publications and a directory of alumni of its trainings. Address: 11211 Prosperity Farms Rd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410, phone (800) 233-5880.

American Academy of Reflexology conducts training in ear, hand, and foot reflexology and can provide referrals to certified practitioners. Address: 606 E. Magnolia Blvd., Suite B. Burbank, CA 91501, phone (818) 841-7741.

International Institute of Reflexology conducts two-day trainings nationally and internationally and a certification exam in the Ingham Method of reflexology. They also can provide referrals to trained practitioners. Address: 5650 First Avenue North, P.O. Box 12642, St. Petersburg, FL 33733, phone (813) 343-4811.

William Collinge, PhD, MPH is a consultant, author, speaker and researcher in the field of integrative health care. He has served as a scientific review panelist for the National Institutes of Health in mind/body......more