Michelle Shandy is a trauma informed Advanced
Upledger-certified CranioSacral Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Certified Aquatic Therapist, and is an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association specializing in
CranioSacral Therapy, Somatic Experiencing and Aquatic Bodywork.
Education and Experience:
Michelle originally studied at Body Therapy Center in Palo Alto, California where she trained in Clinical Deep Tissue, Zen Shiatsu and Maternity Massage. She studied Watsu®, Healing Dance, and Water Release Therapy® in many healing waters and therapy pools in California, CranioSacral Therapy at various locations through the Upledger Institute, and Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing in Corte Madera, CA through Somatic Experiencing International. Michelle is dedicated to continued learning, developing and refining her skills. She continues to take classes, and does her own personal work, so that she can be the best therapist (and human) she can be.
Michelle started a private massage practice in San Jose, California in 1995 where she specialized in Maternity Massage and injury rehab. In 2002 she relocated her private practice to the Los Angeles area where she still practices today. In 2024 Michelle opened a second practice in Albuquerque, NM. She spends half her time in each location
Today Michelle focuses her skills as a CranioSacral and Aquatic therapist to specialize in working with clients in various stages of trauma recovery, with neurological conditions, and those looking to find more freedom in their body-mind-spirit. Recently, Michelle completed the Somatic Experiencing training program where she learned more about our nervous systems response to traumatic events and new skills to gently facilitate trauma resolution. She is incorporating her new Somatic Experiencing skills with both her CranioSacral and Aquatic sessions for a more well rounded and integrated approach to facilitating trauma resolution.
When she's not in the studio or the pool working with clients, you may find Michelle in the classroom working as a Somatic Experiencing teaching assistant for Somatic Experiencing International or as an Upledger teaching assistant for the Upledger Institute. Michelle also leads study and practice groups for each modality, helping up and coming practitioners refine their skills.
Personal Note:
My passion is to help people connect more deeply with themselves, reclaim parts of themselves they have been disconnected from, and become empowered in their lives. I do that by meeting each person with compassionate non-judgemental presence and developing a therapeutic relationship in which my clients feel safe, seen, heard and held. I feel deeply honored to walk along the healing journey with you, bringing all the tools I have picked up along the way help to facilitate your process!
My own healing journey has been a long one. Some of the tools I use here today are therapies that have had a profound impact on me personally. I have found great healing from my own traumas, big and small, with the help of these modalities and great therapists. My mission now is to offer my experience and wisdom gained to help others find healing.