Why This Weekend

Massage therapy places practitioners in close physical and emotional proximity with clients. Ethical practice requires more

than knowing professional guidelines — it also requires awareness of the internal state we bring into the room.

This weekend explores how therapist presence, nervous system awareness, and trauma-aware communication support safe, ethical, and effective care.

Through discussion, reflection, and experiential exercises, participants will develop practical tools that support both professional clarity and therapist sustainability.

Saturday Course

Presence as an Ethical Practice

2 CE Hours

Explore how therapist presence influences perception, interpretation, and professional decision making.

Topics include:

• The Feeling Matrix and somatic awareness
• How the mind creates meaning
• Three ways meaning is formed
• Correspondence and polarity in perception
• Movement, breath, and silence as pathways to presence

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how internal awareness supports ethical practice.

Price: $80

Reserve your seat today. Payment will be processed after registration.

Sunday Course

Trauma-Aware Ethics

2 CE Hours

Learn practical tools for recognizing somatic cues of discomfort and responding with trauma-aware communication.

Topics include:

• Recognizing somatic cues of discomfort and withdrawal
• Consent-centered language in session
• Trauma-aware communication
• A practical ethical decision-making framework
• Understanding how nervous system states influence session dynamics

Price: $80

Reserve your seat today. Payment will be processed after registration.

This course is for YOU if:

• You’re curious about how trauma impacts bodywork beyond the obvious.

• You want to understand the nervous system more deeply in session.

• You care about boundaries and relationships as much as technique.

• You enjoy thoughtful discussion and shared insight.

This course is designed for:

• Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs)

• Massage therapy students preparing for licensure

• Bodyworkers seeking a deeper ethical framework

• Practitioners who want to integrate nervous-system awareness into ethical practice

No prerequisites beyond your massage training — this class meets ethics CE requirements and is accessible for all experience levels.

A grounded, easy-to-understand 2-hour ethics class for massage therapists.
We keep the learning simple, clear, and practical — with real examples, gentle guidance, and a trauma-informed perspective.

Full Weekend Option

Attend Both Courses

These two classes complement each other.

Saturday focuses on therapist presence and internal awareness.

Sunday focuses on ethical communication and client interaction.

Weekend Price: $140

Reserve your seat today. Payment will be processed after registration.

CONTINUE THE JOURNEY

Path to Presence Lab

For therapists who want to deepen these practices beyond the classroom.

The Path to Presence Lab is a six-week guided experience supporting therapist awareness, nervous system regulation, and contemplative practice.

Participants receive:

• Six guided 20–25 minute meditation practices
• Weekly contemplation themes
• Optional journal prompts
• WhatsApp support group
• Three live integration calls
• One Presence Integration Session

Founding Cohort Price: $147

About Your Instructor
Mary Lathrop, LMT (MA60237987)

Ripple to Wave Wellness Within
Mary is a licensed massage therapist and trauma specialist dedicated to supporting therapists in cultivating awareness, ethical clarity, and sustainable professional practice.

Her work integrates somatic awareness, therapeutic presence, and trauma-informed principles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are these courses for?

These courses are designed for licensed massage therapists who are interested in deepening their awareness of how presence, perception, and communication influence ethical and effective practice.

Both classes offer practical tools that support therapist awareness, client safety, and professional decision-making.

Do I have to attend both courses?

No. Each course can be taken individually.

However, the two classes are designed to complement each other.
Saturday focuses on therapist presence and internal awareness, while Sunday focuses on trauma-aware ethical communication with clients.

Participants are welcome to attend one or both.

How many continuing education hours are offered?

Each class provides 2 Continuing Education Hours for massage therapists.

Participants who attend both classes will receive 4 CE Hours total.

Certificates of completion will be provided after the course.

What format are the classes taught in?

Both courses are live online classes that include discussion, teaching, and experiential exercises.

Participants are welcome to engage in conversation, reflection, and simple awareness practices during the class.

Do I need previous training in trauma-informed care or meditation?

No prior training is required.

These classes are designed to be accessible for massage therapists at any stage of their career.

The material focuses on practical awareness skills that can be applied directly in practice.

Will participants be asked to share personal experiences?

Participation in discussion and reflection is always optional.

While the courses include experiential exercises that help illustrate key concepts, participants are never required to share personal experiences.

The focus of the courses is professional awareness and practical tools that support ethical practice in massage therapy.

Everyone is welcome to participate at the level that feels comfortable.

What is the Path to Presence Lab?

The Path to Presence Lab is an optional six-week integration experience for therapists who would like to continue practicing the tools introduced in the courses.

The lab includes:

• six guided meditation practices
• weekly contemplation themes
• optional journal prompts
• community support through WhatsApp
• three live integration calls
• one individual Presence Integration Session

Do I need to take the courses before joining the lab?

The lab is designed to complement the course material, but it is not strictly required.

Therapists who resonate with the themes of presence, awareness, and reflective practice are welcome to participate.

How long are the meditation practices in the lab?

Each guided meditation is approximately 20–25 minutes and follows a structured framework that includes breath awareness, body sensing, contemplation, and silence.

Participants are encouraged to practice daily, but the experience is designed to be flexible.

Will recordings be available?

Details about recordings and access will be shared with participants after registration.

Will these courses include practical tools I can use with clients?

Yes. Each course introduces practical frameworks and communication tools that can be applied directly in massage sessions.

Participants often find that developing greater awareness of their own internal state helps them respond more clearly and ethically in real clinical situations.

How do I register?

If registration links are not yet available, you can join the interest list at the bottom of the page to receive payment links and course updates.

What You’ll Leave With

Participants in this weekend series often leave with:

• A deeper understanding of how therapist presence influences ethical practice

• Greater awareness of how body sensations, emotions, and perceptions influence professional decision-making

• Practical tools for recognizing somatic cues of discomfort in clients

• Language and communication strategies that support trauma-aware and consent-centered care

• Simple practices for regulating the nervous system through movement, breath, and awareness

• Greater clarity and confidence in navigating ethical moments during massage sessions

• A deeper appreciation for how therapist self-awareness supports safe and effective care

Final Invitation

Ethical clarity begins with presence.

When therapists develop greater awareness of their internal state, they are better able to respond thoughtfully, communicate clearly, and create safer therapeutic relationships.

These courses offer a space to explore therapist awareness, trauma-aware communication, and practical tools that support ethical and sustainable practice.

You are warmly invited to join this continuing education experience.