AmpCoil
“AmpCoil has helped immensely to balance my body. My fatigue, dizziness, and strength have improved so much. I’m truly participating in life again and not watching from the sidelines.”
“AmpCoil has been an absolute game-changer for my overall health and wellness: shifting sleep patterns, creating a deeply peaceful mental state when life seems to be spinning out of control, pain relief and restoring physical harmony to all my systems optimizing how they work together. I like using the biofeedback Voice Print to help guide my wellness decisions and the sessions themselves are so relaxing. It has been a significant piece to my recovery from chronic illness and maintaining consistent wellness. ”
Balance & Harmonize Integration
“I have tried a lot of healing modalities over the past years. In working with Dawn, the Balance & Harmonize sessions have proved to be the most successful in helping my body move to the next level of healing. Though I was a bit skeptical at first, the positive changes in my body since Dawn’s use of this option have convinced me that my body was created to be incredibly wise and can, indeed, share its wisdom to help me heal! I now look forward to each session with anticipation, knowing that more progress is ahead.”
“The Balance & Harmonize treatments gave me a new spine, and I say that with very little exaggeration. When I came in for my session with Dawn, she ended up using her tuning forks on my back, believing it would help the pain I was experiencing in my shoulders, neck, and mid-back. Always happy to be an experimental model, I agreed. The treatment was gentle, but very effective. The tuning forks sent vibrations along either side of my spine, and I could feel the muscles unwinding as the vibrations took over. I’ve had terrible posture for years as a result of desk work and playing the violin, but within an hour, some of the most stubborn muscle knots were gone, and my posture had improved significantly. When I came back in a couple of months later, it was only for the sake of a tune-up (pardon the pun!) My posture has stayed far better than it was, and the nearly constant tension and related headaches have been significantly less severe and frequent. I cannot recommend this treatment enough.”
“The Balance & Harmonize sessions gave me unique insight into where I had issues in my body, in some cases helping me heal blocks that I had been holding since childhood. Every session has been different and in every one of them powerful healing took place.”
“During my Balance and Harmonize session with Dawn I was amazed to discover the old scarring in my body that was still an issue. Dawn used an injury release technique and light therapy that proved very beneficial. I had a round scar in my stomach that was four years old from a past surgery. The scar/divot actually came closer to surface level during our session. I left with a realization of the inner intelligence our body has to heal itself. I am inspired!”
BEMER™
“I was having one of those days where I felt pretty miserable—I was fighting something; my eyes were watery, my sinuses felt stuffed, and I just wanted to go home to bed and sleep for several hours. I stopped for a BEMER session on my way home from work. I napped for about 10 minutes when I got home, I got up and mowed the lawn and canned some tomatoes!!! Amazing turn around in how I felt!!!”
“I am so thankful that I found you and the BEMER modality. Not only is my shoulder feeling better but at the moment I have very little nerve pain in my neck and I just feel better overall.”
“We were fortunate enough to use BEMER for a little over a month to see if it would help my two-year old’s issues...My daughter has never slept her entire life, even as a young baby. Her sleep cycle very quickly became perfect. She would go down easy instead of tossing and turning for an hour and she would sleep solid through the night until 6 or 7 without even moving all over the bed...She has never in her 2.5 years ever had this sleep cycle! She has problems with a constant stuffy nose and when it gets really stuffy and green, I notice her coloring turns a little gray and her circles under her eyes are dark, possibly due to mouth breathing at night. On the mat, her coloring changed; she had a healthy pink, rosy glow. No dark circles and even though she was still a little stuffy, it wasn’t enough to cause her sleep issues and mouth breathing at night. Her bowel movements also improved greatly. I began to suspect it was the mat helping her sleep so I took her off for a couple days to test it and she did not sleep well, put it back on and she returned to her pattern of sleeping deep and all night. When we brought it back, on the fourth night, after her third time waking, she muttered under her breath, “Mama, I want the mat please!” She KNOWS!!! She totally recognizes and feels the difference and what it does for her! During this time, I started getting amazing sleep, because she was getting amazing sleep. Discomfort from a chronic muscle and nerve condition for myself went down and life seems pretty awesome! This mat is AMAZING!!!”
“This modality is amazing. My leg is all better. I will continue to use BEMER sessions for my overall health. If it could help my leg in that short of a period of time by providing increased blood flow, etc., can you imagine what it will do for the rest of my body? I can’t wait to find out!”
Breast Health Education & Care
“In 2018 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After treatments I was scheduled for a lumpectomy in both breasts and then a reconstruction 2 weeks later. Although no implants were done, I needed to be cut open around the entire front half of my body. Sadly, healing was very slow, and I suffered with a large amount of scar tissue and myofascial pain through my chest, armpits, and torso. My rib cage was so tight it made it very difficult to breathe. I had tried weekly PT appointments that consisted of manual cupping, stretching, dry needling and massage. Nothing seemed to release the tightness or decrease the pain much in my chest and rib areas.
Dawn approached me in June of 2021 with a new breast program she had just finished training in. She knew I had been struggling and was seeing some success with the MediCupping she had started with me. The program helped me to become more familiar with my own tissue and I can now feel subtle differences in my breast tissue and armpit area where they had removed one lymph node on each side. She also performed a massage technique in the breast area and showed me how to manually move lymph whenever I needed to. I could literally feel lymphatic fluid moving during and after each session. With this manual massage and cupping technique my rib cage began to loosen up and I began to notice I could take deeper breaths. I could twist my body much more easily with much less pain. Each time I am in the shower I perform a manual lymph massage like Dawn showed me.
But the biggest benefit I think I have received by doing this program is the following. When I was diagnosed with cancer, they had found inflamed lymph nodes in my breastbone area. They determined it was not cancer but told me I most likely had a condition called sarcoidosis and that I may have had the condition my whole life. Pulmonology informed me that they had no way to cure this and had no idea what causes this condition to happen. This may have made it harder for me to breathe as well. However, about 3 months after I began the breast program with Dawn and my lymph began to move freely again, I was scheduled for a chest x-ray for another issue. When the doctor compared my most current chest x-ray with one from 3 years ago, she noted that the inflammation in the lymph nodes was gone! She was amazed. And so was I! I firmly believe that the cupping and manual lymph massage is what helped my lymph to begin to function as intended. Now that the fluid is moving as it should there is no more inflammation!
I will forever be grateful that Dawn could teach me how to do this and offer the program to me. The cupping that she does at her location is fantastic and has changed my life. I believe every single woman could benefit from this program. We tend to ignore the lymph in the breast and its function is vital to health. I cannot say thank you enough!”
CranioSacral Therapy
“The CranioSacral Therapy that Dawn provided me has relieved all the upper back and neck pain I had experienced for several years. For as long as I can remember, I have had upper back pain that included headaches and with just two, one hour sessions with Dawn, I now have very little if any pain throughout my upper back and neck. I felt relief immediately and the pain was nearly gone within hours of my first session. The most amazing thing I found with the therapy is that with just two sessions, I have felt the relief I have been looking for in my upper back for several years.”
“As a Chiropractor, I’ve referred numerous patients to Dawn for her services. She treats everyone with respect and professionalism. It is so nice to have a health and wellness professional that I completely trust my patient’s care with. Chiropractic coupled with her massage and CranioSacral technique produces amazing results! I highly recommend Dawn and will continue to refer to and work with her.”
“I have had severe rheumatoid arthritis almost half my life. Joint destruction from the disease and some of the meds has led to osteoarthritis as well, with pain, deformities, and great limitations. I also have a heart problem and have had cancer several times. Dawn’s concentrated CranioSacral work gives me relief and release, and I feel restored and rested with my body responding to a more natural flow. When followed by a gentle back/shoulder massage, I feel revitalized. I would recommend Dawn’s caring work to anyone with chronic disease or severe pain.”
“After seeing two chiropractors over the course of a year about the very intense, shooting, sharp pain in my lower back, I was informed my vertebrae (L5-S1) was pinching a group of nerves and I would always be in some pain for the rest of my life. I was unwilling to accept the diagnosis and after some research I found out about Dawn’s gift of listening to what my body needed. After two very relaxing CranioSacral Therapy sessions with Dawn, the shooting pain in my lower back has been gone. Since then, Dawn has used a combination of CST, massage therapy, and polarity for a systemic approach to undo my body’s twists and misalignments, a result of my body compensating for my lower back pain. Today, I look forward to living the life I imagined...pain free.”
“The CranioSacral treatment is fantastic. The infrared sauna is a must and the massages and oils are to die for.”
“As you know, my body has been under attack from cancer for almost six years. Last year it metastasized in my spine and I received radiation treatment to stop the growth/spread of the cancer. I had increased pain and less mobility. Then, this past March, I was told that the area in my lower spine that had been radiated had again become active with cancer. After having Micro Plastic surgery, I had much less mobility and more pain. In April, you began treating me and I’m enjoying less pain and greater mobility, along with increased strength. Thank you and God bless you!”
“After ten to fifteen years of unexplained pain and other medical issues, my doctor finally diagnosed me with heavy metals poisoning (think lead, mercury, etc.). However, by the time I was diagnosed, my body was in bad shape: among other issues, I was in constant pain from head to toe and had been like that so long I couldn’t even remember what it was like to not have pain. Though I struggled with too many pain issues to count on a regular basis, when I came to see Dawn for my weekly CranioSacral Therapy appointment, she was always able to pinpoint the areas most in need of attention—usually without me even having to tell her anything! CranioSacral Therapy is a wonderfully relaxing and relieving modality and Dawn is especially gifted in listening to what the body needs and then investing the time and energy into meeting those needs through the CranioSacral work. I regularly experienced huge amounts of pain relief for my body, as well as peace in my heart through Dawn’s work.””
“Last summer I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I am a chronic migraine sufferer too. I also severely sprained my ankle. Dawn was working with the fibromyalgia and migraines with CranioSacral Therapy. It was great for the fibro pain—really relaxing and put me in a different place for an hour. When I felt a migraine aura coming on, if I got worked on, it stopped before getting bad. When one was already there, getting CranioSacral work lessened the intensity so I could function again. Immediately after I sprained my ankle Dawn did some gentle work on my ankle and it didn’t even swell. I had sprained it 6 months before and it had really swollen and been painful. This time, with the help of an air cast, I was able to walk on it soon afterwards.”
Emotional Freedom Techniques
(EFT Tapping)
“I had fallen and fractured 4 ribs on my left side at the end of November. Shortly thereafter I started working with Dawn using “Chasing the Pain” and other EFT work. We worked several weeks together at one session a week, not just chasing the actual physical pain, but also the emotions behind the pain (fear of falling, etc.). At each session, Dawn would have me rate my pain and get very descriptive as to what the pain felt like (color, texture, size, location, etc.) After each round of tapping I would again assess my pain level and all the features of the pain. Many times the features of the pain changed from one round to the next. During most sessions we were able to tap the pain down from a 9 to a 4 or a 3. With Dawn’s excellent instruction, I was then able to apply Chasing the Pain tapping with my husband to decrease a pain he was experiencing from an 8 to a 2 in one round!”
“I incurred a neck injury from nursing and holding my rather heavy baby for long periods of time. Dawn taught me how to use EFT to deal with the pain it was causing me. During our first session, we were able to reduce my pain by focusing on it and tapping on it. My pain level went from a 10 to 3 in one session! I noticed a significant decrease in the discomfort after a couple of sessions. I also noticed that certain emotions seemed to be tied to some aspects of the pain. I am certain that using EFT to help address some of those emotions also contributed to a much quicker recovery.”
“True confession—I HATED doing dishes! I am so grateful that with the help of EFT, that has changed!!! Through my EFT sessions with Dawn, I uncovered some deep-rooted emotional connections I had with family responsibilities from being the second oldest in a large family. After working through these issues with tapping, I can honestly say I no longer have a sense of dread when it comes to dishes. I battled the pile of dishes for YEARS and i am so thankful that I no longer feel like it is a battle. It is so much easier to develop new habits without old emotional ties holding me back!”
“I did an EFT session with Dawn, focusing on breaking the bad coca-cola habit I had developed. I was honestly a bit skeptical. I didn’t think anything would be able to touch the intense cravings I had, but I was willing to try. I didn’t stop cold turkey, but what I noticed after the EFT session was the intense craving was gone. Instead of feeling driven to have a coke, it felt more like I was just choosing to have one. Why? I don’t know. Maybe I was just testing it out.
It was amazing to me that after a couple sessions the cravings I had were completely gone! It has been several months now, and I can honestly say the habit has been broken and I can’t remember the last time I had a coke or even wanted one. In fact, just the other day I was experiencing a stubborn headache. We were driving by the restaurant and my husband asked me if I needed to get a coke to help get rid of the headache. I told him no! That is something I never would have done in the past. But this time I did. I didn’t need it, I didn’t crave it, and it just reaffirmed to me that EFT really does work!”
“After only two EFT sessions with Dawn, my 55-year long history of anxiousness, triggers, and trauma about dental work dissolved by the end of the second session. What, in the past would have provoked a severe reaction even with lots of relaxation and self-talk just to make it into the dental chair, became a non-issue. My dentist was so amazed at the difference, he stopped twice during my appointment to acknowledge how well it seemed I was doing. Instead of leaving the appointment experiencing the backlash of anxiousness and tension generated by the appointment, I walked out giggling inside celebrating my huge victory!”
“Besides bodywork, I have tried a couple of sessions of EFT that have also brought great results. I had a major shift in my confidence and I am learning to work on self love and acceptance. I would have to say that Dawn is a very gifted practitioner. She has helped me physically, emotionally and spirtually. And I love that she uses doTERRA oils! I highly recommend her!”
Essential Oil Treatments
“Why would I ever want to use essential oils? That’s something I said a lot even though all of my family used them. I thought they were something crazy. Little did I know after using them for 5 years, that essential oils are and have been a huge blessing to my family. I started using essential oils and then got education through the classes Soteria Wellness held. I learned not just the science behind the oils, but how to use them to support my health, to use for cleaning, to manage discomfort and also to give me energy support and lessen stress. Consistent use of essential oils has allowed me to live a life free of past aches and discomforts. I am now more alert and more active than I was without. I am so glad I took the time to learn from these classes and use that knowledge to benefit my family and my own health.”
“After a wellness consultation with Dawn, I had the AromaTouch Technique come up as a suggestion for reducing my stress. It was extremely relaxing and became a euphoric essential oil experience. I felt like I was on a gentle relaxation cloud for the next two hours following the session. I had no idea that essential oils could be such a therapeutic form of relaxation for your body. I would definitely recommend that everyone give it a try. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
“When my husband and daughters were under the weather and had a nasty lingering ‘bark’, the Symphony of the Cells with the essential oils really helped to work whatever was in them out! When they came home, they were so much quieter and more comfortable!”
Infrared Sauna
“Had my first infrared sauna session yesterday and LOVED it. Natalie was very personable and helpful. Will definitely be back.”
“I was having a hard time sleeping through the night and felt really lethargic during the day. I felt like my body was fighting against me. I called Dawn and we talked about the Infrared sauna and I went for my first appointment that night. I left feeling a sense of calmness and not only that, it was the first night I slept through the night!!! I went back a couple days later for a second treatment and I had the same results. I have been sleeping through the night since and feel more alert and have more mental clarity. Thank you!!”
“I visited Soteria Wellness in June, 2015. I had an absolutely amazing 90 minute massage by Dawn, a distinguished and consummate professional. She treated my aches with just the right touch and technique. I then slipped into the new infrared sauna on site for a private 40 minute relaxation treatment. It was absolutely amazing! The heat was gentle. The music, relaxing. Special bamboo towels wick away toxins from your skin while you sink into luxurious warmth. There are many “programs” that can be utilized in the sauna for different health concerns. Wow-what a great way to top off an excellent massage! I absolutely loved it. Dawn Olsen is a gift to the wellness community because of her commitment to her clients, excellence in customer service, and invaluable knowledge-base. This is truly a superior level of skill without the superior price tag. Go here!”
Massage Therapy
“Heaven! That’s how I would describe my recent massage with Debra Elsbecker. Debra is hands down one of the best in town! She takes her time to ensure that you receive a complete massage and your troubled points are properly addressed. Debra is a wonderful, caring person and genuinely concerned about my well-being. She allowed me to relax and re-charge my body. Just thinking about this makes me wish I was there right now!”
“After three surgeries during a 19-day hospital stay, I was very stiff and sore. Despite some slow stretching and easy-does-it chiropractic treatments, I was still very stiff and sore. Dawn provided therapeutic massage, did some passive stretches, and performed lymphatic drainage on me. By the time we had completed the session, the swelling in my neck (from the placement of a central line) had diminished significantly. I’m also able to stand and sit much taller and with better posture following her treatment. Doing my own home stretches this morning was also much easier as I am much more limber. Thanks Dawn!”
“I visited Soteria Wellness in June, 2015. I had an absolutely amazing 90 minute massage by Dawn, a distinguished and consummate professional. She treated my aches with just the right touch and technique. I then slipped into the new infrared sauna on site for a private 40 minute relaxation treatment. It was absolutely amazing! The heat was gentle. The music, relaxing. Special bamboo towels wick away toxins from your skin while you sink into luxurious warmth. There are many “programs” that can be utilized in the sauna for different health concerns. Wow-what a great way to top off an excellent massage! I absolutely loved it. Dawn Olsen is a gift to the wellness community because of her commitment to her clients, excellence in customer service, and invaluable knowledge-base. This is truly a superior level of skill without the superior price tag. Go here!”
“I am not for sure what I did to it, but I had a severe sprain/strain in one of my shoulders which limited my mobility and use of my arm. I had tried for two months performing the normal combination of stretches, hot tub/sauna, and icing it. It wasn’t making it better and on some days it was making it worse. I am happy I had an appointment with Dawn for a deep tissue massage, and since then I have had no signs of soreness or inflammation over the last three months.”
“I am so thankful that I came across Soteria Wellness and finding Debra. I booked a 90 min Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Integration for my birthday. The 90 mins was truly a full 90 mins. I had such an amazing experience from beginning to end. The essential oils used were perfect along with the music in the background all set the mood for everything I needed to relax, being I do suffer from anxiety. I had a lot of stress also and was having a hard time with having an appetite that day, Debra was able to work out all the stress and anxiety in my one 90 min session that has taken others more than one session to even begin to relax my muscles and take away the anxiety and stress. When the 90 mins were up, I felt like a completely different person. I was hungry! My headache was gone and my lower back was relaxed. The session was so incredible I had to book another appointment before I left. Soteria and Debra have taken all necessary precautions and have followed all safety guidelines to reopen safely and are extremely COVID-19 ready.”
“Oh my goodness! I just did a Serenity in 60 massage with Debra Elsbecker and it was extraordinary! It was so relaxing! As she worked on my face I was in awe at the amount of tension that I hold there. She melted it away. When she moved to my feet I was so relaxed, I fell asleep. The only thing I would do different next time is to do 90 minutes. 60 seemed like we just got started and it was over too soon. You will be so happy with this service. Debra has such a kind caring heart and and soothing, healing, relaxing massage technique that melts away the stress. Thank you so much Debra!”
“I highly recommend Debra Elsbecker as a massage therapist! Debra was very intelligent, professional, confident, and knowledgeable in every aspect of my delightful massage experience! She personalized my experience to allow me to have privacy and relax knowing my specific needs were addressed. I was very blessed by her calming effect! What a wonderful experience! I highly recommend her to all!”
“Professionalism, knowledge, competence, a love for people and a strong desire to help each individual she works with to achieve their health and wellness goals are just a few of the things that describe Debra Elsbecker in her role as a massage therapist. She is very thorough and attentive to the needs of whoever is before her at the moment. She has a desire to continue to learn and grow in new massage techniques as well as a commitment to maintain high standards in those she already performs for clients. The atmosphere of her massage studio is very relaxing & peaceful, and her massages enable her clients to come away refreshed and relaxed. Debra strives for excellence in all she does in or out of her role as a massage therapist. I would highly recommend her for your health and wellness needs through massage therapy.”
“All I can say is Dawn has a gift of healing in her hands! I have seen Dawn twice so far for massage and have gotten relief from pain I have had for years. She has divine music to choose from and I love that (if desired) she will pray over you before touching you. I have had chronic whiplash neck pain for years that radiates down my left arm and shoulder. My shoulder would lock at about shoulder height and I couldn’t lift up my arms together to praise the Lord. Now I can! I have been seen by physicians, chiropractors, and other massage therapists without much help. I highly recommend Dawn and her healing hands!”
“I am so very happy that I met Dawn at Soteria Wellness. She has a passion for wellness and works with each individual to bring peace to your mind, body and spirit. I had amazing results from a session with Dawn in which she used the Ortho-Bionomy technique in a therapeutic massage and bodywork session. I had suffered for many, many years with tightness and curling of my shoulders inward. It really affected my posture. Within her treatment she was able to work on that and after the session I was able to pull my shoulders back and stand so much straighter. I just teared up in joy. It was truly amazing.”
MediCupping™ Therapy
“Wow! The dual vacuum cup therapy on my back was excellent! Need to do it again. This morning I feel great—got to do that oil treatment again on my next visit too.”
“You’re a miracle worker with those cups! I haven’t been able to push myself up with the heels of my hands since my surgeries in February (4 months ago). I’ve always had to make a fist and push off the back of my hands because the pain from surgery was too great. I just pushed off the palms of my hands without issue. Thank you so much. Literally crying with joy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Recently, I had a Medicupping Cocoon session with Dawn. It was super relaxing and I felt amazing (though ready for a nap) afterwards. The next day I felt great physically! My shoulder and neck discomfort were gone and I had no post-nasal drip AT ALL. Also, I noticed my weight had dropped about 2-3 pounds and my derriere appeared lifted (crazy, right?! I was amazed. One of the best bodywork sessions I have ever experienced!”
“I was diagnosed with oral cancer in January 2017. After considering my options, I had major surgery to remove the tumor which was 95% of my oral tongue. Muscle from my inner left forearm was used to reconstruct my tongue. In February 2018, a year after surgery, I had a wellness consultation with Dawn. I began having Touch for Health sessions and other therapies. In March, my doctors told me I was ‘as good as I could get’ with my scars, speech, swelling, etc. In July, Dawn started MediCupping for my scars. I was going weekly for a while to really get at them! It was really making a difference! When I returned to Froedtert in September, my surgeon was shocked at how my scars had improved and my face and neck swelling was also much less. He also noted the improvements in my speech. I told him I believed it was due to the Touch for Health, MediCupping and other work we were doing. The most exciting thing about my work with Dawn happened on October 22nd. We had another TFH session and my body was open to injury release work on the surgical scars for the first time. I can’t really describe what happened that day but I’d say it was a miracle. I regained all the feeling and sensation in my neck and mouth that I didn’t have since surgery. The swelling in my neck changed significantly—it seemed like the lymph drained and the pressure I’ve had, especially in my right ear disappeared. Honestly, I was scared for a few days afterward because of suddenly having sensation back after such a long time without.”
“MediCupping has done wonders for me!”
Postpartum, Pregnancy, and Service for Infants
“What a difference it has made! The prenatal massage I received from Dawn helped ease the aches and discomfort an expectant mama experiences as her body makes room for her growing baby. This was not just a regular massage with adjusted positioning. Dawn not only created a comfortable table and atmosphere, she identified and targeted those areas that needed therapeutic work specific to pregnancy concerns and challenges. It was amazing—what every mama deserves!”
“I started going to Dawn very early on in my pregnancy and felt those massages and bodywork (CST) helped keep me healthy throughout the pregnancy. I had sciatic nerve issues that I battled for a few weeks with my first pregnancy and as soon as those issues started in my second pregnancy, I knew that any delay could make it worse. Dawn fit me into her schedule immediately. Dawn’s massage and bodywork provided me with relief that I felt almost instantly, and I strongly believe that it helped decrease the length of time I had the intense pain to less than a few days. Dawn had a way of working just the right areas that my body needed during the pregnancy.”
“When I noticed one of my baby’s eyes was droopy, I immediately thought of CranioSacral. From the beginning, Dawn ensured we all felt comfortable. She has a gentle demeanor, exudes kindness, and is very knowledgeable. It is obvious she deeply cares about the well-being of her clients. In no time, Dawn’s work was making a difference. Within a few months, a significant change was visible. Thank you Dawn!”
“Having massage work done during pregnancy was tremendously beneficial for my overall wellness and health, both physically and emotionally. I generally carry most of my tension in my shoulders and upper back, and during my second pregnancy, I also experienced sciatic nerve discomfort during the first and second trimester. Third trimester presented with swollen legs and back pain. I received two pregnancy massages from Dawn in the last trimester, and both provided the muscle relaxation and relief from pregnancy aches and pains that I sought. Knowing Dawn’s extensive background in prenatal care, coupled with her years of experience as a certified childbirth instructor in the Bradley Method®, I felt confident in entrusting my health—as well as my child-to-be-born—into her care.”
“As a father, I loved the infant massage class. It was so neat to see our little one relax like we hadn’t seen before. Since our baby is breastfed, it has been harder for me to bond with our son, but these very simple and easy massage techniques helped me become closer to him. Then, we were able to go home and give our baby and our 3 year old son a massage and they both loved it!”
“I didn’t realize how much labor massage would benefit me until I was in a difficult and long labor. It was very important to me that I have a natural childbirth, and labor massage helped me get through the pain in my back, also helping me to relax the way I needed to...emotionally as well as physically. If I were to ever have another child, labor massage would be a must!”
“My daughter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome a few days after her Birth-day. She experienced a 48 hour labor. One of the challenges she faced right away was a struggle to latch on and maintain a good latch for breastfeeding. She also struggled to breathe well while sleeping and eating. she spent a week in the NICU, undergoing many tests and treatment—stressful on her little body. We saw Dawn for CranioSacral Therapy to help bring balance back to her body, including her head, due to all she had experienced. I also hoped it might help with her latch and breathing. Within a few minutes, we saw visible changes in her head, face, and jaw. The shape of her palate changed enormously, and there was less tension in her jaw. Her sinuses began to open up. We have been back several times, and continue to see marked improvements in her overall health and posture. She is now nursing without any challenges, and is able to breathe (and sleep) much better (and quieter!) This has changed her life, and ours, forever.”
“During labor and delivery our son moved through the birth canal quite quickly which led to bruising on the top of his head and a lot of molding. When he was three weeks old, he was really colicky, crying up to 4 hours at a time, so we had Dawn do some CranioSacral Therapy on him. Dawn showed me how his skull bones were still overlapping in the back of his head. The day after she worked on him, his fussiness was so much better and he is now a very happy baby. At his four day wellness check-up, his head circumference was in the 15th percentile and at his four week check-up it had jumped up to the 35th percentile. In less than a week from the time he was worked on, his head rounded out nicely and things moved right into place. I don’t believe that would have happened without the CST.”
“The postpartum massages I have received from Dawn have been a significant part in the recovery period, and in maintaining overall wellness. Her table is adjustable to accommodate the ever-changing postpartum figure of a nursing mom, making it unbelievably comfortable and allowing my body to fully relax and settle in. She combined CranioSacral Therapy and Swedish relaxation massage, working on realigning the areas that had been shifted and stretched during pregnancy, labor, birth, and recovery. It also helped with my posture and muscle tightness from nursing and caring for my daughter. Dawn has a gift for identifying what muscles and parts of the body need attention, and providing the support and technique to make incredible changes!”
“I highly recommend Soteria Wellness to any person, but especially to anyone who intends on becoming pregnant, is pregnant, has been pregnant, and who is postpartum.
I started seeing Dawn for prenatal massages to help stave off preeclampsia in and enjoy more thoroughly my second pregnancy. When my second pregnancy also became a twin pregnancy, and a high risk pregnancy with one twin under a growth restriction, the prenatal massages became even more wonderful. I completely credit Dawn for helping me get to 36 weeks with twins! She is exactly what any pregnant person needs - supportive, caring, warm, and very knowledgeable. She is incredibly intuitive, understands the body and how to best support healing, and is a flexible practitioner who will introduce other techniques to complement whatever service I am there for.
In my last visit before the twins were born, she wished me well and outlined what a postpartum visit might look like. She told me ahead of time that my husband or other caretaker could come along with the babies while I got a massage, which eased my anxiety so much. Finding a provider who is supportive of lactation is so huge! I ended up needing a repeat c section with my twins, and Dawn has helped speed up my recovery compared to that of my first c section 5 years ago. She incorporated MediCupping with massages to help my pelvic area heal, and it was the perfect complement to physical therapy to help restore balance to my pelvic area. My scar has never experienced the numbness or pain that I had in my first c section.
I am beyond grateful for the services provided by the wonderful staff at Soteria. I went in feeling defeated, upset at what I felt was my disfigured body, and after that first MediCupping session, I felt a huge weight physically lifted off of my belly and spiritually and mentally and emotionally lifted! I have recommended Soteria Wellness to every new mother I have come into contact with since - mothers need to be mothered too, and Soteria Wellness is the perfect place to heal your body and spirit after the radical change of childbirth.”
Thai Massage
“The Thai massage was great, a unique experience! Alaina worked out knots in muscles I never considered needed it, such as my hamstrings. Highly recommend!”
“Just finished a therapeutic massage with Alaina Gates-Sterk, and she is AMAZING!!! I’ve received well over 100 massages in my life, and she is one of the best! Thank you Alaina!”
“Absolutely loved my Thai massage with Alaina! Highly recommended for anyone who’s physically active or is working on flexibility and mobility. My appointment was a couple hours after a workout and I felt a significant improvement in my muscle fatigue recovery afterwards, plus my usual soreness didn’t stick around as long! Alaina was wonderful to work with; she made sure I was comfortable every step of the way while helping stretch out my body and working through some serious tension. A little more active than your “standard” massage but still extremely relaxing. Overall, a fantastic experience!”
Theragem™
“The Theragem therapy was amazing! I was blessed to be able to have 3 of the cups used. All 3 had a different feeling both physically and emotionally associated to them. The first cup used was Sapphire on the top of my head. Physically I had sensations of lite pulses of energy going up and down my body. Energetically or using the parasympathetic side of the body was a totally different experience. The energy was gentle, super relaxing; to the point I felt like I was floating...super mental clarity while in that space, but at the same time not overwhelming. The second cup used was Diamond and Carnelian. This was used on the area of the Spleen to get the blood and energy moving. Physically it felt like a warm gentle heat in the area of my spleen. Energetically I felt more of a buzzing sensation along my body. Not super quick, but I could just feel the energy moving along the meridians of my body. I was still able to drift off, but it felt more like being super aware of my body’s physical response to the cup. The third cup that was used was a mixed gem cup. This cup was placed on the area of my belly button, for a bit of boost in my GI tract. This was super powerful both physically and parasympathetically. Physically I felt a gentle warmth in the area of the light, the warmth spread out to encompass my entire abdominal area. This was a nice gentle warmth; very relaxing. Energetically or parasympathetically, I felt gentle pulses of energy from my hips up to my sternum. It formed a triangle pattern the entire time. There was a pretty potent release the entire time with a lot of small physical releases or small twitch’s along my core. After the 3rd cup the session was complete. I felt very relaxed afterward, although I did have difficulty trying to put into words what I was feeling during the session when Dawn would come in and check on me and switch the cups. It was an overall fabulous experience! I would recommend this to everyone!”
“I was battling a nasty sinus head cold and was doing all the natural remedies I could think of. Dawn suggested using the Theragem Fusion Light Therapy, knowing that I had a big trip in a week and needed to be healthy. On Day 3 we used the sinus support recommendation and immediately I noticed a difference. Within a half hour after the session, I could breathe and wasn’t stuffy anymore. It was first night I didn’t need to use something to suppress symptoms so I could sleep. We did it one more time today and this time I could feel the tingling in my cheek bones, and along my forehead. I couldn’t believe how much of a shift it provided in getting me healthy again and ready for my trip. Thank you Dawn!”
“I LOVE the Theragem. It is so relaxing and just puts my mind in a really good place.”
““I felt like my top half was being pulled down. Like I couldn’t stand completely up no matter what I tried and there was so much pain in my legs and feet. So after all that stretching last night there was a noticeable difference in the morning from the pain but I was still hurting pretty bad until I went and had that (Theragem) therapy this morning. Now I’m standing straight with not a lot of pain anywhere in my body and not any in the rib cage! For the first time today I could take a deep breath all the way in until I couldn’t do it any further and my right rib cage didn’t hurt at all. Previously it felt like it was pulling muscles or tearing something when I did it. Super excited you have no idea!!!”
Touch for Health™
“When I had my Touch for Health session with Dawn, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Unlike other therapies I have done, I liked the collaborative effort of Touch for Health, being part of the overall process,and seeing the results so quickly. There were definitely some unexpected results in that I released some blocks that I didn’t know I had. I left that visit feeling recharged and in awe of not only Dawn but myself. I learned the body has an amazing way of restoring itself when you use the right tools. Thank you Dawn for opening this door. Your compassion is evident in everything you do! You have a tremendous gift to share!”
“I find that each session brings more layers of healing to surface. I feel balanced on all levels—emotional, spiritual, physical—after each session. I leave feeling energized with a smile from my heart space and a renewed spirit. Touch for Health truly helps me to reconnect and heal. I have a lot of gratitude for Dawn and all the gifts she offers at Soteria! I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself.”
“I was struggling with my running after a strain in my left adductor muscle. I had to take some time off to let it heal and when I returned to running I told Dawn I couldn’t get my left leg to cooperate with my right. Even while doing squats my left leg just didn’t seem to want to participate and my squat was crooked. After an evaluation she said she didn’t think my left glutes were “firing” like they were supposed to. They wouldn’t contract correctly. After one session (of Touch for Health—Reactive Muscle Technique), Dawn had me back to running. I remember having to walk down the hallway after treatment and it was the first time it felt normal in a long time. I thought it would take time to strengthen the left side, but it didn’t. The muscle wasn’t weak it just wasn’t firing correctly. I continue to see Dawn on an ongoing schedule to keep my muscles and body at its best!”
“My first Touch for Health session with Dawn released the tight neck, shoulders, and hips I was experiencing. After the session my posture was straight and I had fluidity and energy running through my body again. Long after the session I continued to feel and function better. Dawn not only has a solid understanding of the working mechanics of the body but is also an accomplished massage therapist. She has a great balance of warmth, compassion, and professionalism. I highly recommend Touch for Health for structural issues.”
“Our lives are very full with a house full of children, a couple of them with special needs. I was beginning to struggle with how to get everything done and could feel my internal stress increase daily. I saw Dawn for a Touch for Health balance and can say it was a turning point for me! I left feeling an inner peace and with a new idea of what I could do at home to balance the demands on my time. I know that my body released stress while I was with Dawn and the things she did with me carried over to our home life. Dawn helped my body work through stress and some emotional challenges. I am so grateful for Dawn’s desire to help people, and her amazing ability to tune into what her clients need and help them on their journey to wellness.”
Vibroacoustic Therapy
“I came into Soteria for a Wellness Consult and a 30 minute session in the Far Infrared Sauna programmed for pain relief. My head was in a fog and I felt physically and mentally drained. I was concerned about staying awake for a meeting and my 1-1/2 hr drive home. Dawn suggested a 15 minute session on the BioAcoustic Mat Therapy. I expected to fall asleep, but Dawn set up my session for “Energizing”. When my time was up, I walked towards the meeting room, where I was greeted by the presenter for our meeting. During our brief chat, I realized I had NO BRAIN-FOG! My thinking was clear. My fatigue had vanished. This clarity and energy lasted through the meeting and my drive home. It’s now 2 AM, about 8 hours after my Energizing Session on the BioAcoustic Mat. I am sleepy now and anxious to experience this therapy again, but earlier in the day!”
“Recently I was able to have a few sessions on the new BioAcoustic Mat and I have found it to be very helpful in loosening the area around my sacrum. As a result, I feel my hips are moving better, smoother and with less restrictions. I found a session on the mat can also have a very relaxing overall effect that is nice after a long or stressful day. I highly recommend the BioAcoustic Mat Vibroacoustic Therapy.”