The Connected Family Project has been twenty years in the making. I am a reiki master, massage therapist, touch educator, and student of the human body and of somatic experiencing. I am also a trained doula, infant massage instructor, mother, wife and animal lover. I have always been fascinated by the human body and aware of how it holds our stories.I have learned how touch and connection bring ease and support to our lives. After all, who doesn't like to feel good, not only feel good, but thrive. Through my work I have learned and been witness to the importance of attachment, and the true power of touch. I have seen how touch can transform ones life, whether it be reconnecting a mother and infant after a difficult birth, or an adult who experienced trauma as a child. I have seen how safe touch has transformed relationships not only with ones self, but in all their relationships. Some of the positive changes that I have seen are, increased bonding, more self love, postural changes, depression subside, anxiety dissipate, self esteem increase, sleep, digestion and over all mental health improve. 

The touch work that I teach  was developed for connection, but also, and most importantly, consent. This is taught through the child’s own body awareness, learning self awareness, boundaries, how their body likes to receive touch and when it does not. And Throughout this work they are practicing consent. There are specific sequences taught to engage in safe touch, with each stage of development including adults. 

With adults research showed many partners wanting safe and nurturing touch, but didn't want the sexual aspect that  most often was conceived to go with it.  The touch work teaches partners how to care for one another with a safe nurturing touch, again learning what touch their bodies like and don't  like. This has proven to improve intimacy on all levels.

I have used this work as a reset button for the nervous system for children and adults. 

(include studies of touch and rates of stress decreasing)

(when talking about adults asking or wanting a nurturing touch to decompress often times the idea can create more feeling of anxiousness if the touch  leads to unwanted sex or the idea that it would be expected)