Meet Your Therapist... Mary Axelrod, NCMT, RMT, CR
          
After working more than 25 years in education and the corporate world, Mary decided that she wanted to assist people in a way that would promote health & wellness -- a more ‘hands-on’ approach in making a difference in people’s lives. During her previous career she saw so many people who lived with chronic headaches, back pain and other pain and they believed there was nothing they could do but live with it. She observed that regular self-care, preventive medicine and a holistic health approach were not part of most lives. As an educator and business professional, Mary understands first hand how important is to manage the high stress in our busy lives and work with these therapeutic massage and bodywork therapies and wellness tools to release the negative effects of stress on the body and mind.

Mary holds certification to practice therapeutic massage and reflexology. She is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) in the State of Colorado and a Certified Reflexologist. In addition she completed the national boards and is a member in good standing of the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), which upholds the highest standard of practice for massage therapists, ensures a code of ethics and requires continuing education for updated and safe practice. She is a member of the Associated Reflexologists of Colorado, whose mission is to support and enhance the professionals working in that field.

In addition to her private practice, Mary is an instructor for the Therapeutic Massage Program at the Institute for Business and Medical Careers (IBMC) in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is also a certified instructor for Phenomenal Touch Massage. She teaches hot stone workshops in Boulder, Fort Collins and other locations. 

She has a very successful private therapeutic bodywork practice in Fort Collins, Co, and was voted BEST massage therapist in Fort Collins! Her clients range in age from 9 to 90 in all walks of life --including doctors, nurses, chiropractors, other massage therapists, business professionals, retirees, mothers, fire fighters, musicians, chefs, engineers, computer professionals, accountants, designers, factory workers, students, construction workers and teachers!

She uses therapeutic essential oils both personally and in her massage and Reflexology practice and is amember of the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA).

She fully supports and upholds the professional code of ethics (see below) for her profession.

Bodywork Credentials:

• Current Instructor in the Massage Therapy Degree Program at the Institute for Business and Medical Careers - IBMC  a private college in Fort Collins, Colorado offering degrees and diplomas in Business Administration, Accounting, , Paralegal, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Assistant and Massage Therapy.
  
• Certified Instructor for Phenomenal Touch®Massage from the Institute of Phenomenal Touch(Boulder, Co). Completed a 560 hour 2-year training for certification to teach at the Institute as well as independent classes in the US and overseas that are sponsored by the Institute. Class are on-going. See the IPT website for details.
    
• Certified Master Practitioner of Phenomenal Touch® from the Institute of Phenomenal Touch®(completed 400 hours) taught by Leslie Bruder in Boulder, CO.   Phenomenal Touch techniques incorporate aspects of other healing modalities such as Trager, Ah-Shiatsu, Watsu, cranial sacral, yoga, aikido and Esalen massage -- all done within a loving, flowing, beautiful massage on the massage table.
    
• Member of the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA)
    
• Completed certification in Advanced Materia Medica Aromatherapy from the American College of Health Care Sciences.
  
• Registered Therapist in the State of Colorado - exceeding all state standards for training. licensure, certification and standards of practice.
    
• National Certification from the NCBTMB -National Certification Board For Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
   
• Current Member in good standing: Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP - a national organization for certified massage therapists & body workers with strict educational requirements and ethical standards.)
    
• Graduate of the Healing Arts Institute, Fort Collins, Colorado:
    
• • Completed 500 hour Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) program, plus additional hours 
  • Completed over 125 hours of Body Insight©, a specialized Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) technique to help relieve chronic pain from repetitive strain, tennis elbow, tendonitis, whiplash, back pain, headaches, leg & calf pain, foot pain, sciatic pain and more. This technique was pioneered and developed by Gary Salinger, owner of the Healing Arts Institute in Fort Collins. 
  • Completed 175 hour Reflexology Program
    
• Certified Reflexologist in the State of Colorado
    
• Holds 3^rd Degree Reiki Master Level certification in both Usui (Tibetan) and Karuna Reiki Natural Healing Systems
    
• Vibrational Sound Healing Therapy - training with Richard Rudis in Tibetan Singing Bowls & Sound Healing Therapy, Denver Colorado.  In earlier years, Mary was a musician with years of formal music training from childhood. She sang and played piano, guitar and violin. She loves incorporating the wonderful benefits of sound therapy into her practice. 

Other Education:

• Masters of Business Administration - MBA, William Woods University, Fulton, Missouri
• Bachelor of Science - BS, Computer Information Systems, Sterling College, Kansas
• Associate of Applies Science - AAS, Compuuter Information Systems, Three Rivers Community College, Poplear Bluff, MO
  
  Professional Code of Ethics
  As a member of associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, I hereby pledge to abide by the ABMP Code of Ethics as outlined below:
  
  Client Relationships
  § I shall endeavor to serve the best interests of my clients at all times and to provide the highest quality service possible.
  § I shall maintain clear and honest communications with my clients and shall keep client communications confidential.
  § I shall acknowledge the limitations of my skills and, when necessary, refer clients to the appropriate qualified health care professional.
  § I shall in no way instigate or tolerate any kind of sexual advance while acting in the capacity of a massage, bodywork, somatic therapy, or esthetic practitioner.
  
  Professionalism
  § I shall maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, providing services in an ethical and professional manner in relation to my clientele, business associates, health care professionals, and the general public.
  § I shall respect the rights of all ethical practitioners and will cooperate with all health care professionals in a friendly and professional manner.
  § I shall refrain from the use of any mind-altering drugs, alcohol, or intoxicants prior to or during professional sessions.
  § I shall always dress in a professional manner, proper dress being defined as attire suitable and consistent with accepted business and professional practice.
  § I shall not be affiliated with or employed by any business that utilizes any form of sexual suggestiveness or explicit sexuality in its advertising or promotion of services, or in the actual practice of its services.
  
  Scope of Practice / Appropriate Techniques
  § I shall provide services within the scope of the ABMP definition of massage, bodywork, somatic therapies, and skin care, and the limits of my training. I will not employ those massage, bodywork, somatic therapies, or skin care techniques for which I have not had adequate training and shall represent my education, training, qualifications, and abilities honestly.
  § I shall be conscious of the intent of the services that I am providing, and shall be aware of and practice good judgment regarding the application of massage, bodywork, somatic therapies, or skin care techniques utilized.
  § I shall not perform manipulations or adjustments to the human skeletal structure, diagnose, prescribe, or provide any other service, procedure, or therapy which requires a license to practice chiropractic, osteopathy, physical therapy, podiatry, orthopedics, psychotherapy, acupuncture, dermatology, cosmetology, or any other profession or branch of medicine unless specifically licensed to do so.
  § I shall be thoroughly educated and understand the physiological effects if the specific massage, bodywork, somatic, or skin care techniques utilized in order to determine whether such application is contraindicated and / or to determine the most beneficial techniques to apply to a given individual. I shall not apply massage, bodywork, somatic or skin care techniques in those cases where they may be contraindicated without a written referral from the client’s primary care provider.

 Image / Advertising Claims
§ I shall strive to project a professional image for myself, my business or place of employment, and the profession in general.
§ I shall actively participate in educating the public regarding the actual benefits of massage, bodywork, somatic therapies, and skin care.|
§ I shall practice honestly in advertising, promote my services ethically and in good taste, and practice and / or advertise only those techniques for which I have received adequate training or certification. I shall not make false claims regarding the potential benefits of those techniques rendered.