Making Self-Care

Episode Summary

In this episode of Making Self-Care, host Chelsea Nenno explores the growing tension between massage therapists, local government regulations, and the rise of alternative healthcare. She shares concerns about city ordinances — particularly those affecting solo massage practitioners — that may unintentionally limit public access to massage therapy and make it harder for independent therapists to operate safely and sustainably.

Chelsea discusses ordinances such as restrictions on accepting cash payments and requirements to keep clinic doors unlocked during business hours, arguing that while they may be presented as “public safety” measures, they can create safety and financial concerns for solo practitioners. She also reflects on the increasing visibility of illicit businesses posing as massage establishments and questions whether deeper financial or political motivations may be influencing regulation within the profession.

The conversation expands into broader themes surrounding the healthcare industry, including:

• ​The rise of alternative and cash-pay healthcare services
• ​Growing public dissatisfaction with conventional medical systems
• ​Increased interest in functional medicine and holistic wellness
• ​The financial pressures massage therapists face when dealing with insurance companies
• ​Concerns about overregulation and who truly shapes massage legislation

Chelsea also predicts that massage therapy will continue to increase in value as public demand for personalized, preventive, and stress-relieving care grows. She emphasizes the importance of protecting massage therapists from burnout while ensuring the public continues to have access to high-quality care outside of traditional medical systems.

The episode closes with a call for massage therapists to become more aware of local politics, ordinances, and advocacy efforts that directly affect their profession.

Key Talking Points:

• ​Why some massage ordinances may negatively impact solo practitioners
• ​The debate around cashless payment systems in wellness businesses
• ​Safety concerns around unlocked clinics
• ​The rise of alternative healthcare since 2020
• ​Why many experienced massage therapists avoid insurance billing
• ​Functional medicine’s growing popularity
• ​Concerns about government overreach and overregulation
• ​The future value of massage therapy in preventative healthcare
• ​Why therapists may need to become more politically involved

Sponsor - Hafen Beauty

Todays Episode Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

Hafen Beauty is a natural skincare line created specifically with massage therapists and wellness-minded clients in mind. The products are handcrafted using organic, nutrient-dense ingredients sourced with intention — including rendered tallow from ranches in Washington.

Designed to support both practitioner and client wellness, Hafen Beauty products are free from unnecessary preservatives, chemicals, and filler ingredients. These oils and skincare products are used daily inside Chelsea’s massage practice and shipped nationwide.

Special Offer:

• ​Subscribe and receive 20% off
• ​Follow Hafen Beauty on Instagram
• ​DM the word “TRIAL” on Instagram to receive a week’s worth of skincare samples to try in your massage practice

• ​Hafen Beauty Website
• ​Hafen Beauty Instagram
• ​The Hafen Way on Substack
• ​“Making Self-Care” LMT Support Group on Facebook
• ​Upcoming conversations on massage therapy regulations, advocacy, and continuing education opportunities

What does it actually mean to be well as a massage therapist, and why does it matter more than anything else in your practice?

In this episode of Making Self-Care, Chelsea DeSouza dives into the reality that when you’re well, you excel. She shares a powerful perspective shift from her own practice, how prioritizing therapist wellness transformed her business, and why avoiding confrontation may be the very thing holding you back from sustainable success.

This conversation walks through the first and most important step in protecting your wellness: learning how to set boundaries and face conflict head-on. From schedule changes to client conversations, Chelsea breaks down what it really looks like to prioritize your needs without burning out or trying to please everyone.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or disconnected from your work, this episode will challenge you to ask one simple question: what do I need, and am I willing to protect it?

Sponsor Spotlight: Hafen Beauty Skincare

This episode is sponsored by Hafen Beauty, a non-toxic skincare line made with minimal, purposeful ingredients. Featuring grass-fed, grass-finished tallow and organic oils, Hafen Beauty products are designed to support healthy, resilient skin. Everything is small batch, refill-friendly, and created for those who value simplicity and sustainability. Chelsea uses these products in her home, on her son, and in her massage practice. Shop nationwide at www.hafenbeauty.com and subscribe via email for 20% off your first order.

LMT looking for organic oils for your practice? Get a free trial here: https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1KyyPD48t4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseacdesouza

In this episode of Making Self-Care, Chelsea DeSouza-Nenno speaks directly to massage therapists about something that often gets overlooked in a profession built around caring for others: the health of the therapist.

Drawing from her experience running a thriving clinic with multiple therapists, Chelsea reflects on what she learned about protecting the well-being of the practitioners themselves. When therapists are supported, respected, and healthy, the quality of care given to clients naturally improves.

Chelsea also explores the different seasons of a massage therapist’s career. She speaks to seasoned therapists who have carried the profession forward for decades, intermediate therapists who may be questioning the next chapter of their career, and new therapists who are just entering the profession full of excitement and possibility.

Throughout the episode she returns to a simple principle that has guided her work for years: when you are well, you excel.

Massage therapists carry the emotional and physical needs of many people every week. This episode is a reminder that caring for yourself is not selfish. It is essential for sustaining a meaningful and impactful career.

Chelsea also shares encouragement for therapists who feel burnt out, uncertain, or overwhelmed, reminding them that their presence, their hands, and their bedside manner still matter deeply in today’s world.

If you are a massage therapist, or someone who cares deeply about the profession, this conversation is for you.

LINKS:

Today’s Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

This episode is sponsored by Hafen Beauty, my intentional skincare company designed for people who care about what they put on their bodies. Hafen Beauty uses natural ingredients like cold-pressed grapeseed oil and locally sourced Washington tallow to support hydrated, balanced skin in every season. These are the same products I use daily and in my massage practice. In a world where hormones are imbalanced and ingredient lists are getting longer and harder to understand, simple and nourishing skincare matters.

Visit www.hafenbeauty.com and subscribe to the email list to receive 20% off your first order. Massage therapists can also find a special link in the episode notes for Hafen massage oils made specifically for bodywork practices.

Want the juicy details of Mistakes made by a Massage Therapist? You can do that at 52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist on Substack. This is my 10th year being a licensed massage therapists and I’m giving it all away.

Massage therapy has been in the headlines again, and unfortunately not always for the right reasons. In this episode of Making Self Care, I start by unpacking some of the latest news stories involving massage, from Prince Andrew’s alleged taxpayer-funded massage appointments to the Deshaun Watson lawsuits that brought national attention to misconduct within massage settings. These situations continue to reinforce harmful stereotypes about our profession, and as a licensed massage therapist and advocate for the field, I share my perspective on why these narratives matter and what they mean for therapists who work hard to uphold professionalism and ethical care. I also highlight some positive policy news, including efforts to establish statewide massage licensure in Minnesota, which is an important step toward strengthening massage therapy’s role in healthcare.

After the news, we shift into one of my favorite topics in bodywork: fascia. I explain why I believe massage therapists are often working with the fascial system more than muscles themselves, and why this connective tissue network plays such a powerful role in movement, tension, and healing. I break down what fascia is, how it functions as a living communication system throughout the body, and why fascial-focused work can produce such profound changes for clients. I also share a recent treatment experience in my practice that reminded me just how incredible fascial work can be and why it continues to fascinate me after years of practicing massage.

Today’s Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

This episode is sponsored by Hafen Beauty, my intentional skincare company designed for people who care about what they put on their bodies. Hafen Beauty uses natural ingredients like cold-pressed grapeseed oil and locally sourced Washington tallow to support hydrated, balanced skin in every season. These are the same products I use daily and in my massage practice. In a world where hormones are imbalanced and ingredient lists are getting longer and harder to understand, simple and nourishing skincare matters.

Visit www.hafenbeauty.com and subscribe to the email list to receive 20% off your first order. Massage therapists can also find a special link in the episode notes for Hafen massage oils made specifically for bodywork practices.

Want the juicy details of Mistakes made by a Massage Therapist? You can do that at 52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist on Substack. This is my 10th year being a licensed massage therapists and I’m giving it all away.

Massage therapy is back in the headlines, and not for the reasons we would hope. In this episode, I discuss how the Epstein files have once again pulled the word “massage” into conversations about abuse, trafficking, and criminal cover-ups, and what that means for legitimate Licensed Massage Therapists.

I also share concerns about a newly formed Washington Massage Education Alliance that currently lacks transparency, and why visibility and accountability matter in our profession.

Finally, we talk business. Cash pay pricing, insurance realities, professional boundaries in the treatment room, and my personal perspective on tipping as a healthcare provider.

If you are a massage therapist, this episode will challenge you. If you receive massage, it may give you a new perspective on the professionalism behind the work.

Massage therapy is legitimate healthcare. It is time we act like it.

Sponsor:

Hafen Beauty - Intentional Skincare for an Intentional Life

This episode is sponsored by Hafen Beauty, my organic, small batch skincare line made with simple, intentional ingredients like grass fed tallow and cold pressed oils. Designed for therapists and wellness minded individuals who care about what goes on their skin, Hafen Beauty supports the same values I advocate for in the treatment room: integrity, simplicity, and real results. You can learn more at hafenbeauty.com.

Massage Therapists can grab their free Hafen Samples at https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts

Join us on Substack to Learn the 52 Mistkaes of a Massage Therapists - https://chelseadesouzanenno.substack.com/

In this episode, I share a personal decision I made early in my massage therapy career: I stopped trading sessions with other therapists. Trading is common in our profession, and it’s not wrong — I’ve traded with ranchers, accountants, juice makers, and other providers. But when it came to trading with other massage therapists, I realized it was costing me more than it was helping me.

I talk about scheduling stress, blurred boundaries, professionalism, and the mental load of “owing” sessions. I also share how paying for massage instead of trading changed the way I receive bodywork — and brought more peace to my practice.

We’ll also discuss something more controversial: the uniqueness of your flow. Your touch, your routine, your personality — they are yours. And I believe they are worth protecting and valuing.

If you’re a massage therapist navigating trades, boundaries, ethics, or simply trying to build a sustainable career, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe on Substack for the full “52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist Entrepreneur” series delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe here: https://open.substack.com/pub/chelseadesouzanenno?r=1qswzm&utm_medium=ios

🌿 Podcast Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

Hafen Beauty is clean, minimal, organic skincare created for therapists and women who value simple, traditional ingredients. Made with grass-fed tallow and nutrient-dense oils, Hafen Beauty products are designed to support healthy skin without fillers, chemicals, or unnecessary additives.

Created by a Licensed Massage Therapist for real skin and real treatment rooms.

Shop:

https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts?_pos=1&_psq=lmts&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Social Media:

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/hafenbeauty

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/hafenbeauty

Website:

https://hafenbeauty.com

Have your question answered on the podcast - email [email protected] with the title podcast in the subject line.

In this episode, I share what’s happening right now in massage therapy — nationwide and here in Washington State — from recent license suspensions tied to felony charges, to human trafficking enforcement discussions, interstate licensure compact updates, and new laws targeting illicit massage businesses.

I also break down Washington House Bill 1093 (Medicaid coverage for massage), substitute bills affecting insurance clawbacks and claim timelines, and ongoing rulemaking under RCW 18.108 and WAC 246-830.

As someone who has practiced for 10 years and has chosen not to take insurance, I share my personal opinion on why I believe many LMTs should reconsider billing insurance. While healthcare recognition is important, the red tape, reimbursement risks, and loss of clinical autonomy are real concerns for small business owners.

This is a policy-heavy update — but from my perspective as a Washington LMT who cares about protecting our profession and helping therapists build stable, ethical practices.

Subscribe on Substack for the full “52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist Entrepreneur” series delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe here: https://open.substack.com/pub/chelseadesouzanenno?r=1qswzm&utm_medium=ios

🌿 Podcast Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

Hafen Beauty is clean, minimal, organic skincare created for therapists and women who value simple, traditional ingredients. Made with grass-fed tallow and nutrient-dense oils, Hafen Beauty products are designed to support healthy skin without fillers, chemicals, or unnecessary additives.

Created by a Licensed Massage Therapist for real skin and real treatment rooms.

Shop:

https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts?_pos=1&_psq=lmts&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Social Media:

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/hafenbeauty

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/hafenbeauty

Website:

https://hafenbeauty.com

Have your question answered on the podcast - email [email protected] with the title podcast in the subject line.

In this episode, I’m speaking directly to massage therapists about something that has been deeply bothering me: social media trends, provocative content in the massage space, and how it impacts the credibility of our profession.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist in Washington State, I practice under the Department of Health as a healthcare provider, and that comes with a level of accountability, ethics, documentation, and professional boundaries that are often missing from what we see online. From HSA/FSA practices and HIPAA compliance to client care and therapeutic intention, true massage therapy is far more than what viral videos portray.

We also dive into the bigger conversations happening in the industry right now — illicit businesses posing as massage establishments, public perception, regulation debates like fingerprinting, and how these issues affect legitimate therapists.

Plus, I share my honest thoughts on AI, massage robots, and the growing tension between technology and human touch. Can massage ever be replaced by machines? Or is the human connection, emotional response, and therapeutic presence something technology simply cannot replicate?

This episode is a reflective and professional discussion on:

• ​Social media ethics in massage therapy
• ​Healthcare vs service-based perceptions of massage
• ​Advocacy and professional boundaries
• ​AI and robots in the massage industry
• ​The rising value of human touch in a tech-driven world

Whether you are a Licensed Massage Therapist, bodyworker, or wellness seeker who values ethical and therapeutic care, this conversation will help you think more critically about where the profession is headed — and why real human connection still matters in healthcare.

Subscribe on Substack for the full “52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist Entrepreneur” series delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe here: https://open.substack.com/pub/chelseadesouzanenno?r=1qswzm&utm_medium=ios

🌿 Podcast Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

Hafen Beauty is clean, minimal, organic skincare created for therapists and women who value simple, traditional ingredients. Made with grass-fed tallow and nutrient-dense oils, Hafen Beauty products are designed to support healthy skin without fillers, chemicals, or unnecessary additives.

Created by a Licensed Massage Therapist for real skin and real treatment rooms.

Shop:

https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts?_pos=1&_psq=lmts&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Social Media:

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/hafenbeauty

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/hafenbeauty

Website:

https://hafenbeauty.com

Have your question answered on the podcast - email [email protected] with the title podcast in the subject line.

Why do so many massage therapists quit — marketing campaigns, new programs, social media, even entire business models?

In this episode of Making Self Care, Chelsea DeSouza, Licensed Massage Therapist and LMT advocate, shares one of her biggest entrepreneurial mistakes: quitting. From stopping marketing campaigns after five days… to pivoting too quickly… to watching AI disrupt nutrition and protocol-based services — this is a raw look at what really happens behind the scenes of massage therapy entrepreneurship.

If you’re an LMT, massage therapist business owner, or wellness entrepreneur struggling with marketing, sustainability, or pivoting in the age of AI, this episode is for you.

Topics:

• ​Massage therapy marketing mistakes
• ​Why LMTs pivot too fast
• ​Fear of social media as a massage therapist
• ​Entrepreneurship burnout
• ​AI and its impact on wellness businesses
• ​How to build sustainable massage therapy offers

Subscribe on Substack for the full “52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist Entrepreneur” series delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe here: https://open.substack.com/pub/chelseadesouzanenno?r=1qswzm&utm_medium=ios

🌿 Podcast Sponsor: Hafen Beauty

Hafen Beauty is clean, minimal, organic skincare created for therapists and women who value simple, traditional ingredients. Made with grass-fed tallow and nutrient-dense oils, Hafen Beauty products are designed to support healthy skin without fillers, chemicals, or unnecessary additives.

Created by a Licensed Massage Therapist for real skin and real treatment rooms.

Shop:

https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts?_pos=1&_psq=lmts&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Social Media:

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/hafenbeauty

Facebook:

https://facebook.com/hafenbeauty

Website:

https://hafenbeauty.com

Have your question answered on the podcast - email [email protected] with the title podcast in the subject line.

I’ve been a Licensed Massage Therapist in Washington State for 10 years, and lately I’ve been asking myself — what’s missing in our profession?

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal perspective on massage therapy in Washington. We talk about being classified as healthcare providers, the Board of Massage, legislation season, insurance vs. cash practices, professional associations like AMTA and WSMTA, and why so few LMTs actually engage in advocacy.

This isn’t a policy breakdown — it’s a real conversation about community, competition, isolation in private practice, and whether we are truly showing up for our profession.

If you’re a Washington LMT (or thinking about becoming one), this episode is for you.

If this conversation resonates with you, go read “52 Mistakes of a Massage Therapist Entrepreneur” on Substack — where I share the real lessons I’ve learned building a clinic over the past 10 years so you don’t have to learn them the hard way.

Host Bio:

Chelsea DeSouza is a Licensed Massage Therapist in Washington State, certified holistic health coach, and trained in Traditional Naturopathy. She is the founder of Hafen Health and creator of The Hafen Way. With over 10 years in practice, Chelsea focuses on stress physiology, female hormones, gut health, and sustainable self-care. She is passionate about supporting massage therapists, educating the public on practical wellness, and helping individuals build health foundations that last.

Podcast Sponsor – Hafen Beauty Skincare:

This podcast is sponsored by Hafen Beauty, a non-toxic skincare line made with minimal, purposeful ingredients. Hafen Beauty features grass-fed, grass-finished tallow sourced from ethical ranchers, along with organic oils designed to support healthy, resilient skin. Products are small-batch, refill-friendly, and created for individuals who value simplicity and sustainability in their skincare routine.

Links:

Hafen Beauty: https://www.hafenbeauty.com

Substack – The Hafen Way: https://open.substack.com/pub/chelseadesouzanenno

Hafen Beauty for LMTS: https://hafenbeauty.com/pages/hafen-for-lmts?_pos=1&_sid=17422e4a8&_ss=r