Center For Integrative Education
Advancing Holistic Learning
Courses & Instructors
Melissa Blumer is a licensed, board-certified massage therapist with a private practice in Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate of CCRI’s Associate in Applied Science program in Massage Therapy, Melissa went on to earn certifications in oncological massage, scar release therapy, and manual lymphatic drainage. She brings a thoughtful, science-informed approach to her work, staying current with the latest research to provide safe and effective care. Melissa is also pursuing a nursing degree to deepen her medical knowledge and further integrate science with the art of massage therapy.
Adapting Massage for Older Adults: Safety, Comfort, & Care
October 5, 2025 - 10a-4p 5 CE's (Ethics) - NCBTMB ID#450513-07
Become an expert in treating the fastest growing demographic in the US: This course equips massage therapists with the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively massage clients aged 75 and older. Learn to adapt massage techniques, communication, and professional practices to meet the unique physical, emotional, and medical needs of this growing population. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to: -Describe common age-related changes. -Identify common conditions (arthritis, osteoporosis, frailty, hypertension, etc.) . -Recognize psychological factors that may affect older clients . -Analyze client case information to inform safe and effective massage adaptations. -Recognize Common Medications & Their Effects. -Identify contraindications and possible red flags.
Catherine “Kate” Dauphinais, MPT, LMT. Kate brings over 25 years of experience in physical therapy, massage therapy, and movement education to her role as a continuing education instructor. With a Master of Physical Therapy (Marquette University ) and certifications in Therapeutic Massage (CCRI) and Matwork Pilates (APPI), she integrates clinical expertise with hands-on practice to support postural, musculoskeletal, and neurological health and well-being. Kate’s teaching emphasizes practical application, blending traditional massage and advanced therapeutic techniques with a strong foundation in movement science. A lifelong learner and passionate educator, she is dedicated to empowering therapists with knowledge and skills that translate directly into client care.
Mastering Advance Anatomy, Palpation, & Function: Upper Extremity
November 2, 2025 - 9a-4p 6 CE's - NCBTMB ID#450513-07
This course invites massage therapists to rediscover and refine their knowledge of anatomy, palpation, and movement through the lens of experience. With years of clinical practice as a foundation, seasoned massage therapists will sharpen their ability to identify, interpret, and respond to the upper quadrant and shoulder girdle with greater accuracy. Active lectures connect anatomical concepts to clinical practice, while extensive hands-on labs provide opportunities to deepen palpation and movement knowledge and assessment. This course emphasizes practical techniques that enhance both therapeutic outcomes for clients and professional engagement for the therapist—skills you can bring back to your practice immediately. By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 1.Identify key anatomical structures of the upper quadrant, including boney landmarks, joint lines, musculotendinous junctions and attachments, ligamentous attachments, and neurovascular landmarks. 2.Accurately palpate musculoskeletal structures of the shoulder, arm, forearm, wrist, hand, and scapulothoracic region. 3.Differentiate between muscles with similar actions or locations through refined palpation techniques. 4.Apply movement-based assessments to enhance palpation accuracy and functional understanding. 5.Integrate advanced palpation findings into massage therapy sessions to improve treatment precision and effectiveness. 6.Demonstrate techniques that support client outcomes related to mobility, pain reduction, and functional movement of the upper extremity. 7.Enhance therapist engagement and body awareness through refined touch and movement observation skills. 8.Translate new knowledge and palpation skills into immediate clinical application with clients.
Kristen Kandzerski currently owns her own massage therapy practice where she sees post surgical and trauma recovering clients. She is a graduate from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and also a CCRI graduate in both the Physical Therapy Assistant and Massage Therapy Program. During her internship she had the experience of observing a Total Knee replacement and Total Hip replacement in the operating room. This participation piloted the understanding of what patients go through during surgery. By applying that knowledge with massage therapy she has helped clients recover more quickly than with PT alone. Kristen began as a physical therapist assistant in an outpatient physical therapy setting in 1998 and started her massage therapy business in 2003. She also has classroom experience instructing a Fundamentals of Palpation course at CCRI for 3 semesters.
Post Surgical Orthopedic Massage for Hip & Knee
November 16, 2025 - 9a-6p 8 CE's - NCBTMB ID#450513-07
Early Bird Discount until 10/20/25, $195 when you use promocode EARLYBIRD25 at checkout.
This seminar will enhance your skills as a massage therapist to assist your client recover from post operative lower extremity joint surgery. Learn what happens to soft tissue during surgery. Demonstrations on in-person postoperative clients and instruction for therapists to practice and perform hands-on techniques in a lab setting. By the end of this course, participants will be able to: Identify the common types of lower extremity joint surgeries and their impact on soft tissue structures. Describe the physiological changes that occur in soft tissue during and after surgical procedures. Recognize common postoperative symptoms and complications that may affect manual therapy interventions. Demonstrate appropriate massage techniques to support client recovery following lower extremity joint surgery. To include fascia and lines of pull. Assess the individual needs of postoperative clients through observation and palpation. Apply hands-on massage techniques safely and effectively in a supervised lab setting. Evaluate client responses to manual therapy interventions and adjust techniques accordingly. Integrate newly learned techniques into existing massage therapy practice to enhance postoperative care.
Kate Peck, LMT, retired ATC Kate Peck is a certified and licensed massage therapist and founder of Journey to Health. She has been in private practice in Newton, MA for 26 years, specializing in craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, burn scar therapy and therapeutic massage. She had been a certified athletic trainer for 30 years, retiring in 2016. She spent 10 years on the Sports Medicine staff at Harvard University. Kate specializes in treating children & adults with post-concussion syndrome, as well as treating those suffering with migraine headaches. Her newest passion is working with burn survivors doing Burn Scar Therapy, work that she has developed over the past ten years. Kate has founded the Massage and Burn Scar Therapy Foundation. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of all burn survivors through the use of effective & compassionate massage and Burn Scar Therapy. Kate has been teaching continuing education courses in craniosacral therapy, myofascial release and burn scar therapy to massage therapists and certified athletic trainers for The Bodywork Education Project since 2009. She has been a presenter at massage therapy conferences, athletic training conferences, at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's Integrative Medicine Lecture Series and The American Burn Association's Northeast Region Burn Conference. She has also taught anatomy, myofascial release techniques and craniosacral therapy to massage students at the Muscular Therapy Institute and the Cortiva Institute from 1999-2009.
Advanced Soft Tissue Approaches for The Neck
December 7, 2025 - 9a-6p 8 CE's NCBTMB Approved Provider
Did you know that your client’s shoulder and arm pain may not be coming from their shoulder or arm at all? It may be coming from their neck! Chronic muscle tension due to long term stress, and/or past injuries like whiplash, can lead to increased vertebral joint compression forces which can impinge on nerves and cause radiating and referred pain into the shoulder and down the arm into the hand. Any nerve compressed at the neck will be more susceptible to injury farther down the arm. Therefore, “normalizing” the neck musculature is important in treating any of your client’s upper extremity conditions. Do you know how to improve cervical vertebral joint motion? Each vertebra should be able to laterally glide, side-bend and rotate for optimal overall neck motion. Learn a gentle and safe technique to assess and improve this vertebral motion. There are no high velocity thrusts, just safe & gentle techniques. Did you know that “jammed” occipital-atlanto (OA) joints can cause a tight upper trapezius and SCM? Your client’s chronic neck tension may be due to a structural problem that, if not addressed, will not resolve itself with massage techniques alone. Learn how to gently release the occiput from the atlas (C1). In Advanced Soft Tissue Approaches for the Neck you will learn: the anatomy of the neck. how to palpate & assess the posterior, lateral & anterior neck muscles. how to palpate, assess & improve the cervical vertebral joint motion. how to release the occiput from the atlas (C1). how to perform advanced massage, myofascial & neuromuscular techniques for the neck.
Register for this course using the link below.