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Pregnancy and postpartum clients need more than careful positioning—they need massage therapists who understand what they may be experiencing physically, emotionally, and socially.

In this episode of the Handcrafted Therapy Podcast, Julie Alexander speaks with massage therapist and educator Marissa Emery about providing confident, compassionate massage care during pregnancy and postpartum. Marissa shares how her own experiences with motherhood and postpartum depression shaped her specialty, Mama Needs Massage, and inspired her to educate other massage therapists.

Julie and Marissa discuss first-trimester massage, client communication, safe positioning, postpartum recovery, perinatal mental health, and the importance of listening without judgment. They also explore how massage therapists can build a pregnancy and postpartum specialty by connecting with parent groups, doulas, midwives, lactation consultants, pelvic-floor therapists, and other trusted community providers.

Topics Discussed

• How massage therapists can confidently support pregnancy and postpartum clients
• First-trimester massage, positioning, draping, and client communication
• The physical and emotional realities of postpartum recovery
• Supporting perinatal mental health through listening, validation, and trusted resources
• Building a pregnancy and postpartum massage specialty through community partnerships
• Creating referrals with doulas, midwives, lactation consultants, and pelvic-floor therapists

More About Marissa Emery

Marissa Emery, LMT, has practiced massage therapy since 2009 and specializes in supporting clients through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and motherhood. Her personal experiences with pregnancy, birth, postpartum depression, and massage therapy inspired her to create Mama Needs Massage and dedicate her work to perinatal care.

In addition to her massage practice, Marissa provides continuing education for massage professionals. Her training helps therapists understand the physical, emotional, mental, and social realities of pregnancy and postpartum life while developing the communication, positioning, and hands-on skills needed to serve clients safely and confidently.

Connect With Marissa

• Website: https://www.marissaemerylmt.com/
• On-Demand Classes: https://www.marissaemerylmt.com/on-demand-classes
• Massage Services: https://www.marissaemerylmt.com/get-massage

Contact me for a free sample:
email - info@handcraftedtherapy.com
text/call - 972-658-7722

Order it online: handcraftedtherapysupplies.com

Visit our store:
3303 North Central Expressway #240
Plano, TX 75023

Contact me for a free sample:
email - info@handcraftedtherapy.com
text/call - 972-658-7722

Order it online: handcraftedtherapysupplies.com

Visit our store:
3303 North Central Expressway #240
Plano, TX 75023

Check out our Tales from the Table Book (coming soon) or Submit a story here

Connect with Julie Alexander and Handcrafted Therapy Join our email list! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/HKY9uFv

To learn more about Julie Alexander, LMT, and Handcrafted Therapy Events and Wellness Center, head over to www.handcraftedtherapy.com

Join the Handcrafted Therapy Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/handcraftedtherapy Or on Handcrafted Therapy’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@handcraftedtherapy

Send us Fan Mail

• Ep. 39: Unlocking the Secrets to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice with Cindy Slack
• Ep. 35: Building a Successful Massage Business with Valarie Karpiel
• Ep. 6: How to Grow Your Massage Therapy Practice Through Adaptability and Relationship Building With Steve Cartlidge

If you’ve ever wondered how some massage therapists stay booked, avoid burnout, and keep loving the work for decades, this episode is for you. Julie sits down with massage therapist, clinic owner, mentor, and podcast host Krista Dicks for a thoughtful conversation about building a sustainable career in massage therapy. Together, they explore how the right work environment, authentic client relationships, strong referral habits, and values-based marketing can support both longevity and fulfillment. Krista also shares insights on mentorship, confidence, taking intentional pauses, and why small, genuine actions often have the biggest impact on business growth.

• Preventing burnout by working in the right environment
• Building referrals through genuine client relationships
• Staying authentic in your massage practice
• Mentorship, confidence, and career longevity
• Local networking and community-based marketing
• Taking breaks without guilt
• Using empathy to strengthen client trust
• Continuing education as a tool for growth

• Learn more about The Radical Massage Therapist
• Follow @heradicalmassagetherapist on Instagram
• Listen to the Radical Massage Therapist Podcast
• Visit Align Massage Therapy

Krista Dicks, RMT is a Registered Massage Therapist in Ottawa, Ontario, a clinic owner, mentor, Pilates instructor, and host of The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast. She has been practicing massage therapy since 2006 and is known for helping massage therapists build careers that are both sustainable and fulfilling. Krista shares insights on burnout prevention, confidence, mentorship, clinic ownership, and creating a massage career that supports a great life as well as great work.

Contact me for a free sample:
email - info@handcraftedtherapy.com
text/call - 972-658-7722

Order it online: handcraftedtherapysupplies.com

Visit our store:
3303 North Central Expressway #240
Plano, TX 75023

Contact me for a free sample:
email - info@handcraftedtherapy.com
text/call - 972-658-7722

Order it online: handcraftedtherapysupplies.com

Visit our store:
3303 North Central Expressway #240
Plano, TX 75023

Check out our Tales from the Table Book (coming soon) or Submit a story here

Connect with Julie Alexander and Handcrafted Therapy Join our email list! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/HKY9uFv

To learn more about Julie Alexander, LMT, and Handcrafted Therapy Events and Wellness Center, head over to www.handcraftedtherapy.com

Join the Handcrafted Therapy Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/handcraftedtherapy Or on Handcrafted Therapy’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@handcraftedtherapy

Send us Fan Mail

Massage therapists have the best stories—and now there’s a book to prove it. In this solo episode, host Julie Alexander announces Tales From the Table, a crowd-sourced collection of real-world stories from licensed massage therapists. Julie shares what kinds of submissions she’s seeking, simple guidelines to keep the project professional, and why showcasing authentic experiences can shift public perception of massage therapy from “spa day” to evidence-informed health care. You’ll learn exactly how to submit your story (typed or recorded), how contributors will be credited, and how this book aims to both educate the public and amplify therapists’ businesses.

• Why a shared story collection can change how the public understands massage therapy
• What to submit: funny, heartfelt, and lesson-rich client or practice stories
• Professional guidelines (keep it clean, ethical, and aligned with licensed practice)
• Credit options for contributors: named feature with links or anonymous
• How the book will promote therapists and strengthen industry collaboration

Submit your story here

Contact me for a free sample:
email - info@handcraftedtherapy.com
text/call - 972-658-7722

Order it online: handcraftedtherapysupplies.com

Visit our store:
3303 North Central Expressway #240
Plano, TX 75023

Check out our Tales from the Table Book (coming soon) or Submit a story here

Connect with Julie Alexander and Handcrafted Therapy Join our email list! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/HKY9uFv

To learn more about Julie Alexander, LMT, and Handcrafted Therapy Events and Wellness Center, head over to www.handcraftedtherapy.com

Join the Handcrafted Therapy Facebook community at: https://www.facebook.com/handcraftedtherapy Or on Handcrafted Therapy’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@handcraftedtherapy