FAQs
Where are you located?
1
We are located inside Bluebirds Yoga Studio in Amsterdam West. The building will have Bluebirds printed in large white letters on the window facing the street.
What can I expect during a typical session?
2
Every appointment begins with an intake where we ask about any potential areas of concern, pain, injuries, etc. and we may ask you to perform diagnostic movements. If, for any reason, we need to palpate an area we will always ask for consent first. Once the intake is complete we will confirm our plan of action for the session, and talk loosely about long-term goals.
Once the intake is complete, the therapist will exit the room to provide some privacy to disrobe and get on the table under the sheets before we come back in.
During the session it is common for conversation to flow, and even for priorities of the session to change depending on what your therapist may find. We ask for open communication especially concerning pressure, or any areas that may feel more painful, or may be referring sensations elsewhere. We also welcome any clarifying questions on our process and logic so that our clients feel as comfortable as possible. If at any time you would like us to either avoid a body part or move away from an area we will absolutely honor any requests without hesitation. Your comfort is more valuable than a treatment plan.
Once the session is done, we will exit the room again to provide privacy, and once you’re ready for us to re-enter we will discuss findings and next steps to solidify your treatment plan and schedule accordingly.
What makes you different?
3
Peaks and Valleys Wellness sets itself apart with our years of experience, Valeria the owner has been specializing in this area of massage for over fifteen years.
We also maintained a US healthcare license that required regular continuing education to remain credentialed which ensures that we have continued to learn techniques and tools that elevate our skills to the next level.
We also have extensive experience working within clinical settings and collaborating with a wide variety of healthcare professionals. We have worked with teams of physicians, chiropractors, physiotherapists, acupuncturists and more so that when we come across an injury that can benefit from multiple modalities we can effectively communicate and strategize across disciplines to provide a holistic plan to ensure our clients receive the most complete care we can provide.
Do I need to be a part of the LBGTQ community?
4
We welcome everyone who seeks quality massage therapy to come to our establishment. With that said, we are also a queer-owned and focused business. We want to be known as the guaranteed safe space for the queer community to go for wellness services.
We know the anxiety of a queer person who isn’t sure if their medical needs will be taken seriously because of their orientation or gender presentation. Many of us experience discrimination within the healthcare system which leads to poorer health outcomes than the general population.
That is why our messaging is so strongly queer-centered. There are few locations that a queer person can quickly identify as a safe space, and those are rarer in healthcare.
If being accepting of the entire LGBTQIA+ umbrella is a challenge then we are likely not an appropriate fit for your needs and would refer you to a different clinic. As important as it is for our practitioners to be queer it is also important for our patrons to contribute to the safety of our space for the sake of other clients.
As such we do not tolerate homophobia, transphobia, racism, or ableism within our establishment.