Emily O'Barr
Coach | Somatic Practitioner | Massage Therapist
My Approach
I have been practicing massage therapy since 2011 when I graduated from the Body Therapy Institute in Siler City, N.C. Since that time, it has been my great privilege and joy to work with clients in helping them reach their wellness and self-healing goals.
I think the main reasons I love this work are because I really like working with people and I believe in the resiliency and innate health of the human body and spirit. I work with lots of different kinds of clients - community leaders, competitive athletes, professors, busy executives, students, stay-at-home parents, healthcare and helping professionals, retirees, to name only a few. Despite their differences, when people come to see me, it us usually because they are trying to feel better in their bodies in some way and to increase their overall sense of wellness and ease.
Whatever the reason you are seeking massage or bodywork, I am first and foremost interested in what your short-term and long-term goals are for the work. In other words, what do you want more of as well as what you would like to have less of in your body? For example, maybe your goal is to lessen your chronic pain or to heal an injury that won't seem to heal itself. Perhaps or you've been stressed and you want to have a sense of relaxation and ease in your body. Or maybe you always find yourself in your head, and you don't really have a sense of what it feels like to be present in your body and you would like to bring your awareness to the felt sensation of your body.
At its best, I believe that massage therapy is both a science and an art. Every client is different, and each day is different. I don't have a particular "type" of massage that I use or favor exclusively. Rather, I draw from a wide range of modalities as possibly relevant and useful tools depending on the client and situation. I believe each of us has something unique and important to offer the world, whether that is finding a cure for cancer or having the bandwidth to pick up your kids from school and help them with their homework. I see my job as helping you be more centered or pain-free so you can get to doing what you want and need to do with your time.
Massage Therapy Appointments
I offer deep tissue, therapeutic, medical and sports massage in addition to nervous system work and stress relief treatments. Every session I offer is individualized - designed to meet each client's needs and goals as well as his or her felt experience on that particular day. Most often I use a combination of modalities to create a session that is unique to you and what seems most supportive and valuable at the time.
Health History Form
If you have time before your appointment, please print and complete this form and bring it with you. This will allow more hands-on time in your appointment. If you are not able to do so, don't worry, it only takes a few minutes at the start of your first appointment.
My Training
I have extensive training in the following modalities:
- Integrative Massage
- Myofacial Massage or Deep Tissue Massage
- Swedish (Relaxation) Massage
- Medical and Sports Massage
- Corrective Exercise (CES certified through NASM)
- Lymphatic Drainage Techniques
- Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy (CHP through the Hakomi Institute)
- Somatic Experiencing
- Hot Stone Massage
RK, Non-Profit Executive Director
I love my massages from Emily and my time with her. She is, by far, the best massage therapist I’ve found over the last twenty years. She’s the perfect mixture of anatomical knowledge and instinct, so she can really zero in on problem areas without making you regret it! She’s also a really wonderful communicator: giving her feedback is easy (like, too hard! or a little too soft!), as she never takes it as criticism. Plus, of course, she’s just sort of joyful to be around and her massage studio is perfectly lovely, with nice natural light in a cozy, private space.
SB, Personal Trainer
"I have known Emily for many years and she is THE happiest, most caring and warmest person I know. With that being said, she rolls all of those amazing qualities along with a surplus of knowledge into her work as a massage therapist. I work in the fitness industry therefore I work too many hours, don’t get enough sleep and tend to over exercise. She can fix all of my constant aches and knots in a matter of 60 minutes….smiling the entire time! The awareness she has of one’s body is truly a gift she has because everyone is different. Her way of approaching areas that can be more tender than others is strategic, which on someone as ticklish as I am, gets the job done. Her studio is so comfortable that one could easily fall asleep. I recommend her to anyone is need of a “GOOD” massage because we all know they can be hard to find."
TP, Health Outcomes Director
"Emily is warm and caring and extremely knowledgeable and skilled. She is gifted with strong hands and a wise perspective. I see Emily on a regular basis. She's helped me recover from, and prevent, injuries (plantar fasciitis, and iliotibial band, back, and neck pain) and she's helped (and continues to help) me with my posture. She has taught me to pay attention to my body, which has instilled a sense of self-care, balance, and calm. Emily's compassion, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness make her an incredible massage therapist."
