J. Vaughn: Massage Therapist

It's a therapy associated with improving employee performance and morale. It's a real hands on approach to personal wellness, and this local practitioner came to it after a time spent in industrial sales. "I was selling overhead lifting devices in New England, New York and New Jersey," said J. Vaughn. "It was interesting but was too much time in the car all alone. It just wasn't for me." Prior to sales, which he opted for in the hopes of making more money, Vaughn had taught in a pre-school and worked providing direct care in group homes. Looking for a way out of sales, he sought something with direct contact with other people. That something was massage therapy At the beginning of 2006, he enrolled in the massage therapy program at the Branford Hall Career Institute. Nine months and nine hundred hours of study later, he graduated. "I had the good fortune to be able to concentrate on school full time and develop some networking while in school," said Vaughn. "A number of the teachers in the program worked in the profession, as massage therapists or in spas or with chiropractors, which helped him develop a network to access upon graduation." The Market Vaughn originally worked out of offices in Northampton and Easthampton. Last July he opened his office at 755 Grattan Street in Chicopee, just minutes from Routes 91 and 391 and the Mass Pike. "My target market is people between 30 and 60 years of age," said Vaughn. "People who are active or who want to be more active but are prohibited by a chronic condition; they feel like they can't do what they once did or have a limited range of motion." Vaughn's clients - 70 percent female and 30 percent male -come from the Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and the South Hadley areas. Many of his clients find him through his web site (http://www.jvaughn.massagetherapy.com) and a goodly number of them also use the Internet to self-diagnose their perceived conditions, for better or worse. "Many people seem to tend towards self-diagnosis what with the prevalence of online sources such as WebMD," said Vaughn. "It's almost in vogue to say you have carpal tunnel syndrome or a frozen shoulder, buzz words you find online." So a first visit includes a 15-20 minute assessment to clarify the client's goals and Vaughn's professional objectives. If his clients have any "common" ailments or complaints, it's usually a blend of over exertion, and doing more than they should or faster than they should. There can also be genetic factors, notes Vaughn, either from heredity or a person's body makeup. The Procedure A treatment plan with site specific sessions follows the assessment. Typically each session lasts 30 minutes and focuses on a specific area, whether it's a shoulder problem or neck pain, for example. "Typically I do a series of six sessions; then we reassess and proceed from there," said Vaughn. Clients can select sessions twice a week or once a week. "Following the series, I caution clients to remember how they felt when they first came to me and there are some things they can do to minimize or prevent the same situation recurring." His clients are people from manufacturing, real estate, teachers, nurses and people in healthcare. Approximately 40 percent come for the stress reducing advantages of massage therapy, not because they are in pain. "I also get referrals from other healthcare professionals whether it's the area hospitals or medical centers, and stay in touch with them," adds Vaughn. He also provides services to corporate clients. "Companies often offer chair massages," said Vaughn. "I bring the chair to the office for a minimum of two hours which equates to eight employees and 15 minutes each. It's nice and better than a coffee break. I've done it for child care centers, paper manufacturers or as part of a corporate health fair." For his own well-being, Vaughn practices what he professes. "I do trades with other therapists, and I do lots of yoga and meditation and try to keep myself as balanced as I can."