Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Friends, family and colleagues would like to congratulate Natalie S. Gibson for being accepted into the hospital based Massage Therapy Program in Arlington, Virginia. Only 10-20 cohorts are accepted per year to attend the Healwell Hospital based Massage Therapy Program. Natalie will attend the fall 2015 module scheduled for October and November. Her training will include a six day intensive clinical rotation with actual patients in real, acute medical situations. Training includes adult and pediatric ICU, acute rehabilitation and oncology units.

Natalie looks forward to enhancing her ability to provide safe and effective massage therapy to the critically ill. She is also excited about cultivating a greater therapeutic presence, critical thinking, professional communication and greater familiarity with the reality of the difficult decisions facing patients and their families everyday in the hospital acute care setting.

Natalie is also a member of the Society for Oncology Massage. This is an international association of massage therapists with the particular interest, specialized training and extraordinary compassion to safely bring healing powers of massage to oncology patients at all stages of the cancer journey. She received her training in Cancer, Hospice, HIV/AIDS and other Life-Altering Illnesses as well as Mastectomy and breast tissue massage. Cancer changes one's life forever. It affects the family, loved ones and everyone surrounding this person. She believes this is a time for gentle, nurturing, supporting, calming and loving touch. Touch is a respite from pain and discomfort, emotionally as well as physically. Our touch needs to be soft, light and easy because we are caring for the heart and soul of a person and not just the physicality of a person.

Natalie is from the Onondaga Nation, eel clan and has been working in the Akwesasne community since 2006. Natalie does contractual work for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Oneida Nation of New York. She is married to Tehoronio a Mohawk condoled sub-chief and they have two children. She has maintained a private practice since 1999 and can be reached by telephoning (315) 247-6984.