Belonging Matters

From the Director: Mid-year Reflections

The halfway point of the year, July, invites us to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come and where we want to go. This reflection can remind us that transformation often begins with small, intentional steps toward becoming our best selves. Within this month of warmth and light, we can harness what authentically sets our souls on fire and confidently embrace life as an incredible adventure. Just as our gardens flourish in the summer sun, July reminds us that nurturing patience leads to bountiful growth, increased resilience, and the willingness to let our lights shine.

As you enjoy more time outdoors, take a moment to refresh your tick safety practices. This month’s Health Talk will help you stay current with the latest resources. We’re excited to introduce you to one of our new graduates, Grace Barkovich, in this month’s Spotlight. You will also find information on a great way to access Implicit Bias training and upcoming fall training and workshops, including Improving Therapy Outcomes with Pete Whitridge, BA, LMT, and CranioSacral Wisdom Workshops with Doreen Hart, LMT, CST.

Shawn Compau she/her/hers Directory, Co-owner, & Instructor

Summertime reminder: KCHA’s Student and Intern Clinics are now open and ready to help alleviate any discomfort caused by summer activities. Learn more below.

“July is hollyhocks and hammocks, fireworks and vacations, hot and steamy weather, cool and refreshing swims, beach picnics, and vegetables all out of the garden.” – Jean Hersey.

My journey to becoming a massage therapist began a long time ago. I knew I wanted to help people, and I also understood the profound influence that the power of touch can have. After several years, multiple jobs, one degree, and two kids, I had sort of an “a-ha” moment. The next day, I reached out to the KCHA faculty and scheduled a tour. Everything fell into place from there, and I’ve never been more confident and excited to be starting a career.

I feel as if I didn’t choose KCHA, but KCHA chose me. Though my only two criteria at the time were a local school with a flexible schedule, when I arrived at KCHA for my tour and saw the sign that reads “You Belong Here,” I knew I was in the right place. After spending the last year here, I can honestly say that the teachers, classmates, and experience as a whole have been life-changing.

My experience at KCHA has been educational, emotional, and honestly, some of the best moments of my life. As corny as it may sound, I truly believe the people I met through this program were meant to cross paths. We’ve laughed together, cried together, but most of all learned together. It has been such an amazing experience. I don’t think I could ever thank them enough.

My practice is deeply rooted in the belief that the true power of healing lies in touch. It’s amazing how our bodies respond to massage. I wish I could educate everyone in the world on how important it is! It’s extremely valuable to have the ability to heal with your own hands.

After graduation, I will be practicing at a local spa in Portage. One of the things I love about being a massage therapist is the versatility of the career. The only thing I wish for in the future is a long and successful career. Wherever this path may take me, five, ten, or even twenty years from now, I am so happy my journey started with KCHA.

Looking for an on-demand or live training opportunity with a nationally accredited provider? Michigan Implicit Bias Training has what you need at reasonable prices. All of the implicit bias trainings are available online via interactive webinar – just select your ON-DEMAND or LIVE training! All implicit bias trainings include a participatory pre-test and post-test as mandated by the state of Michigan and report to the CPE Monitor.

Ready to have fun while earning CEUs? Join us from 9 am – 6 pm on September 13 & 14 for this excellent hands-on workshop, focusing on how to apply current massage therapy research findings to improve and refine your clinical practice.    While focusing on topics such as affective outcomes, inflammatory response, pain science, and trauma and resilience, over these two days, you will learn the proper use of thermal therapies, the reeducation of post-traumatic injury response in wound repair, and functional movement patterning. By the end of this training, you will have:  *Deepened your knowledge of anatomical and fascial structures *Learned how to teach your clients to work with you during therapy *Gained skills for eliminating chronic pain by working below the client’s pain threshold *Practiced slowing down, focusing your attention, and being more effective with less effort *Learned how to eliminate chronic pain by working below the client’s pain threshold.

Pete Whitridge

Pete has been a licensed massage therapist since 1988, is a founder and Past President of the Alliance For Massage Therapy Education, and has dedicated his career to helping establish high standards in massage therapy education. He teaches throughout the U.S. and is a frequent speaker at FSMTA, FCA, and AMTA meetings and conventions.

He has served as Chair of the FL Board of Massage Therapy and received the FSMTA Charles Canfield Award for service to the massage profession in 2004.  In 2016, he was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame at the World Massage Festival.       He lives in Fort Pierce, FL, with his wife, Lee. They travel frequently and would love to visit your town.

When: September 13 & 14

Where: KCHA 5320 Holiday Terrace, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

CEU Hours: 16 NCBTMG

Cost: $295 (before August 22)                                                                                                                                            $350 (after August 22)

For registration information, please call or email KCHA at (269) 205 -3165 or KCHA@kcha.com.

. Contact Information for Pete Whitridge  (772)-332-6116 or justaskpete@mac.com

Are you ready to experience the light touch technique of CranioSacral Therapy?

CranioSacral Therapy, or CST, is a non-invasive technique that directly connects to the central nervous system and the body’s innate wisdom, allowing it to heal itself when given the opportunity and possibility. It can release tension, pain, and dysfunction deep in the body where long-lasting effects of past trauma may have gone unnoticed, yet still influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Besides physical changes, CST can help release emotions that are buried in the tissues.

CSW 1 and CSW 2 are being offered as a Package for the greatest value.

CSW 1 will be October 11-12, 2025

CSW 2 will be October 25-26, 2025

Investment for this workshop:

CSW1 & CSW2 Package – $597

CSW1 only – $397

CSW2 (pre-requisite is CSW1)- $397

Your investment includes a workbook with material covered in the workshop. Participants will learn the basics of CranioSacral Therapy, utilizing a gentle touch that directly affects the central nervous system. This is a hands-on experience, so you will be giving and receiving each day. Comfortable loose-fitting clothing and no jeans are recommended.    Space is limited, so register now! Payment plans are available for a limited time.

Did you know that ticks carry pathogens that cause over 15 human diseases? These include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and even alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergy to red meat. One of the most common of these diseases is Lyme disease, which Michigan recently reported a 168% increase in over the last five years. Heightening our awareness is further underscored by the report that the 2024-2025 winter was the second warmest on record across the Great Lakes region. Warm winters, along with increased urbanization and deforestation, are contributing to the spread of ticks into new areas, making it especially important to be vigilant with tick safety precautions this year.

Whether or not you have personal experience with these undesirable hitchhikers, it’s a good time to brush up on the latest tick facts and safety precautions.

Myth 1: Ticks Only Live in Forests. One of the most stubborn myths is that ticks are only found in wooded areas. While it’s true that ticks thrive in forests, they can also be found in grasslands, gardens, parks, and even urban areas. Highly adaptable, ticks can survive anywhere their hosts, including humans, pets, and wildlife, are present.

Myth 2: Ticks Jump Onto Their Host. Ticks do not jump or fall. Instead, they engage in what’s called “questing,” where they climb onto grasses, shrubs, and trees,  wait for a host to brush past, and latch on. Once they latch on, they then crawl around to find a suitable feeding spot, which is why wearing proper clothing and taking preventative measures is so important.

Myth 3: Burning a Tick is an Effective Way to Remove it. Using heat to remove a tick that has latched on is not only ineffective but also dangerous. Applying heat or other irritants, such as petroleum jelly, nail polish, or alcohol, can cause the tick to release more saliva, which increases the risk of disease transmission.

The safest way to remove a tick that is crawling on you is to use tape to remove the tick without touching it. Once the tick is stuck to the tape, fold the tape over it to kill it. If the tick has latched on, it is best to use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin as possible and pull it upward with steady pressure.

Check out this slideshow to learn what exactly happens when a tick bites.

Watch this 2-minute video

Or follow this guide to learn how to remove a tick properly.

Never squish or crush a tick, especially with your fingers, because doing so can increase the risk of transmitting the tick’s bodily fluids, including potential pathogens, into your bloodstream. Instead, drop it in an airtight container, a container with rubbing alcohol, or flush it down the toilet.

Myth 4: All Ticks Carry Disease. Not all ticks are infected, and the likelihood of a tick transmitting a disease depends on many factors. This is why it’s crucial to remove ticks and monitor for any symptoms of illness promptly. It’s a good idea to learn to identify various ticks that live in different parts of the country and transmit different diseases.

Myth 5: Lyme Disease Always Comes with a Bullseye Rash. According to the CDC, 20 to 30 percent of Lyme infections may not present this symptom. A more accurate way to check for the disease is to look for several early symptoms rather than just one. These might include muscle weakness in the face, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, fever, and joint pain. These signs usually appear within a month following a tick bite if you’ve been infected.

Myth 6: If You Don’t See a Tick, You’re Safe. Ticks are small and can be easy to miss, especially in their nymph stage when they are about the size of a poppy seed. Even if you don’t notice a tick, it’s still possible to contract a tick-borne illness. This is why it’s essential to perform regular tick checks after spending time outdoors.

Myth 7: Ticks Die in Winter.  Although many people believe that cold weather eliminates ticks, this is not entirely accurate. Ticks can survive cold months by burrowing into leaf litter or attaching to a warm host, and some tick species are active in winter, especially when temperatures rise above freezing (32℉). That means that, if you’re in a tick-preferred environment in the middle of winter, and the temperature is above 32℉, be sure to practice tick safety.

Myth 8: It’s Impossible To Enjoy Being Outdoors During Tick Season. Fortunately, there are time-proven ways to enjoy the outdoors during tick season. The key is to reduce exposure to ticks by knowing where to expect them and avoiding contact with them. You can use this Tick Tracker to learn about tick activity wherever you are in the U.S.

Ticks prefer areas with tall grass, brush, or dense wood cover. When in places like these, walk in the center of the trails, and consider treating your clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. You can also buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.

Once indoors, check your clothing, gear, and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.

Once indoors, check your clothing, gear, and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.

Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce the risk of contracting tickborne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks, and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check. Ticks are “programmed” to attach themself to warm areas on the body. Be sure to closely check your entire body, especially:

*Under the arms

*In and around the ears

*Inside the belly button

*Back of the knees

*In and around the hair

*Between the legs

*Around the waist

Do you need help identifying a tick to determine risks? You can compare your findings with the diagrams provided by the Tick Encounter website. If you get stuck, consider submitting a clear photo of your tick from the top.

To prevent ticks from making their home in your yard, check out the rest of these Tick Tips from the CDC.

Summertime is the perfect time to bolster your wellness routine—and massage therapy is the ideal way to start!

Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, recover from muscle tension, or simply recharge, regular massage can help you embrace the season with renewed energy and well-being. A massage at Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts is a perfect gift to give or receive.

These relaxing sessions are affordable. Gift certificates and monthly specials are available.

Tap here to book a Student or Intern Clinic Massage. 

The halfway point of the year, July, invites us to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come and where we want to go.