Your questions about GayleForce bodywork, massage, and somatic coaching, answered.
ABOUT THE WORK
WHAT TO EXPECT
SCHEDULING & FEES
COMPANIES & EVENTS
If the answer to a question you’ve been holding isn't here, please reach out.
What's the difference between somatic coaching and massage?
They share the same roots — attentive, body-centered care — but they're shaped differently.
Massage works with the physical body: releasing tension, easing chronic pain, restoring circulation and mobility. You can come once or come regularly. Most people leave lighter than when they arrived.
Somatic coaching goes layers deeper and is structured as a dedicated journey rather than a single appointment. It works directly with your nervous system to address stored stress and trauma at the root — helping your body move out of fight, flight, and freeze, build a tolerance for the range between calm and tension, and reorganize patterns that have been holding for years. My clients often report feeling unexpected clarity. It may include gentle movement, breathwork, guided awareness through sensation, and consensual touch, depending on what you need.
A good way to hold it: massage works with the body to release the body. Somatic coaching works with the body to change how you live in it.
Who benefits from massage/bodywork at GayleForce?
Conditions I have experience working with include carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, neck tension, low back pain, TMJ, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, chronic pain, sports injuries, scoliosis, high blood pressure, and whiplash. This also includes the physical effects on anxiety if you’re already working with a therapist. If you have a specific concern, reach out and we can talk through whether I'm the right fit.
Who is GayleForce somatic coaching for?
It's for anyone who feels like something is quietly asking for attention. More specifically, you might be ready if you've done therapy and feel like something is still missing — if you carry stress or anxiety in your body and can't seem to shake it — if you have a history of trauma that your mind has processed but your body hasn't — if you feel disconnected from yourself, going through the motions, or always slightly braced — or if you're in a season of transition and want to move through it with grace.
You don't need to be in crisis to begin, and you don't need to have it all figured out. Curiosity is enough.
What does "somatic" mean?
"Somatic" comes from the Greek word for body. So somatic work is, simply, body-centered healing — healing that happens through the body rather than only through the mind. Where talk-based approaches help you understand your patterns, somatic work helps you change them at the level of your nervous system, your physiology, and your felt experience. It's based on a simple truth: some things we carry don't live in our thoughts. They live in our tissues, our breath, and the way we hold ourselves. So that's where we work.
I'm already in therapy. Can this work alongside it?
Often this is when it's most powerful. While your therapist helps you understand your patterns and reframe your beliefs, this work helps your body feel safe enough for that deeper processing to land. The two approaches work together in ways that neither can accomplish alone — and my work pairs especially well with modalities like Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
If you're working with a therapist now, I'm glad to connect with your care team when that feels helpful. Many clients find their way to this work through a conversation with their therapist — and that's a wonderful place to start.
Who are your massage practitioners?
All of our massage therapists are specifically trained for working in both private and corporate settings. We are all licensed and insured in the State of Illinois, and we fulfill biannual requirements in advanced training, ethics, and research. Each of us brings specialized training in areas including sports massage, craniosacral therapy, reflexology, prenatal massage, and more.
Do I have to be touched in somatic coaching?
No. Nothing in this work is required, and touch is always your choice. Touch can be a meaningful part of the work — it's one of the ways the nervous system finds safety — but it is always consensual, clearly framed, and fully within your control. You can change your mind at any moment, for any reason, and "no" is always honored. For some people, the repair happens precisely through having their limits attuned to and respected. I never move faster than your nervous system can integrate.
What should I wear?
Come as you are, in comfortable clothing you can breathe and move in. For somatic coaching, you stay fully clothed throughout — no oils, no table, nothing to prepare. For massage and bodywork, you undress to your comfort level. I'll walk you through the draping before we begin, so you know exactly what to expect. For on-site chair massage at corporate events or offices, regular work clothing is fine — clients remain fully clothed and no oils are used.
Are virtual sessions appropriate for somatic coaching?
Somatic coaching is available both in person at my West Lakeview studio and online. The nervous system work translates well to a virtual setting — so much of it is guided awareness, breath, and a deepening conversation with your own body. For virtual sessions, arrive from a private and quiet space where interruptions will be minimal and you’re free to move. If an uncomfortable physical sensation comes up during a virtual session, it can still be worked with verbally and through guided attention.
Hands-on massage and bodywork, naturally, happen in person. If you're not sure which format suits you, reach out and we can talk it through.
What if I feel emotional during a session?
That's welcome here, and more common than you might expect. Sometimes the body sets down something it's been carrying for a long time, and feelings arise. You won't be rushed through anything or pushed past it. The pace of this work is built around staying within what your system can hold — if something feels like too much, we slow down, pause, or simply stay with what's here until it settles. You are never alone in it. The point isn't to force anything open. It's to create the conditions where it's safe to feel, and safe to pause or stop.
How will I feel afterward?
Everyone's different, and every session is different. Many people describe feeling lighter, looser, calmer, and more present — moving with greater ease, breathing more fully, thinking more clearly. After deeper somatic sessions, some people feel quiet or tender for a little while as the system integrates; that's normal and usually settles into ease. The physical benefits of bodywork often last for weeks. What tends to stay with people longest, though, is harder to name: the feeling that their whole self was cared for.
How soon after surgery can I receive massage?
Please ask your doctor how soon after surgery you're clear for massage therapy. I'm glad to honor any guidance from your doctor, physical therapist, or other medical practitioner — just let me know before we begin.
Can you accommodate people with disabilities?
Yes — I'd love to talk about what would work best for you. I've worked with people with physical disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing clients, and amputees, and I'm always open to learning and adapting. Reach out and let's have a conversation about how I can serve you well. Please note the studio is not currently wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is a need, I'm open to arranging a session in a location that works for you — just reach out and we'll figure it out together.
Where are you located?
My quiet, light-filled studio is in West Lakeview, Chicago at 3354 North Paulina Street, Suite 207.
How long is the somatic coaching program, and what does it cost?
Somatic coaching is offered as a three-month commitment — weekly sessions, in person or online. This is intentional: real nervous system change takes time, repetition, and relationship. Three months gives your body the consistent safety it needs to genuinely reorganize, not just feel better for a few days. The initial session is just the invitation to the life-changing growth that follows over the subsequent weeks. The investment is $3,000 for the full program.
What does massage and bodywork cost?
90-minute sessions are $240 single or $645 for a series of three. 60-minute sessions are $185 or $500 for a series of three.
What forms of payment do you accept?
For private massage and bodywork sessions, a credit card is required when booking your first appointment. For corporate events, a credit card is required and a non-refundable deposit may be charged at the time of booking, with any balance due on the day of the event.
Do you accept insurance?
Somatic coaching is a holistic wellness offering and is not currently covered by insurance. Many clients find it works beautifully alongside therapy or other modalities — but it lives outside the traditional healthcare model, which allows the work to move at the pace your body sets rather than at the pace a billing code permits. Sessions are self-pay, and I'm happy to provide a receipt for those who wish to submit to an HSA/FSA account or explore out-of-pocket reimbursement with their provider. If cost is a concern, let's talk — I want this to be accessible to the people who feel called to it.
What is the cancellation policy?
I kindly ask for at least 24 hours' notice for any changes or cancellations. Same-day cancellations are non-refundable. If a corporate event is canceled at least 24 hours in advance, the deposit can be applied toward a future booking within a three-month window.
Are gratuities expected?
Gratuities are never required or included in the price of services. If you'd like to offer one, it's always appreciated by the therapists — given in cash directly, or added to a card or check payment.
How do I get started?
The simplest first step is a conversation. If something is stirring in you — a quiet yes, a sense of recognition — reach out for a discovery call. We'll talk through what you're looking for with no pressure to commit. You don't have to have everything figured out to begin. You just have to be willing to slow down and listen.
What is a chair massage?
A chair massage is a focused upper-body massage given while you sit in a specially designed ergonomic chair — fully clothed, no oils, no preparation needed. I work on the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and hands, with optional stretches at the end. Sessions are typically 10 to 30 minutes and can be customized if you'd like more focus in a particular area.
Clients consistently leave feeling both relaxed and refreshed — clear-headed and ready to return to the day. Always let your therapist know about any past injuries, structural issues, or if you're pregnant.
What are the benefits of chair massage for my company or event?
On-site chair massage is one of the most immediate and genuinely appreciated ways to invest in your team or guests. For companies, it's a meaningful way to mark goals met, show appreciation, ease a stressful stretch, or simply make a Friday feel different. For events — whether a conference, golf outing, charity event, or client gathering — it's the detail guests are still talking about on the way home.
GayleForce has been providing on-site chair massage in Chicagoland for over 25 years. Our clients have included advertising agencies, hospitals, law firms, software companies, Fortune 100 companies, PR firms, and many more. Referrals available upon request.
What are your rates for corporate events?
Our base rate is $125 per hour per therapist and in some cases an additional flat fee for set-up and wrap-up. Every event is a little different, so pricing can vary depending on the number of therapists, session length, and your specific needs. The minimum booking is four hours. Reach out for a complimentary custom quote — I'd love to put something together that works for your team and your budget.
Are you available during evenings or weekends?
Absolutely. There may be a surcharge for late hours or significant travel distances — just mention it when you reach out and we'll work it out.
What do you need for setup at on-site chair massage events?
Each therapist needs a space roughly 5' x 7'. We work well in offices, conference rooms, open areas, and event spaces. We bring our own massage chairs and everything needed — just provide a quiet corner and we'll handle the rest. You decide how much privacy you'd like for your team.
How do I book a corporate or event massage?
Reach out by email here or use the contact form. I'd suggest getting in touch well in advance to ensure availability, though last-minute requests are always worth asking about.