About Dawn
I specialize in embodied restoration and burnout recovery, integrating therapeutic bodywork with whole-person support. I’m passionate about my work and making a real difference in people’s lives, in their healing journeys and journeys of self discovery. Whether giving massage, teaching massage to couples or other therapists or hosting retreats.
Born and raised in Alaska to adventurous parents, who left the dry, flat panhandle of west Texas in their late 60s mustang and drove the Alaska-Canada Highway to arrive there, with no promise of employment and no family waiting their arrival, I grew up independent, imaginative, reading many books about history and far away places, and deeply engaged with the physical world — building forts, creating obstacle courses, dancing, and singing; traveling, camping and hiking with my parents and exploring national parks; and spending long hours outdoors on my own. My early ideas about what I would do "when I grew up" leaned towards many of these things and creating something of my own rather than toward medicine.
Pursuing a medical degree was influenced by strong encouragement from family and teachers, by the widely held belief that academic ability should be directed toward a secure, respected career, and by a strong sense of responsibility to live up to my "potential." The training offered valuable insight into the body and healthcare system, while also making clear that meaningful healing often requires approaches beyond conventional clinical practice. I had followed a responsible path, then life asked deeper questions.
After earning my MD from University of Washington School of Medicine, I decided not to practice clinical medicine after recognizing the growing disconnect between modern healthcare systems and the deeper needs of the human body and nervous system. My approach today reflects that journey — blending medical insight, somatic awareness, and lived experience navigating burnout, boundary-building and recovery.
I’ve been doing bodywork for over a decade now and it has been one of the most rewarding and profound experiences of my life. Massage is more than pain relief and relaxation, though things are wonderful. It can bring a sense of connection and being seen on a non-judgmental level many of us don’t often experience, a chance to come home to ourselves, into our bodies and out of our heads, to turn off a noisy, busy brain and be very present. To reach a very deeply relaxed, liminal state. It is not unusual for me to experience a state of flow and joy while giving bodywork. It is an art and a dance as well. I am honored and humbled to have been given this gift to help others heal and to hold space for you.
Movement has always been central to my understanding of health — from dance and strength training to walking and hiking in nature. These practices revealed that regulation, resilience, and healing arise not from force, but from attunement.
Through years of hands-on work, I have developed a quiet, highly individualized approach to bodywork that supports the nervous system’s capacity to downshift, reorganize, and restore.
My clients are often high-functioning women who have spent years caring for others, managing significant responsibilities, or pushing through demanding environments until their bodies no longer cooperate.
My sessions offer a calm, non-performative space where the body can recover from sustained stress and reconnect with its own signals.
My favorite place in the world is Ireland, where I feel most myself, wild and free. I also love many other European locales and would love to spend more time in the Italian Dolomites and Swiss Alps, hiking and doing some more via ferratas.
I live and work in Washington State, where time outdoors continues to inform my understanding of regulation, rhythm, and sustainable energy.
Testimonials
I highly recommend Dawn for any type of therapy/session she offers. She is a gift to our community and my time with her always leaves me feeling healthier, happier and more grounded.