TLC Continuing Education Calendar
August 8, 2026
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August 7, 2027
Stop Chasing Your Client’s Pain: A Polyvagal Primer for Massage Therapists with MeriJayd O'Connor
Tuition - $170.00
Massaging a client’s tight or bothersome muscles may provide relief in the short term, but how often does another ache or pain arise later? Understanding the autonomic nervous system and applying the principles of the Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges, will give massage therapists more effective tools to support their clients’ self-healing with less work and less chasing.
The theory helps massage therapists develop a whole-body perspective for planning a session as well as provides a sound background for developing trauma informed care. This class will present the theory catering to different learning styles. Students will learn methods and exercises to help balance the nervous system, the vagus nerve and other cranial nerves of social engagement.
The Polyvagal Theory is tossed around in social media and pop culture, and more and more people have heard of it, but can you explain it and apply its principles? By the end of this class, you will be able to easily explain the theory and understand how to use it to enhance your sessions and improve your own self-care routines.
Forward Head Carriage: Assessment, Treatment, and Correction for Massage Therapists with Siobhan Stone
Tuition - $180.00
This 6-hour continuing education course is designed to equip licensed massage therapists with an in-depth understanding of Forward Head Carriage (FHC), a common postural distortion with significant effects on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. The course blends anatomy review, clinical assessment, hands-on techniques, and corrective strategies to address FHC through therapeutic massage. Participants will leave with practical tools to identify, treat, and help clients improve posture, reduce pain, and restore functional alignment.
TMJ: A Practical Approach with Tammie Culley
The Missing Link in the Assessment and Treatment of Low Back Injuries with Ben Benjamin
Tuition - $350.00 ($175.00 Deposit)
Therapeutic Techniques to Eliminate the Low Back Pain
Chronic or severe low back pain is one of the most debilitating conditions a person can experience. Roughly two-thirds of the population will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives.
Most therapists and medical professionals find working with this condition both frustrating and difficult—in part, because they fail to see the missing component to reducing, eliminating, and eradicating low back pain.
This comprehensive workshop unveils the missing piece of the puzzle to low back pain. As a result, participants learn how to precisely assess the most commonly injured structures in the lower back and to use effective therapeutic approaches to eliminate pain. Attendees gain the tools to successfully differentiate muscle, ligament, and disc injuries, and, as a result, fine-tune their palpation skills and hands-on techniques. Drawing from 50 years of experience as a therapist, educator, speaker, and author, Dr. Ben Benjamin enables all participants to discover the missing link that can solve a wide range of complaints linked to chronic and severe low back pain in this lab-intensive course.
Discover the missing link to chronic low back pain with one of the leaders in the rehabilitation field. In this lab-intensive course, participants learn effective techniques to reduce, prevent, and eliminate low back pain This comprehensive workshop will teach you how to effectively assess and treat the most commonly injured structures in the low back. You’ll learn how to differentiate muscle, ligament, and disc injuries, and you’ll fine-tune your palpation skills and hands-on treatment techniques. The workshop provides ample time to develop all the skills you need to address a wide range of complaints.
An integrative approach
There are six major components to the training:
- Anatomy: View and palpate the relevant musculoskeletal structures.
- Assessment: Practice musculoskeletal assessment tests and palpation of injured structures.
- Theory: Learn how to use the history, positive assessment test findings, and results of palpation to determine which structures are injured.
- Integration: After you’ve learned the theoretical background and assessment procedures, we integrate this knowledge through hands-on learning games.
- Technique: Apply effective techniques designed to eliminate adhesive scar tissue and enable proper healing.
- Clinic: During the training participants practice their skills by taking part in an injury assessment clinic, free and open to the public, under Dr. Benjamin's supervision.
Introduction to Cupping with Natalie Meyersick
Introduction to Cupping is a 7-hour continuing education course designed for massage students and LMTs that are new to the practice of cupping therapy. It provides an introduction to the history, core concepts, contraindications, and indications, as well as tools and techniques underlying the application of modern cupping therapy with hands-on training in cupping techniques that can be effectively integrated into nearly any modality of bodywork. Hands-on techniques will be focused primarily on cupping for myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, sports recovery, and orthopedic applications with specific anatomical considerations for the upper and lower body in a variety of positions. The intention of the course is to provide students with a broad overview of cupping therapy with a variety of focused methods and techniques that can serve as a foundation for them to apply cupping therapy effectively and creatively in any massage setting to assist clients seeking relief from chronic pain, tension, injuries and with sports recovery.
For each section of the course, students will receive a technical demonstration of techniques designed to treat specific focus areas and concerns. Demonstrations will also include a review of pertinent anatomical reference points and special considerations. Students will then have the opportunity to conduct trades with their fellow classmates utilizing the provided cups to practice this work with guidance from the instructor. Students will be provided with 2 sets of silicone cups (8pc) and one set of Vacuum Cups (24pc) included in their tuition. This allows them to walk away from the class with not only a new skill set but also the physical tools to practice their new skills in their primary massage setting.
“I am passionate about and committed to lifelong learning which is one of the reasons I’m so excited to share this work with other therapists! The Intro to Cupping course is designed to provide LMTs with the tools and techniques to better serve their clients dealing with chronic pain or recovering from injuries through the safe and effective use of suction cups. This work provides even more tools for a therapist’s tool kit while sparing wear and tear on the hands. Students also have the benefit of receiving both silicone and vacuum-based massage cups so they can walk out of the course and begin to utilize their new skills with clients immediately. These skills can be effectively integrated into so many modalities of massage and bodywork and I can’t wait to explore this work with therapists of all experience levels in a safe and encouraging environment!” – Natalie Meyersick
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) Certification with Nicola McGill
Instructor Nicola McGill establishes a supportive class environment in which you’ll learn the anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system and effective MLD sequences that can reduce swelling and other symptoms associated with: Post-surgical edema; soft-tissue injuries; rheumatoid arthritis; fibromyalgia; whiplash; migraine headaches; PTSD; anxiety disorders; mild, medically-uncomplicated lymphedema; and more!
The MLD Advantage Getting MLD-certified expands your skill set which will help you better serve your current clients. Some therapists find it beneficial to use MLD in every massage session in conjunction with other techniques. Becoming certified will also attract new clients to your practice who require this special form of massage. PTs and OTs often refer their patients with lymphedema to LMT-CLTs for maintenance therapy. MLD has many applications including:
- As an adjunct therapy for clients who have been injured
- For use with oncology patients who prefer a lighter massage
- For treating post-surgical patients with edema (swelling)
- To improve the QOL for hospice patients and those in palliative care
- As an additional option to Swedish or relaxation massage
- And more
Course objectives:
At the conclusion of the course, each participant will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the anatomy and the relevant scientific terminology related to the lymphatic system.
- Demonstrate understanding of the differentiation between the normal and diseased states of the lymphatic system (physiology and pathophysiology of the lymphatic system).
- Demonstrate understanding of the indications and contraindications related to the use of MLD.
- Competently perform the techniques of MLD for all body areas. Develop appropriate treatment strategies for indications such as post-surgical and post-traumatic edema, fibromyalgia, general detoxification and other conditions.
- Competently perform MLD on clients after breast surgery for cancer (clients who are at risk to develop lymphedema) and on clients with mild, medically uncomplicated primary or secondary lymphedema.
A Cancer's Journey with Amy Scottino
