As we celebrate Pride Month, The Teal Center is proud to spotlight Jasper Werntz, a transgender massage therapist who is making a difference in the lives of our LGBTQ+ clients and others.
For many in the queer and trans community, finding inclusive and affirming wellness services can be an uphill battle. At The Teal Center, Jasper has made it their mission to create a safe, nurturing space where every client feels seen, heard, and valued. With a deep commitment to facilitating healing and a focus on serving the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community, Jasper brings a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to their work, ensuring that each person who steps into our Center feels comfortable, supported, and empowered on their journey to wellness.
In a recent interview, Jasper shared their thoughts on their chosen profession, the values that guide their work, and what sets them apart as a practitioner dedicated to serving the queer and trans community during Pride Month and beyond.
Why did you choose this profession?
I chose to become a massage therapist because as a transgender person, I never felt fully seen by cisgender bodyworkers. I want to create a space where someone can be their full self and trust they will be seen and accepted by me. I know that’s been a rare experience for me as a queer and trans person. I think healing and wellness are not a destination but an ongoing journey where your body is your ally, not your adversary. Especially for clients with gender dysphoria, this can be a difficult contradiction to hold. I strive to help people step into their full embodiment, in other words feel at home in their body, while pursuing gender affirming care. I seek out modalities that will help me serve my queer community, and am constantly learning and growing in my practice. I offer manual lymphatic drainage as an offering for healing from gender affirming surgeries of all kinds. I sit down with new clients as we discuss their goals both long term and for the session today and tailor my approach to meet them where they’re at.
What do you find most fulfilling about your work?
Even though I’ve been doing this work for years now, I still feel just as excited and surprised when someone comes back to see me because my work helped them. I love the feeling of hearing how much better someone feels when they get off my table, and it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I’ve seen clients who have trauma around touch, and helping them feel safe and comfortable during the vulnerable experience of a massage is incredibly fulfilling.
What is your approach or philosophy towards wellness and healing?
I believe that even though I have been trained well with specialized skills, I am not healing someone else. I’m here to support them on their healing journey with whatever help I can provide. Our bodies have an incredible ability to heal, whether from physical or emotional wounds. My role as part of a healing team is to help that process along. I also believe that wellness comprises not only our whole body, mind, and spirit, but our communities as well. Even if all our personal needs are met, we can’t achieve real wellness unless we feel connected to the community. It’s about feeling like a part of something bigger than ourselves and acting in alignment with our personal values.
What values guide your work?
I am guided by the values of trauma-informed care, love for my community, and liberation for all. The principles of a trauma-informed care approach are: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. I also think that we can’t achieve true healing and wellness in an unequal and unfair system. Everyone should have access to the care they need to thrive, and a supportive community. I believe in collective power to change systems of oppression that harm us in both major and smaller, more insidious ways. Until we achieve true liberation, my role is to be a supportive member of a care team to help manage symptoms created by systematic oppression.
What can a client expect during a session with you?
During a session, I start with a short conversation where we talk about how they’re feeling, what brought them in to see me, their goals for the session, and any ways I can support them on the table. That can range from checking in to letting someone know when I’m moving from one place to another and I work with my clients to cocreate the conditions that feel the most comfortable. Receiving massage cna be a vulnerable experience, especially for clients with trauma around touch. I believe that step helps clients to fully relax physically and emotionally and always yields much better results. I always finish a session by thanking my clients for trusting me with their body, and create room for feedback after where we can discuss a treatment plan afterwards. I also wear a face mask during my sessions as a step of disability justice, and so my clients can feel at ease knowing I’m taking the necessary steps to avoid exposing them to covid or other illnesses.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I enjoy taking long walks in nature, reading tarot (hopefully soon to be an offering at the Teal Center), studying astrology, making art with friends, going to concerts, writing poetry, and making collages.
How do you continue your education and stay updated in your field?
I’m always looking for workshops and training to improve my skills and expand my offerings. I’m currently focusing on learning energy work modalities for trauma healing, such as energy kinesiology.
Jasper’s dedication to their clients’ well-being, combined with their expertise in modalities like manual lymphatic drainage for post-gender-affirming surgery care, sets them apart as a practitioner who genuinely understands the challenges and joys of the queer and trans experience.
By choosing Jasper Werntz as your massage therapist, you are not only investing in your own well-being but also supporting a practitioner who is committed to creating positive change and promoting liberation for all.
Take the first step towards feeling at home in your body.
Book your appointment today, and experience the profound difference that comes from working with a practitioner who truly sees and values you.
