Your Body Deserves Healing Too: Massage Therapy for Addiction
Healing Body and Mind Through the Power of Touch
Reclaim Your Body, Reclaim Your Life
For many who are impacted by addiction, words alone cannot express their pain. How is it possible to articulate the impact of trauma, the impact of relapse, or the feeling of anxiety in your chest? That is why, many times, the most significant healing takes place when we stop using words and begin creating.
At Agape Treatment Center, we offer art therapy for addiction recovery as a vehicle to connect your inner world to your outside world. You don’t need artistic ability to benefit from this, only the willingness to be open to exploration. Using color, shape, and texture will allow you to bypass the “reason” or thought process used to rationalize your addiction. This allows you to ultimately access deep emotional feelings in a safe and humane way.
What is Massage Therapy?
The goal of massage therapy for addiction recovery is to connect the mind and body through the use of soft tissue manipulation – which will allow a person to regain control over both their life and their physical health.[1] While it does use some methods associated with traditional spa treatments, at Agape, our massage therapy focuses on the emotional and physical aspects of mental illness and substance abuse through the use of specialized techniques that aid in relief from symptoms associated with addiction and withdrawal.
How (and Why) Massage Therapy Works for Addiction Recovery
The physical benefits of massage therapy may serve as a bridge to recovery for those suffering from addiction. Massage therapy can address the impact of substance abuse on the body and alleviate the physical symptoms of addiction through a variety of means, including:
- Massage therapy can relieve discomfort associated with substance abuse and withdrawal by increasing blood flow while stimulating the release of natural endorphins.
- Massage therapy improves the function of the lymphatic system, which is imperative for detoxifying the body of harmful toxins.[2]
- Trouble sleeping is a common side effect of withdrawal from substance abuse. Regular sessions may help alleviate stress and anxiety, enabling clients to experience deeper and/or longer-lasting sleep.
- Substance abuse can often compromise your immune system. Massage therapy helps support immune function by reducing stress hormones like cortisol and improving circulation, which assists the body in its natural healing process during recovery.[3]
- Continued substance use can create restrictions in the range of movement and flexibility. Massage therapy can increase both flexibility and range of motion, making it easier for an individual to engage in physical activity during recovery.
Efficacy of Massage Therapy
Research increasingly supports the use of massage therapy as part of an addiction treatment and mental health recovery program.
Key findings include:
Reduction in Withdrawal Symptoms & Stress
A 2010 study, published in the International Journal of Neuroscience demonstrated that massage significantly reduced withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and stress, while increasing dopamine and serotonin levels to help regulate mood during the early stages of recovery.[4]
Decreased Anxiety & Depression
Research shows that massage may positively impact anxiety and depression symptoms, as they are frequently comorbid with SUDs. Additionally, regular massages appeared to have produced long-term improvement in emotional regulation.[5]
Processing Body-Based Trauma
For individuals with a history of trauma (common among those who abuse substances), body-centric approaches such as massage have shown to be effective. Evidence revealed that by processing trauma emotionally stored in the body, body-based therapies such as massage may assist with decreasing the symptoms of PTSD and be beneficial for overall mental health.[6]
The relationship between massage therapy and mental health is well established. By addressing the physical components of anxiety, stress, trauma, and addiction, massage establishes an environment for greater psychological healing.
What to Expect from Massage Therapy
If you’ve never experienced a therapeutic massage session before, you may have questions regarding the experience and the level of comfort or invasiveness of the session. Most importantly, therapeutic massage is provided with respect for your boundaries, comfort levels, and healing process.
Massage therapy will provide a safe, supportive setting to begin to feel safe in your body without judgment or pressure, at your own pace. Therapeutic massage will assist in alleviating the physical tension created by substance use and trauma while additionally providing relief of arousal in the nervous system caused by the stress and anxiety that can arise from cravings.
A typical massage therapy session includes:
01
Initial Assessment & Consultation
Your therapist will have an initial conversation regarding any areas of pain or tension, your comfort level of touch, and goals for your session, so that the experience can be tailored to meet your needs.
02
Safe, Therapeutic Environment
A safe, therapeutic environment will be created for you to undress (at your comfort level) in private and lie on a padded massage table covered in clean linen.
03
Therapeutic Technique
The massage therapist will use various techniques such as Swedish massage for relaxation, deep tissue techniques for chronic tension, or light touch massage for someone recovering from trauma. The only area exposed is the area being worked. You will remain covered for the duration of your session.
04
Breathing and Mindfulness Activities
Your massage therapist may guide breathing techniques for both relaxation and remaining conscious of your body during the session.
05
Mental Integration Process
At the end of each session, the therapist will gently reorient you to your surroundings and provide an opportunity for you to verbalize your experience before you continue with your day.
Agape Wide Range of Treatment
Massage Therapy at Agape Treatment Center
At Agape Treatment Center, we offer professional massage therapy as a component of our comprehensive approach to treating addiction. Our massage therapists are fully certified and licensed with extensive training in many different techniques and possess an understanding of how to meet the individual needs of those who have been through or are going through addiction treatment.
Our treatment center, located in the “Island City” of Wilton Manors, provides a totally private and relaxing environment for individuals to begin to relax into the therapeutic process. Our staff is committed to providing compassionate and individualized care to support your recovery journey and overall well-being.
Our Approach to Massage Therapy
Our massage therapy program recognizes that recovering from addiction requires more than just verbal therapy; it also requires assistance in releasing many years’ worth of built-up stress, muscle tension, and trauma from your body. We believe massage is an important therapeutic need for muscle recovery and not just a luxury or secondary therapy to be considered later.
Our approach includes:
01
Personalized treatment plans
We develop a personalized treatment plan based on your specific physical and emotional needs, stage of recovery, and level of comfort.
02
Integration with clinical treatment
03
Natural and non-invasive healing
04
Trauma-informed care
05
Holistic healing approach
Your Body Deserves Healing Too
At Agape, we believe that you will achieve lasting recovery when you heal your body along with your mind. Massage therapy helps you to reclaim your body from addiction. It helps you to feel safe in your body again, releases stored years of tension, and also provides comfort when you may need it most.
Recovery isn’t just about what you stop doing—it’s about rediscovering what it feels like to be truly at peace in your own skin.
Create Your Way to Freedom
You’ve spent enough time keeping your pain locked inside. It’s time to express it, release it, and transform it into something beautiful.
Frequently Asked Questions about Massage Therapy
Is massage therapy really necessary for addiction treatment, or is it just a luxury?
Massage therapy is a valuable addition to treatment, as having a relaxed mind and body is essential for true recovery. Studies show that trauma and addiction live in the body, not just in the mind.[7] Massage helps regulate the nervous system, decreases the amount of stress hormones released into the body, releases stored trauma, and provides a safe way for you to relate to your body through physical sensations again. While in recovery, many people feel disconnected from their bodies or use substances as a form of pain relief. Massage provides an evidence-based, non-medicated way to assist in addressing the physical parts of addiction.
What if I'm uncomfortable with being touched due to past trauma?
Your comfort and safety are paramount to us. Our therapists are trained in trauma-based care and will never force you to go beyond your limits. Before your massage begins, your therapist will discuss your level of comfort and identify any areas you don’t want them to touch. You will remain clothed throughout your massage and are able to tell your therapist to stop or change their technique at any time. Many clients who have experienced trauma say that a gentle, loving touch when they are in control has been a critical component in their healing.
How does massage therapy specifically help with drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms?
Massage increases circulation, lowers cortisol levels, and releases endorphins, which reduce the muscle aches and pain associated with withdrawal. Massage also stimulates the lymphatic system and helps to remove toxins from the body more quickly. It can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce the stress and anxiety that most people experience while withdrawing, helping them sleep better, which is commonly disrupted during withdrawal.
What types of massage techniques do you use at Agape?
We use several types of massage therapy, including Swedish massage (light and relaxing), deep tissue (for chronic pain), shiatsu (pressure point), hot stone, aromatherapy, trigger points, and reflexology. Your therapist will use the techniques that are best suited for your physical condition and stage of recovery.
How soon into treatment can I start receiving massage therapy?
You may receive massage therapy once you have achieved medical stabilization and completed the initial medical assessment. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your therapist may recommend waiting several days after you have completed medical stabilization to begin receiving massage therapy. Your treatment team will determine the appropriate time for you to start receiving massage therapy.
Sources
[1] [3] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2023). Massage therapy: What you need to know. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/massage-therapy-what-you-need-to-know
[2] Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Lymphatic drainage massage: What it is & benefits. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21768-lymphatic-drainage-massage
[4] Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (2010). Cortisol decreases and serotonin and dopamine increase following massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 115(10), 1397-1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450590956459
[5] Hou, W. H., Chiang, P. T., Hsu, T. Y., Chiu, S. Y., & Yen, Y. C. (2010). Treatment effects of massage therapy in depressed people: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(3), 313-324. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20361919/
[6] [7] Price, C. J., & Hooven, C. (2018). Interoceptive awareness skills for the regulation of self: A focus on therapeutic bodies of knowledge. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 10(3), 261-268. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5985305/
