Joni Masse brings passion for veteran recovery and more than 26 years of holistic health care and education experience to lead educator position.
The Boulder College of Massage Therapy (BCMT) has announced Joni Masse as the school’s new director of education. Masse brings more than 26 years of holistic health care and education experience to BCMT, along with a passion for treating veterans and other trauma victims.
Masse began her health-care career in 1984 as a registered nurse. After receiving a psychology degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1985, Masse extended her passion for healing by adding certified massage therapist to her resume with a certificate from the Sarasota School of Massage Therapy (SSMT) in 1990. In 2009, Masse received a master’s degree in somatic counseling psychotherapy from Naropa University, where she simultaneously completed training from the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute specializing in trauma recovery work for body therapists. Throughout the last two decades, Masse has served both as a faculty member and administrator at SSMT where she taught Swedish massage, ethics, pathology, communication courses and served as SSMT’s education director for 13 years.
A veteran herself, Masse has always been committed to serving the health needs of the veteran community. During her massage therapy training, she served as an intern at the Boulder Vet Center and her massage specialization is trauma recovery. At BCMT, Masse regularly offers a continuing education course, Touch for Trauma, and recently established a new service learning internship with the Boulder Veterans Counseling Center to work with Iraq veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I am proud to be a member of the BCMT staff and community. I was encouraged by the mission statement and values of BCMT and the school’s commitment to community service, as it is in alignment with my core principles,” said Masse.
In addition to an internship with Boulder Veterans Counseling Center, BCMT offers students a variety of other community service internship opportunities through its Service Learning program. Designed to enhance student education through the integration of academic learning in courses and related service experiences in the community, the program also allows student to explore a variety of specializations, environments and clientele. Through the program students have the opportunity to work with local preschools, hospitals, universities, rehabilitation centers and animal rescue organizations.
For more information about the Boulder College of Massage Therapy, visit www.bcmt.org.