About Joe

About Me (Joe)

On paper, I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Phenomenal Touch Practitioner®, Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, Certified Trauma Specialist, Certified Ashiatsu DeepFeet® Bar Therapy Practitioner, Certified Sarga® Bodywork Practitioner, Certified Myofascial Cupping Practitioner, Certified in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), NCBTMB® Nationally Approved CE Provider, IMA Educational Ambassador, IMA Certified International Teacher, Certified Educator of Infant Massage, Certified Reiki Master & Teacher, Certified NFPT® Personal Trainer. In addition, I am a Member of the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, a Judge for the World Massage Championship in Copenhagen, a Trainer of multiple National and World Massage Championship Medalists, a Multiple American Massage Championship medal winner (specifically Bronze in Western Freestyle Massage, Silver in Eastern Freestyle (Thai Massage), and Bronze for the Overall American Massage Champion of 2022). Which is one part of my story...


...but it has been a long journey getting here and I still have a long journey ahead.


I went to massage school in 2005, but I originally got interested in massage more than a decade before that through my involvement in boxing, traditional martial arts and Mixed Martial Arts. I was a professional Muay Thai kick boxer and MMA fighter for several years and I fought in many different countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States, and I was even fortunate enough to win and hold a Title Belt for a couple of years until I retired from the sport. 


Obviously your body takes quite a beating as a professional fighter, but what is not so obvious is that fighting also challenges your mind and soul to their limits. Because of this, I sought out many different bodywork styles and relaxation practices during these years. Through these experiences, my formal education, and years of practice, I have been able to combine the best techniques from different bodywork modalities and relaxation practices into my current massage practice, which provides for a unique, therapeutic and unbelievably relaxing massage experience.

About My Sessions

Unlike any massage you have experienced, ever! 


That is, if you are ready for it. It takes two to Tango and, as I have learned, to create an epic massage session that you will never forget.


If you are ready for it, my bodywork is transformative, ethereal and mesmerizing. Every session that I do is unique and created specifically for my client in that moment. My sessions can literally be life changing and not just for my clients. I learn, grow and mature with every massage that I give.


Unfortunately, I am not able to accept many new clients these days. So I am very intentional about the people that I accept as clients. I want to know how you found me, why you want to get on my table, what you are hoping to experience and that is just for starters. 


So if you think you are ready and I am the therapist for you, let's talk. I can get a good sense of the possibilities of your massage by talking with you and usually know if I am the best therapist for you right now or if one of my other gifted massage therapists would be better for you.


Cell (206) 817-5896 | Email Joe@TouchFactorMassage.com


About My Teaching

I am a NCBTMB nationally approved provider of continuing Education for licensed massage therapists and practitioners, I am committed to life-long learning and improvement. You can see a list of the recent continuing education courses that I've completed here. In addition, I am very interested in understanding and sharing the powerful concepts of sustained, intentional touch in my massage practice, workshops, and everyday life. To that end, I teach several massage workshops and classes. I am the lead instructor for the Power of Touch Couple’s Massage Workshops and I teach classes on Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi, and other styles.​


I have a passion for sharing the power of touch with others whether it is through my massage practice, my workshops, or just a casual conversation, so please feel free to contact me to discuss anything regarding touch, massage, and bodywork.

About My Education


I am constantly involved in learning and growing as a massage practitioner. I take continuing education courses whenever I can fit them in and I work one-on-one with other talented therapists through trades and private workshops to advance my understanding and the quality of my bodywork. In addition, I host quarterly retreats for bodyworkers, lead several massage workshops for Licensed Massage Therapists, massage school students and couples every month...all of which makes me focus even more on my own skills.​


Northwest School of Massage 2005 & 2008

I attended the Northwest School of Massage in 2005 and then went back in 2008 to get some more education. I loved the massage school experience so much that I went back to teach there in 2012. I average over 100 hours per year in Formal CE training and private mentoring. Below is some the most current classes I have attended.

Date Class Instructor CE Hours
Dec 2023 Certified Woman's Health Specialist Certification PESI 26
Dec 2023 Creating Your Own Ethical Roadmap Linda Caravia 6
Jul 2023 Thai Massage For The Table Jill Burynski 7
Feb 2023 Body Based Self-Regulation Introduction to Somatic Techniques in Therapy AZ Trauma Institute 12
Feb 2023 LV7 Sports Massage Level 1, 2 & 3 Luisa Vargas 30
Dec 2022 Deep Tissue Thai Massage Wassa Lakkham 13
Oct 2022 Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist - Individual AZ Trauma Institute 20
Oct 2021 Compassion Fatigue Certification Training (6.3 Hours) Debra Alvis, Ph.D. 6
Oct 2021 Somatic Experiencing Peter Levine 8
Sep 2021 Advanced Breath Mastery Fundamentals 02 Collective/Dan Brulé 14
May 2021 International Massage Teacher - Basic Certification IMA 8
May 2021 ThaiVedic Bodywork and Vayu Therapy Online Courses Sebastian Bruno 12
Nov 2019 Sarga Table 1 - Barefoot Myofascial Massage Certification Jivatma Massaguer 24
Jul 2019 Structural Techniques for the Neck Pat O'Rourke 4
Jul 2019 Introduction to Neurofascial Manipulation Stephen Evanko 4
Jul 2019 Dynamic Thai Massage Paul Buffel, RMT 4
Apr 2019 Myofascial Cupping Practitioner Certification Meghan Helwig PT, DPT 7
Nov 2018 IASTM Practitioner Certification Evan Hauger, DPT 8
Mar 2018 Ashiatsu DeepFeet Bar Therapy Certification Amber Clark 25
Mar 2018 Traditional Thai Mat Practice Part 1 Eric Spivak 2
Aug 2017 Passive Stretching, Table Thai & More for the Upper Body Kay Rynerson 8
Aug 2017 Passive Stretching, Table Thai & More for the Lower Body Kay Rynerson 8
Jul 2017 Structural Work for Pelvic Mobility Pat ORourke 4
Jul 2017 Myofascial Balancing for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Lauren Christman 4
Jul 2017 Breast Care and Breast Massage Aubrey Lesicki 16
Jul 2017 Massage vs Prostitution: Ethics, Legalities and Boundaries Lavon Watson 5
Jun 2017 Using Cannabis Products in Massage Therapy Heidi DeAndrade 3
May 2017 Phenomenal Touch Massage Advanced Practitioner Certification L3 Leslie Bruder 40
Apr 2017 Phenomenal Touch Massage Advanced Practitioner Certification L2 Leslie Bruder 40
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