Updated June 17, 2026 by Kyle Hierholzer, NYS Licensed Massage Therapist, Owner of Hand in Health Massage Therapy, and member of the Syracuse LGBTQ+ community. Reviewed for current practices, inclusive language, and updated resources.
QUICK ANSWER
Hand in Health Massage Therapy is a LGBTQ+ owned and operated wellness clinic in Syracuse, NY with two locations offering inclusive, affirming massage therapy. We use gender-neutral draping as standard practice, provide gender-neutral bathrooms, ask for pronoun preferences on intake forms, and partner with #SafeOnMyTable and Safe Space Alliance. Every body, every identity, every appointment is a safe space.
PRIDE MONTH 2026
Care Without Judgment. Pride Without Limits.
June is Pride Month. Hand in Health Massage Therapy is proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated, and our two Syracuse clinics are built from the ground up to be safe, affirming spaces for the queer community and our allies. This is not a once-a-year position. It’s how we work all twelve months.
Skip ahead:
Why LGBTQ+ Care Matters
LGBTQ+ individuals face health disparities that the general population does not. Higher rates of stress driven by oppression, harassment, discrimination, stigmatization, and social isolation. Less access to healthcare. Higher rates of mental health concerns. And, sadly, frequent reports of poor cultural competence and unfair treatment by healthcare providers.
An inclusive massage practice is one that intentionally creates welcome, safety, and affirming care for clients of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and body types. That is what we built Hand in Health to be.
Photo Credit: “LGBT+ People’s Health and Experiences Accessing Care” via the Kaiser Family Foundation
How Massage Therapy Helps
Massage therapy is a clinically supported approach to many of the specific health challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces. Here are five benefits that matter most.
Stress Relief
Extensive research confirms massage therapy as an effective stress reliever, producing measurable positive changes in emotional state and overall stress levels.
Immune Support
Clinical research suggests regular massage strengthens immune function by supporting healthy white blood cell activity and overall immune response.
Scar Tissue and Post-Surgical Recovery
Massage therapy may meaningfully support post-surgical scar tissue management, including the scar challenges a transitioning person may face after gender-affirming procedures. Regular sessions of 30 minutes or longer may help manage pain, increase pliability, and decrease pigmentation and thickness of scar tissue.
Mood, Anxiety, and Depression
Research indicates massage therapy can improve mood, reduce depression symptoms, and ease symptoms of anxiety. For a community that faces disproportionate mental health challenges, this support matters.
Safe, Affirming Touch
Positive physical touch has underexplored impact on members of the LGBTQ+ community. For survivors of abuse or harassment, the safe and welcoming environment of a massage therapist’s treatment room may allow gradual reacclimation to touch. For transgender clients, massage may support proprioception and body awareness as the body changes through transition. Physical touch, especially massage, releases endorphins that produce both psychological and physiological benefits.
How We Built an Inclusive Practice
Inclusion is not a poster on the wall. It is a series of decisions made about how we work, what we say, what we ask, and how we handle every appointment. Here is what that looks like at Hand in Health.
Gender-Neutral Draping as Standard
Gender-neutral draping is a massage therapy practice where the client’s chest and breast tissue are kept fully covered throughout the session, regardless of gender identity. This is our standard for every client. When treating the pectoral muscles, the client may adjust the drape to their comfort level. Clients are always welcome to wear as much clothing as they need to feel comfortable.
Pronouns on Intake Forms
Our Health History and Intake Forms include a field for pronoun preferences. Everything recorded on our intake forms is completely confidential.
Gender-Neutral Bathrooms
Gender-neutral bathrooms are available at both our North Syracuse and Downtown Syracuse locations.
Non-Cis-Normative Language
We completed an audit of our website and scheduling system to remove cis-normative language. We are always open to suggestions and ongoing improvement.
Continued Affirming Care Training
We provide resources and training opportunities to our therapists at no cost to them. Our team has completed Creating an Affirming and Inclusive Practice from our partners at Healwell, with ongoing education in trauma-informed and trans-affirming care.
Time for the Whole Person
Massage therapists have the benefit of an hour or more of uninterrupted time with each client. That allows us to listen to health concerns in detail, treat what is within our scope of practice with respect and care, and make quality referrals to other LGBTQ+ inclusive healthcare professionals when appropriate.
Couples Massage for Every Relationship
Our couples massage treatments are not built around cis-normative pairings. They are built around relationships of every kind: same-sex couples, queer partnerships of any gender combination, friends, family members, chosen family.
Couples massage is a great way to spend quality time together, focus on health, and bond through shared wellness. Everyone who books an appointment is treated with the same respect and care, regardless of gender or coupling.
FEATURED CARE
Trans-Affirming Massage Care
Massage can be especially valuable during transition. Research shows it may help manage post-surgical scar tissue from gender-affirming procedures, support proprioception and body awareness as the body changes through hormone therapy, and provide affirming, consensual touch in a safe space.
Hand in Health therapists are trained through #SafeOnMyTable and Healwell’s affirming care curriculum to provide ethical, knowledgeable care for transgender and non-binary clients.
Every body. Every identity. Every appointment. That’s the standard, and we hold it.
Our Community Partners
#SafeOnMyTable
#SafeOnMyTable is a community of massage therapists and allied healthcare practitioners committed to providing knowledgeable, ethical, affirming care for transgender clients.
The mission is to connect transgender and non-binary people with safe and affirming therapeutic bodywork practitioners who are educated about their specific healthcare needs. Connect with the #SafeOnMyTable community on Facebook.
Safe Space Alliance Verified Member
Hand in Health is a verified member of the Safe Space Alliance, an international LGBTQ+ led nonprofit that identifies, develops, and supports safe spaces around the world.
Open Arms, All Year
Regardless of gender, identity, or relationship, we all deserve the same quality of healthcare. The benefits of massage therapy belong to every member of our local LGBTQ+ community, in June and in every other month of the year.
If you are in the Syracuse, NY area and looking for a dedicated team of inclusive, affirming massage therapists, contact Hand in Health today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kyle Hierholzer, NYS Licensed Massage Therapist
Kyle is the owner of Hand in Health Massage Therapy, a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in chronic and acute pain care management, injury rehabilitation, athletic performance, and soft tissue mobilization. Kyle is a member of the Syracuse LGBTQ+ community. He built Hand in Health to be the kind of inclusive, affirming clinic he and his community deserve. He works in integrative care teams across both Syracuse locations alongside chiropractors, acupuncturists, and medical professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hand in Health Massage Therapy LGBTQ+ friendly?
Yes. Hand in Health Massage Therapy is an LGBTQ+ owned and operated wellness clinic with two locations in Syracuse, NY. We use gender-neutral draping as standard practice, provide gender-neutral bathrooms, ask for pronoun preferences on intake forms, train our therapists through #SafeOnMyTable and Healwell’s Creating an Affirming and Inclusive Practice course, and are a verified Safe Space Alliance member.
What makes a massage practice LGBTQ+ inclusive?
An LGBTQ+ inclusive massage practice is one that intentionally creates welcome, safety, and affirming care for clients of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Specific markers include gender-neutral draping standards, gender-neutral bathrooms, intake forms that ask for pronouns, non-cis-normative language across the website and scheduling system, therapist training in affirming care, and visible community accountability through programs like #SafeOnMyTable or Safe Space Alliance.
Why is massage therapy beneficial for the LGBTQ+ community?
LGBTQ+ individuals face higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and barriers to affirming healthcare. Massage therapy addresses several of these concerns directly. It is a clinically proven stress reliever, supports the immune system, can help manage post-surgical scar tissue (relevant for gender-affirming procedures), supports mental wellbeing, and provides safe, consensual, affirming physical touch in a therapeutic setting.
What is gender-neutral draping?
Gender-neutral draping is a massage therapy practice where the client’s chest and breast tissue are kept fully covered with a sheet or blanket throughout the session, regardless of gender identity. At Hand in Health, this is our standard for every client. When treating the pectoral muscles, the client may adjust the drape to their comfort level. Clients are always welcome to wear as much clothing as they need to feel comfortable.
Can transgender clients get massage during transition?
Yes. Massage therapy can be especially beneficial for transgender clients during transition. Research shows massage may help manage post-surgical scar tissue from gender-affirming procedures, support body awareness and proprioception as the body changes through hormone therapy, and provide affirming, consensual touch in a safe space. Hand in Health’s therapists are trained through #SafeOnMyTable to provide ethical, knowledgeable care for transgender clients.
What is the #SafeOnMyTable movement?
#SafeOnMyTable is a community of massage therapists and allied healthcare practitioners committed to providing knowledgeable, ethical, affirming care for transgender and non-binary clients. The mission of #SafeOnMyTable is to connect transgender and non-binary people with safe and affirming therapeutic bodywork practitioners who are educated about their specific healthcare needs.
Do you offer couples massage for same-sex couples in Syracuse?
Yes. Hand in Health couples massage treatments are open to all relationships, including same-sex couples, queer couples, partnerships of any gender combination, friends, family members, and any pairing. Every booking is treated with the same respect and care regardless of gender or coupling. Couples massage is a great way to spend quality time together and bond through wellness.
*Our Downtown Syracuse clinic has a gender-neutral bathroom located on the main level as you enter, and two on the second floor attached to the fitness center. Due to the age and design of the historic building, the bathrooms on the 3rd floor are gender assigned. Please use whichever bathroom you are most comfortable using, or you may access a lower floor at any time.
Two Syracuse locations. Same inclusive, affirming care.
North Syracuse
7293 Buckley Road
(315) 937-5954
Downtown Syracuse
(315) 937-5953
Care Without Judgment. Pride Without Limits.
RELATED READING
SOURCES
Alexander, J. (2002). Homosexuality and risk for psychiatric disorders. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services. | Meyer, I., Dietrich, J., & Schwartz, S. (2008). Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders and suicide attempts in diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. American Journal of Public Health. | Cigna. LGBTQ+ Health Disparities (May 2021). | Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The Lives and Livelihood of Many in the LGBTQ Community are at Risk Amidst COVID-19 Crisis (2020). | SAGE. The Facts on LGBT Aging (2018). | Jennings, Linn, et al. Inequalities in LGBT Health and Healthcare Access and Utilization in Wisconsin. Preventive Medicine Reports (2019). | AMTA. Massage Therapy Can Relieve Stress (Oct 2017). | Ironson G, et al. Massage therapy and immune system cytotoxic capacity. Int J Neurosci (1996). | Shin, T. and Bordeaux, J. The Role of Massage in Scar Management (2011). | Deflorin C, et al. Physical Management of Scar Tissue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2020). | AMTA. Massage Can Reduce Symptoms of Depression (Oct 2011). | AMTA. Massage Therapy for Anxiety (Sept 2013).
