Hello, My name is Paul Barlow. I have been a professional massage therapist since 1997. The relationship between the client and the therapist is important. I believe the connections we have with each other can help in the therapy session. My work includes many things I have learned in life not just through study but also through experience.

I have studied:

Polarity Therapy with Dr Damon Fazio

CranioSacral, SomatoEmotional Release, and Pediatric CranioSacral with the Upledger Institute

Visionary Craniosacral with the Milne Institute

Shamanic Techniques with Dr. George Huaco 

I have developed maternity cranio-sacral and visualization techniques in collaboration with Jenny West, President of the National College of Midwifery (US)

Experience in life is the best teacher. You may learn something in one place and be able to apply it to many other things. I have had many experiences in life they often end up as a useful tool in my work.

Some of my life experiences:

Grew up in a large catholic family.

My father’s mental health was never diagnosed but his actions could change from loving to abusive with no notice. The family dynamic seemed based on this.

I went to University. I studied Electrical Engineering for three years, hating most of it. I then changed to a Communications, film and video production, degree. The lesson here was love of life was more important than the guarantee of money.

I worked in the film business for three years. I realized the industry is like going from one dysfunctional family to another. I already had a dysfunctional family I didn’t need more of them, so I moved on.

I had many jobs from factory worker to retail store manager.

I lived in Africa for four years. I was a volunteer with the US Peace Corps. I was a French speaking Maths teacher in Guinea and Rwanda. I also worked for the Peace Corps in Senegal and Burkina Faso.

I had a brother who died from AIDS in 1994. Both of my parents have passed away since then.

I went to massage school because I thought getting a massage every day for 6 months sounded good. I was waiting to return to Africa on another Peace Corps contract. I fell in love with bodywork and never went back to Africa.

I had a bodywork practice for 17 years in Albuquerque NM. I continued my studies in Polarity, CranioSacral therapy, shamanic techniques and different spiritual practices.

I taught at different massage schools and Polarity schools.

I met my partner in 2009. In 2014 after his retirement I closed my massage practice and traveled around the world for over 2 years looking for a place to live. We settled on Margaret River Western Australia. We married in 2017.

I mention these experiences because life happens to everyone and we all have experiences in our life ranging from awful to joyous. Maybe knowing some of my experiences will allow you to know that as you share some of yours that I may get what you are talking about.