Susie’s path to massage therapy started in a pretty casual setting—her living room. After long days at the computer, her dad (a graphic designer) would call out, “Who wants to give me a back rub in exchange for turning off Jeopardy for ten minutes?” Susie usually took the deal, motivated more by remote control privileges than any desire to help. But her dad quickly caught on to her natural technique and often mentioned she might have a future in massage. At the time, she laughed it off—because really, who grows up wanting to rub backs for a living? Spoiler: sometimes dads are right.

After completing her initial training in New Jersey, Susie found it challenging to gain traction in the field—finding a job or steady clients wasn't easy, especially at a time when the idea of being touched by a stranger still carried more stigma than curiosity. Wanting to deepen her training and broaden her opportunities (plus needing a little change of scenery), she headed west to attend the Denver School of Massage Therapy. There, she completed a more advanced program, bringing her total training to 1,315 hours by the time she became licensed in 2008.

After several years working in both spa and wellness settings, Susie launched Where Soul Meets Body in 2014, while still living in Denver. In 2017, after almost a decade out west, she packed up, said goodbye to mountain life, and came back to Jersey—because let’s be honest, you can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey out of the girl. And really, nothing beats being close to family, the beach, and the best pizza around.

Susie’s deeper dive into massage didn’t just come from training—it came from life. Like many people in the massage profession, her path was shaped by the traumas and challenges of her own past. Experiencing firsthand how powerful touch can be in the healing process, she became determined to find a way to bridge massage with emotional and psychological support while still staying within scope of practice. While living in Colorado, she discovered the Colorado School of Healing Arts—home to the only certification program for Trauma Touch Therapy™. She enrolled without hesitation, earning her certification over 13 years ago.

Although most of her career was built on more intense modalities—deep tissue, orthopedic, trigger point, and injury-focused work (affectionately dubbed the “Susie Smash” by long-time Colorado clients, becoming the previous name to her signature massage)—she’s recently shifted gears. Now, her focus is on delivering results through a more integrative, nervous system-informed lens. Her current approach blends structure with softness, power with presence—combining everything she's learned from both the clinical and somatic worlds to offer massage that is not only effective, but also deeply restorative.

At Where Soul Meets Body, Susie creates a space where clients feel supported—body, mind, and soul. Every session is tailored, every person is honored, and every knot is approached with equal parts knowledge, intuition, and care. Whether you’re looking to relax, recover, or reconnect with your body, you’re in good hands. Literally.

In her free time, Susie loves to laugh—whether it’s watching stand-up comedy, quoting old movies, or hanging out with her family and her silly, spunky mini-me, Aurora. She’s a nerd at heart who loves books, puzzles, Nintendo and snacks… but also lives for the beach, live music, and exploring new places. Kind, laid-back, and deeply empathetic, she thrives on genuine connection and believes healing happens best when you feel safe, seen, and maybe even laugh a little along the way.

Education & Credentials

• 2007 graduate of Atlantic County School of Healing Arts in Mays Landing, NJ
• 2008 graduate of Denver School of Massage Therapy in Aurora, CO
• Trauma Touch Therapy^TM – Levels I & II completed. Received certification as a Trauma Touch Therapist^TM (2012) from the Colorado School of Healing Arts in Lakewood, CO.
• 80 hour Orthopedic Massage Program with James Waslaski (2016-2017) Certified in March 2018.
• 25 Hour "Infant & Toddler Massage Instructor" from Massage Kidz/NCBTMB Provider #48
• Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of New Jersey (DCA) #18KT01159800 (2017-)
• Board Certified Massage Therapist with the National Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) #796822
• Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Colorado (DORA) for nine years (2008-2017) #5056
• Certified Member of Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals (ABMP)
• Adult, Child, and infant CPR/AED & First Aid (American Red Cross^TM)
• Former provider with Hands on Heroes http://handsonheroescolorado.com/
• Has attended numerous seminars hosted by INR & IBP including: Trauma, PTSD & Anxiety Disorders, Calming An Overactive Brain, Understanding Dipression & Bipolar Disorder, and The Habits of Happy People.
• Volunteered chair and table massages for numerous charities and causes.
• Attends/Participates in countless amount of continuing education classes both in person and online to help grow in her field of passion and help facilitate healing to as many individuals as possible.