Northwest School of Animal Massage

Northwest School of Animal Massage At the Northwest School of Animal Massage the Future is in Your Hands. Financing is available.

NWSAM offers courses in Animal Massage, Animal Acupressure and other animal related therapies. Our courses are offered through our unique blended learning (distance learning + practical) format. Study from the comfort of home at your own pace and with the help of our excellent distance learning instructors, then choose from among our many five day practicals to complete the hands-on portion of you

r training. Practicals are offered at our Seattle campus or at our partner campuses around North America. For a listing of our upcoming classes and workshops please click the Calendar link.

Some things don’t change, even after 25 years.NWSAM was founded in 2001 with three guiding principles:🌲 To foster compas...
09/07/2026

Some things don’t change, even after 25 years.

NWSAM was founded in 2001 with three guiding principles:

🌲 To foster compassion for the animal community.
🌲 To support a higher standard of practice within our industry.
🌲 To nurture the continued growth of our student body.

You may have heard us talk about these principles before, more than likely quite a few times! There’s a reason for that… These aren’t simply words we wrote down when NWSAM was founded and then filed away. They continue to shape the decisions we make, the way we teach and the standards we hold ourselves to every day.

They remind us why this work matters.

Compassion keeps the animal at the heart of everything we do. A commitment to higher standards keeps us questioning, learning and striving to improve the profession. And nurturing our students means creating an environment where practitioners can continue to develop their knowledge, confidence and skills throughout their careers.

After 25 years, the industry has changed. Our understanding of animal therapy has evolved. Education has changed. Our students and their needs have changed.

But our foundations remain the same.

These principles are what keep us grounded, focused and accountable. They are the driving force behind our work and a constant reminder that how we educate practitioners matters just as much as what we teach them.

25 years on, these principles still guide every step forward.

For The Love of Animals.

Becoming a great animal therapist is about more than learning techniques.It is about developing the knowledge to underst...
09/05/2026

Becoming a great animal therapist is about more than learning techniques.

It is about developing the knowledge to understand what you are seeing, the practical skills to respond appropriately and the professional judgement to know when to adapt, ask questions or collaborate. Just as importantly, it is about developing the compassion to truly listen to the animal and recognise how their needs change.

At NWSAM, we believe these qualities should never be separated. Our education is designed to help you become a confident, thoughtful and professional practitioner who can combine evidence-based knowledge with genuine care.

When you bring professionalism and compassion together, you don’t just become better at what you do, you become the kind of practitioner animals, owners and fellow professionals can trust.

If you’re considering your next step in animal therapy education and want to understand which of our courses could be right for you, book a free discovery call with our team. We’d love to talk through your goals and help you find the right path.

09/05/2026

We often get asked ‘what makes a great therapist?’, and we’ve taught across the world so feel very well versed to confidently say that there isn’t one thing that makes a ‘great’ therapist!

Being an animal therapist ultimately is a vocation, a path in life that requires many skills that take years of refining, a dedication to helping those who don’t have a voice and a commitment to lifelong learning.

But there are two particular qualities that are fundamental to your career as an animal therapist.

🌲 Professionalism
🌲 Compassion

These two aspects of your career are something that you must have together, without wavering or any compromise. They are qualities that ensure you treat animals safely, within your skillset and always with the animal’s best interests at the forefront of your work.

Professionalism without compassion is efficient but hollow.
Compassion without professionalism is easily dismissed.

But combined, you become a therapist that sees the ‘why’ behind your work, you see the impact your work has and the gravity of responsibility that comes with that.

These skills reflect a therapist who is dedicated to their craft in every aspect 💚

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 4🌲Our early years had seen explosive growth and the more recent years had brought ex...
09/01/2026

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 4🌲

Our early years had seen explosive growth and the more recent years had brought expansion that had opened new doors. Still, as the year came to a close, I came to realize that there existed a self-imposed limit to our growth. That getting better was far more important than getting bigger. That knowing our students personally was more rewarding than hitting a certain number, whether that was the number of followers, the number of sales or the number of classes. And though NWSAM still remains one of the larger schools in the industry, the decision to focus on perfecting the experience for each student, instructor or graduate that had always been central to our mission, now took on even greater meaning. It would serve as the guiding light into 2017.

We gained some new friends in 2015-2016: Jade, Greystoke, Luna, Cody, Izabella, Roxi and Mikey.

We sadly had some fond farewells too: Raffi, Smokey and Charles.

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 3🌲In January of 2016, our founder traveled to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah ...
09/01/2026

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 3🌲

In January of 2016, our founder traveled to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah on a special assignment. Two very special horses needed a little help. Lola instructed part of the veterinary care team in kinesiology taping and together they worked with a lovely little chestnut c**t who had arrived with horribly crooked legs and a miniature horse who had suffered a trailering accident and had to have half of her thigh bone removed as a result.

Over 3 days we were able to make significant improvement in the c**t’s comfort level and balance and well, many of you know what became of the little mini, ”Luna” was our third adoption from BFAS and joined the NWSAM miniature herd, complete with a special prosthetic shoe made my Jen Reid, farrier extraordinaire.

February of 2016 marked the first graduating class for the NWSAM Acupressure program. The course was taught by our Director of Acupressure Studies Kim Bauer and esteemed Bastyr professor and NWSAM graduate Angie Hughes. The inaugural class of 9 students included equine and canine practitioners.

Staff members made a trip to Vancouver in March of 2016 to visit the Body Exhibit of plastinated animals, fascinating and educational. These kinds of retreats with staff are one of the things I look forward to!

August of 2016, our JRT Stella gave birth to Izabella, a single tiny puppy who would halt activities for 6 weeks while all efforts revolved around keeping mom and baby happy. This also marked the official end of my career as a dog breeder, once and done! Kudos to the many of you who handle it so well and bless us with outstanding pets.

We always see animal therapists often looking for the next “thing” to add to their practice, a new laser, a new training...
08/31/2026

We always see animal therapists often looking for the next “thing” to add to their practice, a new laser, a new training aid, a new modality.

And whilst new skills and modalities are incredible, they allow you to tailor each session even more, they never replace your hands.

Every new modality relies on your ability to assess through touch.

Whichever skill it is that you’re drawing upon, your hands are gathering information that can completely change the direction of a session.

Developing sensitive, confident palpation makes every other technique more effective because your decisions are guided by the animal, not by habit or protocol.

It's one of the reasons we place such a strong emphasis on palpation throughout our programs, it's a skill that continues to evolve throughout your career.

For more information on how you can begin your journey into animal therapy, contact us to book a free discovery call.

There is a quiet moment at the beginning of every bodywork session where we have the opportunity to slow down, connect a...
08/30/2026

There is a quiet moment at the beginning of every bodywork session where we have the opportunity to slow down, connect and listen. Before you get focused on a specific technique and before a plan is made, our hands are gathering information and asking, “what are you telling me today?”.

No two sessions are ever exactly the same. Even when you have worked with the same animal for years, their body is constantly adapting. The way they move, compensate, recover and respond can change from one day to the next. Even when patterns emerge, they are unique variations on an underlying theme.

A previous area of tension may have softened. A new pattern may have developed. The body may be communicating something completely different than it was last time.

This is where the skill of palpation becomes so powerful.

It isn't simply about finding areas of tension. It’s about developing the awareness to notice subtle changes, understand what the body is communicating and allow that information to guide your approach.

The best therapists don't rely on a routine or assume they already know the answer. They stay curious. They continue to listen. They adapt their work to each animal.

Ask yourself, what has an animal surprised you with during an assessment?

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 2 🌲The calendar was jam-packed. Instructors traveled to teach in Utah (BFAS), Hawaii...
08/28/2026

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 2 🌲

The calendar was jam-packed. Instructors traveled to teach in Utah (BFAS), Hawaii (KHS), New Jersey (MSPCA) and Portland (OHS) to continue our shelter partnerships. Kulalani Goldens and the Frasier Valley Women’s Correctional Facility welcomed us to Vancouver, BC. Our student base in Portland and Hood River, Oregon was close to equaling our Washington-based student body. We had the great honor to work with the many uniquely abled dogs from Angels Without Wings in Portland,

A dark cloud rested over the farm in May of 2015 when we lost our dear friend Susan
Kaetz. She had been instrumental in bringing us to Vashon. She was a brilliant acupuncturist and naturopath as well as a graduate and lover of all animals. She came to walk the trails on campus each morning with her two dogs and her signature laughter shook the trees. The Cathedral Trail that students travel each morning from the parking area to the classroom was named by her for the way the sun filtered through the branches in the morning. In her memory, NWSAM offers the annual Susan Kaetz Honorary Scholarship for our acupressure program.

Jaime Johnson, who had taught for us for many years and had joined us for the early years on Vashon to help manage the barn, left to pursue her passion for massage in the people realm and her love of aerial arts. Her annual visits to the farm always bring warm memories of the years together.

2015 also marked the year we would learn more than we ever wanted to know about PSSM when my very own horse Osso would finally get a diagnosis we had been hunting down for years. What I learned from his journey would help me help other horses and their people in ways I could not have imagined then.

Lola Stetson joined our classes in 2015 to learn massage for her competition dogs and her breeding program. She and her gaggle of Silken Windhounds would grace our classes for many years to come! Watching her pull in with a van full of hounds the first day of class grew to be one of my favorite things about dog classes on Vashon.

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 1 🌲As founder of NWSAM, the years 2015-2016 took on significant personal meaning for...
08/27/2026

NWSAM origin story 2015-2016 - part 1 🌲

As founder of NWSAM, the years 2015-2016 took on significant personal meaning for me. We had been teaching classes full-time for over a decade, accomplishing several goals I had set for the school in 2008. The biggest of those was the creation of our own central campus, where we could host the conversation with our community in a unique way. Like all dreams worth pursuing, making that one a reality had come with its fair share of work. Running the school and now an active equine retirement and rehabilitation facility meant all hands on deck.

These years deepened some of the most key relationships in our business. Our instructors, our staff and friends and family gave even more than the usual 100% to support the school. Still today, when I am cleaning the classroom after a class, I am reminded of the teams of people (graduates, sisters, neighbors) who showed up to paint windowsills, hang lighting, mend fences and sand drywall.

A new campus provided us the opportunity to host other educators as well. We held Rider Pilates clinics with Beth Glosten, the Riding Doctor. Graduate Lori Stevens taught Tellington Touch workshops, where we met our future rat terrier Cody who came for the day with participants from Rattitude Rescue. Equi-Tape became regular visitors to campus and I joined their teaching faculty, teaching in Canada and California with the OG’s Jame Ruder and Lumi Michelle Rolley. From Reiki to Acutonics and Aromatherapy, nearly every weekend presented a new opportunity to learn from various specialists. This is easily still one of my favorite aspects of having such an outstanding facility, the chance to host the very educators that I want to learn from myself!

“To Feel, To sense a body part or tissue using the hands. Purposeful touch.”I often remember what my first equine massag...
08/24/2026

“To Feel, To sense a body part or tissue using the hands. Purposeful touch.”

I often remember what my first equine massage mentor Jack Meagher told me; the difference between a good therapist and a great therapist is how well they palpate.

So many things contribute to the success of a massage session. But what we feel when we palpate, when we touch the animal in a purposeful way to gain information, guides how we craft that session.

Each animal deserves to receive our full attention in our assessments and palpation in each meeting because what matters one day may not be the concern another day. No two massages should look the same because our choices depend on what shows up in our palpation.

And while assessments can take many forms including visual observations and health intake information, even what we smell or sense, our palpation is the tool that serves as both assessment and therapy. For as soon as we begin to touch the animal, the physiological shifts begin.

Palpation is one of those skills that is always evolving. When we teach palpation at NWSAM, we focus on each element individually so students develop accuracy and confidence.

How do we sense temperature patterns? Is a warm area a radiant heat from basking in the sun versus a conductive heat associated with increased circulation?

How do we appreciate sensitivity with our hands? Identifying the differences between spasms or discomfort. What does elasticity feel like and how does muscle tone differ from one area of the body to another?

These, and more, are the skills needed to do the detective work that forms the basis for our goals in a session and the techniques we choose from our tool box.

The best way to learn palpation is to study the habits of someone who has mastered the art through years of experience, like the instructors at NWSAM. The best way to master palpation is through practice, mentorship and curiosity.

Curious about building your next life with NWSAM? Book a Discovery Call and let’s chart your course together.

Address

9704 SW 156th Street
Vashon, WA
98070

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12064631425

Website

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