Free, trauma-informed massage therapy, five days a week in San Francisco.
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San Fransisco · Since 1983
A Legacy Built on Presence
For over 40 years, CTI has brought free, trauma-informed massage to unhoused and marginalized communities in San Francisco, easing suffering, restoring dignity, and strengthening human connection.
2025: A Year of Showing Up
Over 4,200 sessions delivered
1,000+ volunteer hours contributed
9 long-standing partner sites
Community Partnerships
Reducing Barriers to Care
CTI brings massage therapy directly into shelters, clinics, drop-in centers, and transitional housing across San Francisco, meeting people where they are.
How Our Care is Delivered
No Barrier Access
Trauma-Informed Practice
Consistent Weekly Presence
Client Story
A Routine That Became a Lifeline
Foote has come to a CTI partner site every week for over 20 years. Living with substance use disorder, the massage sessions became more than physical relief. They became a source of grounding, consistency, and dignity.
He credits that steady presence with supporting his sobriety.
This is what showing up, week after week, makes possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Trauma-informed massage prioritizes safety, choice, and dignity. Our practitioners meet people exactly as they are, using slow, responsive touch, clear communication, and consistent boundaries to create a sense of calm and trust.
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CTI serves unhoused and marginalized populations, trauma survivors, older adults, and people living with chronic pain or isolation. We meet clients where they are—shelters, clinics, drop-in centers, transitional housing, and other community spaces.
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Sessions typically last about 15 minutes. This is enough time for the body to relax and experience relief while remaining accessible for people who may find stillness challenging due to trauma.
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No. All CTI services are free and offered with no barriers to care, ensuring accessibility for the people who need it most.
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CTI is the only organization in San Francisco—and one of very few nationally—providing consistent, free, trauma-informed massage through long-term community partnerships. Our approach emphasizes continuity, trust, advocacy, and practitioner training, not just a one-time session.
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Yes. All CTI practitioners begin as volunteers and receive specialized training in trauma-informed massage, social awareness, and presence. Volunteers provide hands-on care, gain practical experience, and contribute to meaningful relationships with clients and communities.
Compassion in Action
Join Our Volunteer Community
Volunteer with CTI as a massage practitioner in San Francisco. Bring trauma-informed, relationship-based care to unhoused and low-income individuals in shelters, drop-in centers, and community sites. Gain hands-on experience and make a lasting impact.
Moments That Matter
Follow CTI and see the work up close. Stories, updates, and moments from the field across San Francisco.
Keep Us Showing Up
Every donation funds free trauma-informed massage for people who need it, trains the practitioners who deliver it, and keeps CTI showing up across San Francisco.