Free, trauma-informed massage therapy for people experiencing homelessness and marginalization.
San Fransisco · Since 1983
A Legacy Built on Presence
For over 40 years, Care Through Touch Institute has provided free, trauma-informed massage to unhoused and marginalized communities in San Francisco. Through compassionate touch and consistent presence, we ease suffering, restore dignity, and strengthen human connection.
Community Partnerships
Meeting People Where They Are
CTI serves individuals in shelters, clinics, drop-in centers, transitional housing, and community spaces across the city. By embedding care directly within trusted community settings, we reduce barriers and ensure consistent, relationship-based support for people often excluded from traditional healthcare systems.
The CTI Model
How Our Care is Delivered
No Barrier Access
We remove every obstacle between a person and care.
Free, clothed 15-minute sessions
No appointment or ID required
Delivered in shelters, clinics, churches, and on the streets
50+ clients served weekly on average
Trauma-Informed Practice
Every interaction is built on safety, consent, and trust.
Client-led consent at every step
Nonjudgmental, culturally responsive care
Practitioners trained in trauma response
Context-informed, on-site training model
Consistent Weekly Presence
Reliability is itself a form of healing.
Licensed massage therapists
Weekly visits at the same sites
Integrated with partner organization services
Long-term relationship-based care
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.
Client Story
A Routine That Became a Lifeline
Foote has been a familiar face at a CTI partner site for over 20 years. Living with substance use disorder, weekly massage became more than physical relief—it became a steady source of grounding and care.
He credits this consistent presence with supporting his sobriety. Not a single intervention, but showing up week after week and being treated with dignity.
This is what long-term, trust-based care looks like—and why your support matters.
Compassion in Action
Join Our Volunteer Community
Join Care Through Touch Institute as a volunteer massage practitioner in San Francisco.
Provide trauma-informed, relationship-based massage to unhoused and low-income individuals in shelters, drop-in centers, and community service sites.
Gain hands-on experience, support healing, and make a meaningful impact.
Help Us Keep Showing Up
Your Support Matters
Your support provides free, trauma-informed massage to unhoused and marginalized communities, trains compassionate practitioners, sustains our volunteer network, and expands CTI’s reach to new neighborhoods across San Francisco.
