Free, trauma-informed massage therapy, five days a week in San Francisco.
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Grounded in Trauma-Informed Practice

The body keeps score.
For people living with chronic trauma and homelessness, safe touch restores a sense of self that is foundational to healing and reintegration.

Meeting People Where They Are

No Barrier Access
No appointment, no ID, no cost. CTI offers free, clothed 15-minute sessions in shelters, clinics, churches, and on the streets, serving 50+ clients every week.

Trauma-Informed Practice
Every interaction is built on safety, consent, and trust. Our practitioners are trained in trauma response and culturally responsive care, following the client's lead at every step.

Consistent Weekly Presence
We return to the same sites, week after week. Licensed therapists integrated within partner organization services build the kind of long-term, relationship-based care that makes a real difference.

“During the massage, I felt like I exist. I felt connected.”

-CTI Client

Why Touch Matters

Regulates the Nervous System
Consensual touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol and calming the body's stress response.

Restores Human Connection
For many of the people CTI serves, a session may be the only safe, affirming human contact they receive all week.

Improves Emotional Wellbeing
Regular sessions reduce anxiety, ease chronic pain, and provide the kind of consistency that supports recovery and stability over time.

Addresses an Unmet Need
Massage therapy for people experiencing homelessness is rare and chronically underfunded, even as the evidence for its impact continues to grow.

“This relaxation is so helpful. It takes my mind off the pain.”

-CTI Client

Frequently Asked Questions

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • No. All CTI services are free and offered with no barriers to care, ensuring accessibility for the people who need it most.

  • 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.

  • 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.