Meeting an Unmet Need
Safe, attuned touch is foundational to whole-person wellbeing. For people experiencing homelessness and chronic trauma, it fills a profound gap that other interventions cannot reach.
Care That Meets You Where You Are
Care Through Touch Institute is a leader in trauma-informed massage therapy, providing free, compassionate care through long-standing community partnerships across San Francisco.
With more than 40 years of experience, CTI advances healing, advocacy, and practitioner training for unhoused and marginalized communities.
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.
The Science of Care
Why Touch Matters
Regulates the Nervous System
Consensual touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering cortisol and stress hormones.
Improves Emotional Wellbeing
Consistent sessions reduce anxiety, ease chronic pain, and support recovery and stability.
Restores Human Connection
For isolated individuals, safe touch can be the only affirming human contact they experience in a week.
Addresses an Unmet Need
Massage therapy for people experiencing homelessness remains a rare, underfunded intervention.
Research-backed approach: Trauma-informed bodywork has been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and support long-term wellbeing in populations experiencing chronic adversity.
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.