Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Master.
Hi Colleen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
AlchemizMe began when I left a corporate career in my 40’s. But it really started much earlier.
I lived in hypervigilance, anticipating everyone’s needs and living almost entirely in my head. I did years of traditional therapy and made real progress. But no matter how much work I did, my body’s physical response did not change. And my health had taken a toll. I had multiple accidents, surgeries and a growing list of conditions. I had been seeking healing and change my entire adult life.
Looking back, it makes sense to me that I am doing what I do now. Since college I had been giving simple massages to friends, including one with scoliosis whose back I would work on regularly. People had always come to me with their concerns, trusted me to be honest without judgment, and felt safe enough to confide in me. I wanted to find a way to bring all of that into more fulfilling work.
I had some regret for not pursuing massage school earlier in my life, so I decided that was the next step. It was there I learned about the nervous system and the vagus nerve in depth and finally understood the disconnect I had been living with. Consistent bodywork showed me what nervous system regulation actually feels like in my body. It helped me connect my mind to my body in a way that aligned with my progress in therapy. That changed how I move through my days and became the foundation of AlchemizMe.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
How I came to this work has not been a smooth road. Various forms of trauma forced me to explore ways to develop my own capacity and understanding. My body was communicating for years before I understood what it was saying. Learning to listen to it has been challenging. But I am glad I went through it all as it has really shaped how I support others doing the same work.
At first I struggled to explain what actually happens in sessions since it is such a different experience for each client. With my clients, I help them explore their nervous system and learn to communicate with their bodies so they can have more capacity and flexibility for sustainable lives. So, I often refer to my work as nervous system regulation education.
Another challenge is maintaining my own support system. I see multiple practitioners because this work demands that I show up fully resourced. In financially stretched seasons a community of practitioners who trade services with each other has kept me going. That reciprocity has been an unexpected gift of this path.
As you know, we’re big fans of AlchemizMe. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I love caring for people who are carrying a lot: the caregivers, creatives, intuitive people, and those who are often misunderstood or underserved. As a queer woman, creating a space where diverse identities and ways of being are genuinely welcomed is foundational.
What sets me apart is how I show up. I describe my practice as trauma-experienced and consent-driven; meaning my work is shaped by my own lived experience of trauma and healing along with my education. In sessions your nervous system guides what happens throughout our time together. Clients tell me sessions feel completely tailored; not scripted. They often say they feel lighter right after and more resourced in between. One person described leaving feeling better and stronger, body and soul. That quality of safety comes from genuine care and deep respect for what each person is carrying.
The work I do is layered. I weave massage, bodywork, somatic practices, guided self-touch, and energy work into in-person sessions. Online sessions draw from the same somatic practices, energy work and guided self-touch without hands-on bodywork. Group programs allow for more structured offerings and allow you to do the work along with others. My services also extend to end of life doula (aka death doula), offering regulation-centered support for those navigating end of life and their caregivers.
My credentials and training are the foundation I stand on. But what truly matters to me is the ability to show up with compassion not judgment. When someone finds me I want them to know that I am there to explore what is best for them. I am there beside my clients learning and healing, not above them.
How do you think about happiness?
Supporting others truly makes me happy. Earning a living in a way that supports my own nervous system while caring for caregivers is so fulfilling and meaningful to me. It fills me up to have that balance of caring for others and myself. Lately, I have been trying to find more joyful ways of incorporating somatic practices into my daily routines. I found blowing bubbles can be a great form of breathwork that is fun and uplifting. That has been making me happy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alchemizme.com/
- Instagram: @AlchemizMe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/AlchemizMe-61576169751873/
- Other: https://colleenmaster.substack.com/
