team overview

Having started this practice as a solo practitioner in 2015, my goal was always to build a powerful team of therapists who were passionate about their craft and able to deliver highly effective therapies for my clients. As a recruiter in a past life, I know how challenging it can be to find the right talent. This is why my hiring strategy has always been to hold out for therapists who have proven, strong therapeutic techniques and interpersonal skills. I don’t simply hire to fill open positions, I hire to enhance the strength of my team.

I am proud of the team I have built and fully stand behind the professionalism and skill-sets each of them bring to my practice.

check out the team pressure meter at the bottom of this page

Read about Dustin’s 3 desert island books, the moment he realized he made the right career choice, and how he stays motivated in his blog interview!

Dustin Dreese  |  Owner / lead therapist

Having spent 8 years of my professional life after graduate school working in industries that yielded little happiness, I reached a point where I knew I needed to make a drastic change.  Joy and happiness had become infrequent.  I was overweight, unhealthy, and living in a perpetual state of stress.  I developed depression, anxiety attacks, and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.  In short, I was on a quick decline... and I knew it.

I decided in the Fall of 2012 to quit my corporate career and take some time to heal and course-correct my life.  It was during this period that I realized the answer was there all along.

Growing up, my father was a big believer in Massage Therapy.  He used to send my mother and I to practitioners about once a month.  Being exposed to massage as a teenager was a blessing and I remember discussing the profession with each of the therapists, hearing the many reasons they loved what they did. However, this was in the mid 1990's and the profession did not have the kind of social stature that I felt was expected of me.  I quite intentionally ruled out Bodywork as a career and pursued more "acceptable" options.  

Almost 20 years later, the field of Massage Therapy had evolved and proven itself among the health care community.  Personally, I had evolved into a free thinker and self-motivated individual who was  ready to revisit the work that captivated me at such an impressionable age.

Today, I am a Licensed Massage Therapist (L.M.T.), skilled in a range of therapeutic modalities.  I strive to provide my clients with an individualized and goal-based approach to massage and bodywork.  Whether you are looking for rhythmic relaxation massage, targeted deep tissue or sports therapy, fascial mobilization or manual lymphatic drainage, my personal mission is to be a meaningful partner in your wellness.

Life is good.  

Maya Ziegler  |  Licensed Massage Therapist

My passion for helping others and deep interest in human health has led me to a career in massage therapy. I received a bachelor's degree in biomedical science from Antioch College in 2022 with the hopes of becoming a physician. However, my strong desire for a healthy work-life balance, and interest in holistic health steered me in a different direction. 

Massage therapy has always been a huge and vital part of my life. Being diagnosed with scoliosis as a teen, I received a lot of bodywork to help manage muscular pain and was consistently amazed by the relief I was gaining. This, and inspiration from my personal massage therapist is what ultimately led me to enroll in a program.

I recently received my massage license from Irene’s Myomassology Institute. With the knowledge I have gained of the human body, I will work with you to achieve your therapeutic goals using techniques such as deep tissue, lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, kinesiology taping, and cupping. Whether you have a specific goal for your session or just need to relax, I am motivated to help you experience the endless benefits of massage therapy.

Mike Neville  |  Licensed Massage Therapist

I am a motivated and experienced licensed massage therapist. I communicate effectively with my clients to understand their personal needs for each session as well as their long- term wellness goals. I am eager to provide each of my clients with the most current massage treatments and techniques available while ensuring a comfortable, relaxing and therapeutic experience.

It took me a while to realize my passion for bodywork. I was in college studying English for a period until it dawned on me that I would much prefer working with my hands. This led to many years of various intensive manual labor jobs consisting of a lot of heavy lifting and repetitive motion. Over time this work began to take its toll on my body and mind as I developed chronic pain and in turn higher stress levels. While I did enjoy this type of work, I knew there was a question of longevity.

It wasn’t until I began receiving regular massages that I began to understand the immense benefits of bodywork. I began considering this as a career for myself during my own journey towards healing. With much encouragement from friends and family (who I had been massaging for as long as I could remember) I decided to take the leap and enroll at Irene’s Myomassology Institute in 2015. That year was challenging and very rewarding. I continued to work full time while attending school and was able to make a lot of connections between the actions I was performing during the day that caused pain and treatments I learned in the evening to treat it in myself and others. I knew I had made a great decision for myself.

To me, the massage field has been a blessing in that it not only provides me with the opportunity to work with my hands while remaining present and focused, but it also allows me to do a meaningful service for my community.
Since I received my license, I have worked alongside chiropractors in a clinical setting, in home appointments and in an independent studio. I also had the privilege of attending a certification program for Oncology Massage at Corewell Health.

I have had time to discover my strengths as a therapist and I remain enthusiastic about continuing to learn and grow as a therapist.
Outside of work I really enjoy camping and hiking, taking my dog on long walks and runs, yoga and spending time with friends and family.

Haden Bighouse  |  Licensed Massage Therapist

Born and raised in Southern Oregon, I may seem like a fish out of water in this part of the country! I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 2018 while working full-time in the hotel industry as concierge for the largest hotel in Oregon. One day, my now-wife walked into those hotel doors for a work trip, and the rest is history. We now live in Oak Park with our newborn daughter.

During our first few years together, I spent time soul-searching for a career that I’d enjoy long-term. I explored the gig economy, worked as a barista, and was even employed with the US Postal Service delivering mail in the Royal Oak area. During my time as a mail carrier, I quickly noticed the miles and miles of walking with heavy mailbags was taking a toll on my body, mind, and soul. I would come home physically and mentally exhausted every day. My wife could tell something was wrong after just a few months and encouraged me to explore a more fulfilling career that wouldn’t leave me burnt out. Then I remembered the joy that was brought to me through studying anatomy and physiology in high school and college; that, paired with my talents for great customer service, I decided to explore a path in massage therapy. I am now a proud graduate from Irene’s Myomassology Institute. As a continuous improvement-minded individual, I believe in progress over perfection. I am thrilled that Dustin Palmer Bodywork and Massage is the first step in my career, giving me the opportunity to hone my skills in several modalities while helping others reach their wellness goals.

In my spare time, I am an apprentice at Irene’s Myomassology Institute - helping future massage therapists learn the techniques taught to me. Outside of the massage therapy world, I enjoy spending time with my wife and newborn daughter, ergometer rowing, and listening to stand-up comedy when our baby allows it!

Leandra Osborn  |  Licensed Massage Therapist

I leapt into the corporate world shortly after college after hearing about a new trendy social media site called “Facebook.” Companies were just starting to hire marketers in order to help navigate the world of digital media marketing and I hopped on the opportunity. My natural curiosity and the love of problem solving kept me busy for 10 years of my professional life, however I always felt like I needed more. At the end of a tough day I would ask myself what good I brought to the world and the answers began to feel more and more superficial each day.

During the Summer of 2020 I decided to make a change. Wellness and holistic health have always been important to me. I personally received massage on a frequent basis and could attest to the benefit both my body and mind experienced. My own massage therapist is such a critical component to my own health, and helped to inspire my footsteps. 

I am now a proud graduate of Irene’s Myomassology Institute where I have studied a variety of techniques and modalities such as lymphatic drainage, swedish massage, sports massage, myofascial release, neuromuscular techniques, and reflexology. I’m passionate about working together with my clients in order to help achieve your goals. 

Outside of the massage world I enjoy reading, meditating, riding my bike, hanging out with my husband and our dogs, or putting my marketing hat back on and consulting on a case.

Nik Wright  |  Licensed massage therapist | Stretch Therapist | Personal Trainer | Reiki Master

As a dedicated and compassionate licensed massage therapist, I am driven by a genuine passion for promoting health and well-being through the healing power of touch. With over a decade of experience in the health and fitness industry, I have honed my skills to provide a client centered approach to your needs.

I recently graduated from Irene's Myomassology Institute with a passion in therapeutic techniques such as myofascial release, therapeutic relaxation, hot rocks therapy, and stretch therapy. I am a reiki master, and I am currently studying to become a polarity therapy practitioner. Whether your goals for massage is to start a therapeutic plan in order to move and feel better, increase some range of motion, restore your chakra centers and feel more Intune with the energetic life force, or even to just simply step away from a hectic lifestyle and enjoy a little "you" time, I am happy to help anyway I can.

When I am not in the office you can catch me at home with my wife either watching the latest scary movie (I am a huge horror genre fan), playing with my two cats (Bub and Binx), or my big loveable Pitbull German shepherd (Buddha).

Learn how Randy finds work-life balance, his love for jazz music, and how his closest friends would describe him here in his interview blog!

randy frank  |  Licensed Massage Therapist

During the day I am a high school English teacher, so I’m often asked how I got into massage therapy. My first experience with the power of massage was when I volunteered to help a friend get her massage practice hours. A light bulb went off, which was further brightened when I met my wife, a personal trainer. We talked about future careers and possibilities. With her encouragement, I found Irene’s Myomassology Institute and here we are 6 years later, in a career I love, with a company I can stand behind.

I believe in life-long learning and improving. This mindset helps me excel as a massage therapist because the field is always changing, and there are endless ways to improve my practice. I utilize my growing experience to provide well thought out treatment plans that may include deep tissue and relaxation techniques, sports massage, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and craniosacral therapy. I specialize in lymphatic drainage, which aids in pre/post-surgical and injury recovery, as well as promotes immune health.

My aim is to help you reach your wellness goals. Whether you are looking for long-term pain relief, restoring your range of motion, improving muscle performance, or in need of a stress relieving relaxation massage, we can work together to make your goals reality.

In my free time I enjoy playing with my two cats Jewel and Benny, listening to jazz music, and reading crime novels. I graduated from Irene’s Myomassology Institute in February 2015 and now I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.

Sharlie Edwards  |  Licensed Massage therapist

A career in facilitating healing has always appealed to me on a very personal level. The complex physiology and inner workings of the human body appeals to my meticulous nature. My journey to become a therapist has been shaped by profound and tumultuous life experience. The beginning of my journey was shaped by helping the woman who brought me into the world, leave from it. After going through this experience, I knew my calling was to help people to become the best versions of themselves. Because this life we have is just too short to experience anything less. I grew up on the Central Coast of California. I also spent time living in Germany and Arizona. In 2010, I apprenticed under my best friend and mentor Master Massage Therapist Courtney Deyo. Under her extremely detail oriented eye, we worked closely together on her clients. Which consisted of, Professional Athletes , Executives and Entrepreneurs from all over the world. Two years later, I attended the Arizona School of Massage Therapy where I graduated with top honors. Following that, I co-owned a successful business for 4 years. I moved to Michigan in 2016 and had the honor and privilege working with physically and mentally handicapped individuals that were affected by catastrophic car accidents. We worked closely together to formulate, and successfully execute detailed care plans. Which resulted in reducing their chronic and ever present pain. This precious work is some of the most rewarding of my career. I currently hold certifications in Structural Bodywork, Advanced Trigger Point Therapy, Infant and Pediatric Massage, and Visceral Massage. I am also a 7th Generation Reiki Master. My journey as a Body Worker has been extremely varied, but has shaped me into the Therapist I am today. Through helping people, I continue to learn what it looks like to be the best version of myself. And I believe that journey of knowledge will never end.