Therapists

Hello! Welcome to Spa Jacksonville. I am Laura Jarrell, licensed massage therapist, certified aromatherapist and owner of this little co-op healing retreat we affectionately refer to as Spa. Founded in May of 2000, many healing treatments have graced this space. As a result, you can feel and benefit from the good energy here as soon as you walk through the door…as so many of our clients tell us.

Massage

A little about my training and background. My Bachelor of Science is an interdisciplinary degree from SOU in Biology / Physiology / Health with an athletic training certificate and a minor in business marketing. My original plan was to be a physical therapist. However, after work study and practicum experience I decided I wanted to be more hands-on. As a result, I enrolled in massage school. I took course work at Ashland Massage Institute under the guidance of Shari Sunshine. Then I was on my way to becoming the first of our Spa Jacksonville Therapists!

Over the years, my continuing education has focused on various modalities which I’ve integrated into my practice. This includes:

• Shiatsu
• Acupressure
• Myofascial Release
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Reflexology
• Cupping
• Energy work
• Sports Massage.

I blend these modalities into a massage rooted in Swedish technique as indicated for each client. When implementing a treatment plan, I like to take a customized approach. Consequently, each massage session is uniquely tailored to the individual client’s needs. I usually focus sessions on problem areas with an emphasis on pain reduction. Over time, we work further toward the goal of increased mobility. Then we can settle into a maintenance routine. We reassess treatment plans at every appointment, taking into account improvements or new issues that may have arisen. If my client is willing, I recommend homework in the form of stretches, exercises, or self trigger-point work to do between appointments.

Aromatherapy

I also have a passion for aromatherapy. I have over 300 hours of accredited training from Aroma Apothecary Healing Arts Academy. In addition, I am a member of NAHA as a Clinical level Aromatherapist. My Spa Body Therapy line of custom-blended aromatherapy products is available at Spa. This line includes products like

• Muscle Comfort Oil
• Essential (hand) Sanitizer
• Essential Bath Salts
• Scrubs
• Lotions and Massage Oils
• Essential Spritzers for face and body, and more.

These products are all available in custom-blended formulations. Individual consultations with clients are really fun. This way we can formulate the perfect essential oil blend and address their needs whether acute or chronic, physical or emotional, skincare based or holistic. Then I wait to hear back that it was a valuable tool that contributed to their overall good health.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about all of our Spa Jacksonville Therapists. See you at Spa!

Hi, I’m Josette Fithian.

A licensed facial tech, I received my esthetic training in 2007 at the Oregon Institute of Aesthetics. At the same time, I enjoyed working as a teacher’s assistant at the Institute for three years. In 2011, I joined the team at Spa Jacksonville and I have practiced esthetics exclusively here ever since.

I love helping people with their skincare needs and regimen. Providing nurturing, relaxing and effective facial treatments with a loving touch brings me great satisfaction. In order to achieve glowing skin for my clients, I focus on the power of cellular turnover with high speed exfoliation techniques. These include a series of fruit acid peels, monthly facial treatments and special home care products. Of course, all aspects of skincare are important and everyone’s skin is different. Therefore, I address your own skin care needs in a customized facial treatment.

See the Spa Facials tab and Packages tabs that include facials on our Menu page for all the services I offer.

I’m delighted to be one of our long-time Spa Jacksonville Therapists. Hope to see you at Spa soon!

I became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2015 and a Licensed Esthetician in 2018. My specialty blends therapeutic and relaxation approaches to both body work and skincare. I also hold certifications in Dr. Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage of the neck and face, Dien Chan Zone Facial Reflexology, and advanced training for facial Gua Sha.

I first started in the beauty and wellness field as a massage therapist. After a couple of years, I knew I wanted to include skin care for a full-body approach. I’m a firm believer in the connection between stress and inflammation. Inflammation leads to disease. Therefore, my goal is to relieve stress by therapeutic massage and tension-relieving skincare treatments.

I look at a person as a whole. This is because our body systems are not independent of one another. In other words, they all affect each other. As a result, body and/or skin conditions can be a symptom that multiple systems need our attention.

Based on your direct input and what I understand about your condition, I carefully plan each massage and skin treatment. Most importantly, I personalize the experience for every individual. I’m so happy to be one of the most recent Spa Jacksonville Therapists to join the team!

Fellow of the Acupuncture & TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM)

As a practitioner of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine, I provide holistic and individualized treatment for a wide range of general, reproductive and cosmetic conditions. Specializing in integrative fertility, pregnancy and women’s health since 2009, my practice is largely focused on reproductive health and facial rejuvenation, while also addressing many general health complaints.

I regularly see patients for acute and chronic pain relief, sleep, emotions, digestion, anti-aging, immune support, fertility enhancement, pregnancy support, menstrual health, menopause, surgical/cosmetic scarring, and overall wellness.

My practice is supported by advanced training in TCM Gynecology & Obstetrics, and over 30 years of dedicated study and cultivation of internal martial, yogic and healing arts. After completing my undergraduate studies at UCLA and studying Traditional Chinese Medicine under various mentors, I earned my graduate degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University. I’m licensed to practice Traditional Chinese Medicine in both Oregon and California, and am a Fellow of the Acupuncture & TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM) which is internationally recognized as the leading board certification for reproductive acupuncturists.

View Spa Menus for Acupuncture and Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture™ for more information about my services.

Warm greetings! I am happy to serve and connect in this community as a Licensed Massage Therapist as part of a diverse team of practitioners at Spa. I offer treatments tailored to client goals as stand-alone sessions or via treatment plans when addressing chronic conditions and tension patterns. In addition to therapeutic massage sessions, I offer Abdominal Therapy sessions of the renowned lineage, Maya Abdominal Massage, as well as Holistic Pelvic Care™ sessions. My intention is to support a graceful unwinding, providing relief from pain, tension, and congestion held in the pelvic bowl.

In a standard massage session, a client can look forward to receiving blended bodywork, reaching a depth that provides both comfort and beneficial results, including:

• Relaxation Massage
• Deep Tissue
• Myofascial Release Techniques
• Cupping
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Therapeutic Traction & Stretching

On my personal healing journey through complete pelvic floor prolapse, I received Abdominal Massage sessions and was taught the self-massage routine; this offered me the support I needed to walk the road from grief into praise. Through diligent self-massage, following a homecare plan, and subtle lifestyle changes, my ‘irreversible’ condition is remarkably improved, stable, and maintained with confidence and self-empowerment through self-massage. I am honored to now practice this modality, in the same lineage I received from, as a certified practitioner through the Abdominal Therapy Collective, co-founded by Dr. Rosita Arvigo (Maya Abdominal Massage).

I offer sessions with trust and experience that clients will find relief from congestion within the entire abdomen. In an Abdominal Therapy session, along with treatment to the front of the abdomen and the entire back of the body, the effective self-care routine that reliably provides results is taught to each client. Abdominal Therapy is indicated for any body with a need for reproductive, digestive, and low back support.

I look forward to greeting the terrain of each client’s body with presence and respect. Thank you for tuning in and considering us as part of your self-care routine!

A note on praise: I give thanks and praise to all of my teachers, mentors and guides including: Tami Lynn Kent MSPT, Miss Amy Colo LMT & Midwife, Dr. Rosita Arvigo and Julian Cangilose LMT.

View Julia’s offerings.

Read Julia’s Post

Judy specializes in integrative therapeutic massage, which includes myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, lymphatic massage, Swedish massage, deep tissue work, and energetic alignment. Each session is tailored to the individual, combining practical therapeutic techniques with a calm, intuitive approach to support lasting well-being and deep relaxation.

With a background rooted in the rhythms of the earth, Judy brings a grounded and attentive presence to her therapeutic practice. Holding a degree in Agricultural Science, she developed an early appreciation for natural systems, balance, and the body’s ability to restore itself when given the right support. Her calm demeanor and thoughtful approach help create a comfortable space where clients can relax, release tension, and reconnect with their bodies.

Judy studies therapeutic myofascial release, developing a skilled and sensitive touch that works with the body’s connective tissue and natural movement. Her work focuses on easing restriction in the fascia, improving mobility, and helping the body find greater balance and comfort. Through slow, intentional techniques, she supports the body’s natural healing process while helping clients experience relief from chronic tension and stress.

Alongside her hands-on work, Judy studies Eastern astrology as a way to explore timing, patterns, and personal reflection. When appropriate, she weaves this perspective into sessions to offer clients additional insight and support for life’s transitions.

Outside the treatment room, Judy enjoys spending time in nature and staying connected to the seasonal rhythms that continue to inspire both her life and her work.

Warm greetings! I am grateful to serve and connect with this community as a Licensed Massage Therapist and Waldorf educator, working alongside a diverse team of practitioners at Spa. I offer therapeutic bodywork sessions tailored to each client’s goals, whether as individual treatments or as part of a thoughtful treatment plan for chronic conditions and long-held tension patterns.

I have a deep love of anatomy and a fascination with the intelligence and adaptability of the human body. My massage style is inspired by the natural flow of water—working with a rhythmic ebb and flow that encourages the body to soften, release, and reorganize. I begin each session with gentle breath work and shiatsu compressions to invite relaxation and presence, then move through the body using techniques that address both tension and long-held patterns.

Clients often come to me for support with neck and shoulder tension, low back and hip tightness, and the physical effects of stress. My work also supports mental well-being, helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression through a calming, restorative approach. Sessions are offered with intentional silence, allowing clients to rest fully while also providing space for them to express any needs, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment throughout the treatment.

By combining attentive listening with a range of modalities, I work to relieve discomfort while encouraging lasting positive changes in the body’s patterns. My offerings include:

• Swedish Relaxation Massage
• Deep Tissue
• Myofascial Release Techniques
• Cupping
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Therapeutic Traction & Stretching
• Sound Therapy – Tuning fork to Aum frequency and Koshi bell attuned to Water

Outside the treatment room, I am an avid hiker and moon gazer who finds inspiration and nourishment in the rhythms of the natural world. Time spent on forest trails and under open night skies continually reminds me of the quiet healing forces present in nature. I strive to bring that same grounded peace and the restorative energy of the earth into every session.