14: Ancient Wisdom: Modern Science with Michelle Hammond - Episode 1414: Ancient Wisdom: Modern Science with Michelle Hammond - Episode 14
UK Health Radio Podcast
Michelle Hammond talks with massage therapist Hayley Schnishko about how therapeutic touch can support mental and emotional wellbeing by addressing the body’s role in mental health. The conversation covers Hayley’s personal journey, the Massage for Mental Health campaign and the case for including massage alongside conventional treatments.
42:56•23 Jul 2026
Massage for Mental Health: Hayley Schnishko on the Power of Therapeutic Touch
Episode Overview
- Massage can ease physical symptoms linked to mental health, such as heavy limbs, tension, headaches and shallow breathing.
- Addressing the body alongside talking therapies and medication may reduce the risk of relapse for people with anxiety and depression.
- Therapists can spot signs of fight-or-flight on the massage table and use gentle, sensory techniques to support rest and relaxation.
- Healthy boundaries help caring practitioners avoid burnout while still offering meaningful support to clients in distress.
- Reframing massage from "pampering" to valid mental health care may open doors for wider recognition and social prescribing.
“When you struggle so much with your mental health, sometimes you just don't have the words, and having that physical approach can make such a difference.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation on UK Health Radio’s *Ancient Wisdom: Modern Science* zooms in on an often-overlooked tool for mental health and emotional recovery: massage therapy. Host Michelle Hammond chats with award-winning massage therapist and educator Hayley Schnishko, founder of the "Massage for Mental Health" campaign. Hayley shares how her own struggles with depression, anxiety and childhood trauma shaped her mission.
After the birth of her daughter, her mental health declined sharply, and standard support was limited to antidepressants and brief mentions of talking therapies. It was a simple spa massage that made her realise how much distress she was carrying physically: "It just lightened so much up" and triggered a whole learning journey.
Hayley explains how mental health shows up in the body — heavy legs and aching feet with depression, pain and tension in the shoulders, shallow breathing and headaches with anxiety. She highlights research showing that people whose treatment ignores physical symptoms are more likely to relapse, arguing that massage should sit alongside talking therapies and medication as part of integrated care.
You’ll hear how Hayley’s campaign gave a name to what many therapists were already seeing daily: massage as meaningful mental health support rather than mere pampering. She talks about recognising clients in fight-or-flight, using sensory tools to guide them into rest-and-digest, and challenging the "no pain, no gain" myth, especially for those in distress. The episode also touches on therapist burnout, boundaries and the emotional weight of caring work.
Hayley describes learning to stay within her role, protect her own wellbeing, and still offer deep, compassionate touch that helps clients shift from being stuck in their heads to understanding what their bodies are trying to say. If you’re curious how therapeutic touch might support your own recovery story or enhance your professional practice, this conversation could be the nudge you’ve been waiting for.
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