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Hellerwork® Training and Therapy

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Learn About Hellerwork® Schools and Structural Integration

Hellerwork® therapy was developed by Joseph Heller, a student of Ida Rolf’s method of Structural Integration.

Practitioners with Hellerwork® training view the body, mind, and spirit as inseparable, and Hellerwork® structural integration combines hands-on deep tissue bodywork with movement education and empowering dialogue to foster deeper physical, mental and emotional awareness. Joseph Heller’s unique blend of techniques is used in an 11-section series of sessions that help restore the body’s natural balance and alignment and relieve tension, pain and stress.

Hellerwork® is based on the inseparability of body, mind, and spirit through a system of somatic education and structural bodywork and helps people reach new physical and emotional awareness.

Career Overview

Professionals with Hellerwork® training are sensitive to the needs of their individual clients. Each session begins with an assessment of the client’s progress, both subjectively and by observing their patterns of movement and body structure. Bodywork and movement exercises may be conducted while the patient is sitting, standing or even walking, although they generally take place while the patient is lying on a massage table. Over time, the client’s body relaxes and realigns itself, and the dialogue aspect of treatment enhances the client’s awareness of the outer and inner changes taking place. Hellerwork® training can enhance the practice of massage therapists, bodywork professionals, nurses and other holistic health care professionals.

Training and Education

What You’ll Study in Hellerwork® School

Hellerwork® training includes a solid foundation in both scientific theory and practical skills. Among the subjects taught at Hellerwork® schools are fundamental principles of structural integration bodywork, assessment of the client’s structural alignment and movement, principles of movement education, anatomy and physiology, somatic psychology, and business and professional skills.

Average Length of Study

Although some generalized programs in bodywork or holistic medicine may include individual courses in Hellerwork® therapy, a complete certificate program in Hellerwork® structural integration requires 1,250 hours of study. This takes place through a combination of intensive classroom study, independent study, and internships.

Average Hellerwork® Training Tuition

The Foundation course in Hellerwork® therapy costs approximately $750 to $1,000, not counting any applicable admission fees. Full Hellerwork® training generally costs between $19,000 and $25,000.

Hellerwork® Certification

Certification is available through various Hellerwork® training programs that have been approved by Hellerwork® International. As a Certified Hellerwork® Structural Integration Practitioner (CHP), you will hold a professional-level credential that indicates your dedication to ethical practice and proficiency in your field, and you’ll be qualified to join a Regional Practitioner Association. Depending on state regulations, your Hellerwork® training may also form part of your massage therapy or bodywork licensing.

Career Outlook

Professionals with Hellerwork® training who enter the fields of massage therapy, nursing, or medicine can expect an optimistic career outlook. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ current Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment in massage therapy is projected to grow 18.3% through 2032—much faster than average, and demand is similarly high for nurses and physicians, including practitioners of complementary therapies.

Hellerwork® Salary

Practitioners with Hellerwork® training generally charge between $125 and $200 for a one-hour session, and around $1,700 to $2,000 for the full 11-section series. You can research massage therapist salaries nationally or by state here:

Massage Therapists

National data

Median Salary: $49,860

Projected job growth: 18.3%

10th Percentile: $29,040

25th Percentile: $39,080

75th Percentile: $67,300

90th Percentile: $90,530

Projected job growth: 18.3%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $25,670 $18,780 $56,460
Alaska $127,470 $41,710 $151,400
Arizona $49,920 $29,920 $93,010
Arkansas $38,440 $25,480 $51,800
California $58,920 $30,830 $100,830
Colorado $51,010 $28,640 $72,520
Connecticut $66,140 $33,650 $122,620
Delaware N/A N/A N/A
District of Columbia $50,500 $40,150 $76,340
Florida $46,720 $29,000 $74,130
Georgia $46,720 $19,310 $71,890
Hawaii $61,520 $23,120 $104,050
Idaho $57,220 $31,810 $75,730
Illinois $60,880 $34,370 $95,840
Indiana $49,930 $33,770 $80,470
Iowa $47,450 $31,980 $63,510
Kansas $47,090 $22,280 $68,560
Kentucky $47,110 $23,500 $81,110
Louisiana $35,580 $18,780 $70,300
Maine $44,930 $27,550 $95,250
Maryland $57,860 $35,980 $101,330
Massachusetts $49,740 $35,840 $92,870
Michigan $58,240 $31,410 $87,240
Minnesota $48,600 $43,540 $74,870
Mississippi $45,330 $30,850 $108,440
Missouri $28,730 $23,190 $68,990
Montana $52,260 $22,430 $95,970
Nebraska $55,990 $25,910 $83,000
Nevada $36,010 $18,520 $63,470
New Hampshire $62,400 $40,960 $75,690
New Jersey $48,250 $29,960 $71,190
New Mexico $41,510 $26,080 $67,600
New York $49,350 $34,250 $97,690
North Carolina $55,170 $32,470 $108,330
North Dakota $49,330 $29,500 $80,110
Ohio $47,140 $29,640 $74,060
Oklahoma $47,350 $26,240 $54,080
Oregon $77,080 $34,430 $93,600
Pennsylvania $58,940 $29,170 $95,800
South Carolina $44,500 $17,560 $65,060
South Dakota $41,500 $29,650 $69,540
Tennessee $49,010 $20,450 $65,450
Texas $48,100 $24,290 $76,280
Utah $51,100 $24,420 $83,550
Vermont $80,360 $27,590 $103,760
Virginia $52,870 $25,060 $83,010
Washington $76,290 $39,160 $99,960
West Virginia $48,550 $25,690 $76,130
Wisconsin $47,180 $19,110 $78,990
Wyoming $49,650 $31,150 $53,900

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Is a Hellerwork® Career Right for You?

Hellerwork® training emphasizes the whole person, and therefore has the potential for profound transformative power in the individual client. Whether you plan to open a professional Hellerwork® practice or integrate its techniques into your nursing or bodywork career; whether you hope to work with hospital patients, yoga students, athletes or dancers, Hellerwork® can create positive change in the body, mind and spirit. If a holistic approach to wellness appeals to you, you may benefit from attending a Hellerwork® school.

Learn how Hellerwork® is related to myofascial release.

Sources: Hellerwork International, California Hellerwork Institute, Northwest School of Hellerwork, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, formerly the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM])