Faculty & Staff
Steph Haddox, Founder and Lead Instructor
I’ve been a massage therapist since 2011, opening Balance Massage Therapy in 2012 and Balance Massage School in 2018.
As an educator, my work is rooted in creating a learning environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow—not just in skill, but in confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness. I believe that meaningful learning happens within a strong, respectful container, and cultivating that space is at the core of my teaching.
While a solid foundation in anatomy and technique is essential, my passion lies in helping students understand what is happening beneath the surface. Massage therapy is not just about muscles—it is about the nervous system, perception, and the ways our lived experiences shape how we inhabit our bodies.
I am deeply interested in the intersection of neuroscience, the mind-body connection, and trauma-informed care. Together, we explore how stress and life experiences are expressed through the nervous system, and how thoughtful, attuned touch can influence regulation, awareness, and healing. My goal is to help students bridge the gap between theory and practice—so they not only know what to do, but understand why it works.
Through this lens, students develop a more nuanced, responsive approach to their work—one that honors each client as a whole person, rather than a set of symptoms. They learn to listen with their hands, think critically, and adapt their approach in real time.
Teaching has also been a profound path of growth for me. It has deepened my understanding of the human experience and continues to shape how I show up—for my students, my clients, and my community.
At Balance Massage School, all are welcome. Every race, gender, identity, orientation, and belief system is respected and supported. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, compassionate, and professional learning environment.
Continuing education, certifications, and life experiences that have informed my work and teaching include:
Trauma Informed Care Certificate, Dr. Mark Olson
Certificate in Neuroscience, The Neuroscience School
NeuroSomatic Intelligence Coaching Certificate
Integrative Somatic Practitioner Course, Integrative Wellness Academy
Somatic Parts Certificate, The Embody Lab
NeuroAffective Relational Model Training
Professional Massage Therapy Certificate, 2011
Professional Bodywork Teacher Training “The Spirit of Learning”, The Body Therapy Institute
Usui Reiki Level 1+2 Certification
Bachelors of Science - Social Work, The University of Vermont
Division 1 soccer player and coach, The University of Vermont
14 years coaching youth soccer - club and ODP, U8-U19 boys and girls
Proud mama of two amazing souls - perhaps the most profound life experience cultivating expansion and learning over the years
Dan Barone, MindBody Wellness Support
Since childhood, I had lived someone else’s dream.
I built a “successful” life by following the path that others showed me.
On the surface, things looked great. I had money, a family, and lots of stuff.
The problem was that none of those things could fix how I felt about myself.
Underneath the outward success, I was miserable.
It didn’t matter what I did or how much I had; the pain inside me just kept growing.
Each day was a desperate fight just to stay alive. Things got so bad I almost lost.
Thankfully, I woke up before it was too late.
I chose to ask for help and committed to doing the work of inner healing.
My life started to change. My relationships grew healthier, stronger, and deeper, all beginning with myself.
Over the course of my life, culture had taught me to ignore the pain I felt; to numb, escape, or soothe it.
Never to learn from it.
It took me almost dying to finally look at it differently.
The pain wasn’t happening to me.
It was here for me.
To teach me something important.
Something I’d been missing.
Something I needed for the path ahead.
Could I listen to what it was trying to tell me?
I slowed down and began to pay attention; to be present in the moment.
Being present with the pain taught me a powerful truth:
The love I was seeking all along didn’t come from outside; it was within me.
All the conditional love and performance-based worthiness that had been modeled to me was wrong.
I wasn’t empty; I was whole.
My life had unfolded in such an exact way to lead to this place; the path of Love.
This path led me to Balance Massage.
