Loving Touch Instructor-Trainers
Our Instructor-Trainers have advanced training through the Loving Touch Instructor-Trainer Program. They have been a CIMI® actively invloved with the Loving Touch Program for over three years and have completed their apprenticeship training before advancing to Instructor-Trainer status. (Oct. 2007 Picture)
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Diana Moore, MS, LMT, CIMI®, is the founder and director of the International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. (ILTF) in Portland, Oregon, USA. She has been a licensed massage therapist since 1974 and member of the American Massage Therapy Association for over 30 years. Her education includes a Master of Science in Management and Entrepreneurship from Marylhurst University with an undergraduate degree in Health Education and Sports Medicine from Portland State University.
A pioneer in the global parenting tradition of infant massage, she began practicing and researching various methods in the mid seventies and subsequently she developed the Loving Touch® Parent–Infant Massage Program. She incorporated the ILTF in 1992. She teaches across the United States and her work has taken her internationally to Australia, Canada, China, Moldova, and Singapore.
The infant massage ministries have also led her to Romania to work in the state–run orphanages for children birth to three years. She has lead eight teams of healthcare professionals with Northwest Medical Teams International, conducting the Infant Massage Sensory Stimulation Program® (IMSSP®). In 2003, Diana opened the Loving Touch Parenting and Healing Arts Center in Portland, Oregon where she maintains her private clinical practice in pre and peri natal massage, sports massage, conducts parent/infant classes, parenting classes, workshops, support groups, and has a pregnancy/parenting resource center and bookstore.
Diana recently received a post baccalaureate degree in Infant Toddler Mental Health Program from Portland State University in 2006.
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Mariann Kaye, MA, RMT, CIMI®, Mariann has a BA in Elementary and Special Education, and MA in Education of the Visually Impaired from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She taught special education twenty years and spent four years as an Assistant Director with the MHMRA Infant Program in Houston, Texas.
Since then, Mariann has become very involved with infant massage, researching in–depth the benefits and sharing the information at the following conferences:
* 2003 Western Colorado Early Childhood Conference
* Child 2001 Child Care Conference in Denver
* 2000 Texas Methodist Youth Conference
* Texas 1999 "Pregnancy, Education and Parenting Conference"
* 1998 Missouri "First Steps"
* 1997 Texas ECI Conference
* 1997 Children's Mental Health Conference
* 1996 and 1997 HAAEY
Mariann is a Reiki Master; massage therapist, and healer in Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado.
Mariann retired in 2005 ~ Thanks for all your hard work, love, compasion and dedication!
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Susan Beck, BS, NCTMB, CIMI®, Susan is the Program Coordinator/Instructor for the Idaho State Massage Therapy Program which offers a Technical Certificate or a Associates of Applied Science. For two years she worked as a Community Liason Specialist for Region V Child Care Resource and Referral Specialist for IdahoSTARS, a project of the University of Idaho and Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children. Grant recipient for NuParent Classes from Magic Valley Regional Medical Center Foundation for 4 years. For over 30 she had full–time private massage therapy practice in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Consumer Science from Colorado State University, apprenticed with her former spouse, Mark Beck, in Massage Therapy, took advanced study in structural neurology (a body mind integrative technique), and has been an Instructor Trainer of infant massage since 1998. She is also a grandmother and found great rewards in teaching her son and daughter in-law infant massage.
Susan certifications include, NCTMB (National Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork)1990, CIMI (Certified Infant Massage Instructor) 1983, IdahoSTARS trainer, Idaho State Board of Education Limited Occupational Specialist in Rehab/Therapeutic Services, and a member of the American Massage Therapist Association.
(Susan's grandson Cooper at 1 month old)
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Karen Nelms, RN, CIMI®, Karen is a registered nurse. She graduated from Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI in 1965. Her nursing experience has primarily been with babies and children in the hospital setting. Her career allowed her to explore nursing in different states, Canada, and Germany. In 1991 she completed study in massage therapy and took the Infant Massage Instructor Training workshop with Diana Moore, founder of the Loving Touch® Parent–Infant Massage Program in Portland, Oregon.
Karen's teaching has expanded to the state and community through a state funded, high–risk prenatal program. This program includes home visits to teach infant massage in the inner city. In 1996, Karen traveled to Romania as part of the Northwest Medical Teams International IMSSP program.
Karen is semi–retired.
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Suzanne Reese, PT, CIMI®, Suzanne joined the ranks of the International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. instructor–trainers in 2006, but is no newcomer to infant massage. She completed her CIMI training at the Swedish Institute in 1998. Suzanne is a practicing pediatric physical therapist for children with special needs. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy form Quinnipiac College in Hamden,CT.
Currently Suzanne teaches infant massage to parents and professionals throughout the New York area. Additionally, she is a mother–baby and prenatal yoga instructor. Her specialty is working with children with special needs from birth to three years of age. She has been an active member of ILTF since 1999.
Suzanne just delivered her first baby and is on a leave of absence.
~ We know your little girl is loving her massage!
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Talley Dunn, BA, CIMI®, Talley has worked in the field of Early Childhood Development and Parenting Education for 35 years. She is currently the Program Manager for the Early Head Start Program of Southern Oregon. Talley develops, provides, and monitors all levels of staff training. Her primary areas of interest are strengthening the parent–child relationship and providing relationship–based and reflective practices to staff and families. Talley is experienced in training high–need family populations.
Since becoming a CIMI, Talley has taught infant massage techniques to teen parenting classes, parents in substance abuse recovery programs, as well as other parenting groups in her agency and community. Talley has continued to increase her experience and skills in the Loving Touch approach to infant massage. She has the desire and dedication to share this very comprehensive program with other professionals in the field of Early Childhood Education. Of all the methods and strategies for teaching better parenting skills, Talley finds that none can compare to the hands–on bonding and attachment that occurs through the Loving Touch Parent–Infant Massage Program. Additionally, she has found a variety of ways to integrate the Loving Touch method into programs and agencies to strengthen the services they offer families.
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Martha E. Putt, BA, CIMI®, Martha is the Training and Research Coordinator for the Mid–Michigan Community Action Agency — Early Head Start (EHS) program in Clare, MI. Martha received a BA from the University of Michigan, and an Elementary Teaching Certificate with an Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA) from the State of Michigan. She taught preschool, kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd grades for many years in Michigan and Massachusetts. As an EHS trainer, Martha has completed certification in the Program for Infant and Toddler Caregivers, Teaching Strategies’ Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers, and the Healthy Beginnings: Nurturing Young Children’s Growing Minds program.
Martha became a Certified Infant Massage Instructor CIMI through the International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc., in May of 2002 and is currently an apprentice trainer.. She teaches Parent–Infant Massage to EHS parents in five Michigan counties on a rotating schedule throughout the year. She has witnessed first–hand the effect that infant massage can have on the relationships between the parents and their infants, and has heard the stories about the babies sleeping better and being less fussy. Seeing this profound impact on the physical and emotional development of infants inspired Martha to “spread the word” by becoming an Instructor Trainer. She sees this as an opportunity to develop more professionals, thereby creating a ripple effect.
In the past couple of years Martha has presented on infant massage and early brain development at several local, State and National conferences. She has had an article published in a local newspaper, and has participated in several county “Baby Showers”. Martha comments that, “It is gratifying to see the interest in this gentle art build.” Martha continues to build on her knowledge of child development, as well as her training skills, by attending relevant seminars and conferences.
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LaNaya Achord PT, CIMI®, LaNaya Achord, a 1990 graduate of Loma Linda University with a B.S. in Physical Therapy, is currently practicing in the Seattle, Washington area. She obtained Certification as an Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) from the International Loving Touch Foundation in 2004.
Since becoming a CIMI, LaNaya has been a speaker for the Washington Association for the Education of Young Children (WAEYC) annual conference and has lectured to physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing students on infant massage and brain development. Her interests lie in health and wellness for all ages with a special focus on prenatal and postpartum phases of women's health - an interest sparked when she was a birthing coach for the natural home delivery of a friend. This beautiful life changing experience brought her to value the healing power of touch in new ways. Now her passion is for teaching parents and health professionals about the lifelong benefits of infant massage.
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Jennifer Smith, CCLS, CIMI®, worked at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona for the past five years as a child life specialist. She specialized in the gastro-intestinal, Endocrinology, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She became interested in infant massage and contacted ILTF about hosting a training. Prior to her becoming an Instructor-Trainer for ILTF she had hosted three trainings. As a result of bringing infant massage to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the hospital has received referrals from Child Life, Rehab and the NICU for infant massage instruction. Massage for children in a hospital setting has been beneficial in many areas, to include physical, emotional and therapeutical. Jennifer has just relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, her home state and is now working for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. jenniferc.smith@stjude.org
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Kim Harmson, CIMI®, Kim brings her passion for supporting healthy families to you as an educator, Certified Infant Massage Instructor/Trainer and a licensed Brain Gym instructor/consultant. She has worked with children and families since 1987 and for the last 10 years, has provided insightful trainings throughout the Northwest for educational institutions, therapists, specialists and parents.
Kim's interest in infant massage was piqued while studying brain development : particularly, how best to support the optimal development of an infant's brain. As a result, she is now heartfully devoted to sharing massage with professionals and families alike, as a bonding form of communication and a practice that keeps parents and babies healthy and happy.
Kim continues her travels as a trainer while maintaining her private consulting practice in Spokane, Washington. She teaches infant massage and other parenting classes and does Brain Gym with people of all ages and abilities. Member Page
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Diana Kriel, OT, CIMI®, Bio Coming Soon...
