About
Meet Melissa Cantara
Melissa Cantara is a veteran, licensed massage therapist, artist, educator, and writer whose work bridges the therapeutic and the creative, honoring the body as both vessel and voice.
With a foundation in biodynamic craniosacral therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, osteofascial integration, and trauma-informed touch, Melissa brings deep relational presence to every session she offers. She created KNEADS WELLNESS as a massage therapy practice rooted in integrity, compassion, and the belief that healing begins with practitioners who listen to their patients.
Melissa’s foundation in somatic work stems from two decades of artmaking and teaching. She holds an MFA from the Maine College of Art and a lived understanding of grief, resilience, and transformation. Melissa’s training in the U.S. Air Force and years as a ceramics instructor and art professor laid the groundwork for her sensitivity to form, space, and subtle shifts in texture, qualities that now inform her hands-on work with clients.
Melissa continues her study of biodynamic craniosacral therapy through ongoing education and writing about her felt senses as a practitioner. Her guiding principle is that the body holds both the imprint of injury and the blueprint for healing, and that with the proper support, it will find its way back to coherence.
Melissa is a published writer who recently finished writing a full-length play. She is currently developing a trauma-informed novel that blends memoir with somatic storytelling. Her voice is lyrical, precise, and emotionally resonant, drawn from personal experiences and her commitment to holding space for others. Her writing and bodywork are both acts of restoration.
Whether supporting veterans through pain and injury recovery, facilitating craniosacral therapy, or expressing through creative writing, Melissa Cantara remains committed to honoring the body's wisdom. Her philosophy centers on the belief that the body naturally finds its way back to coherence and wellness with proper support.
Book a session with Melissa to experience her unique therapeutic approach firsthand.
“Addressing the whole body, not just the symptoms, has given me a renewed outlook on life.”
— A.G.