About Us
The work that Mr. Stephenson passed down to us has helped so many with all kinds of issues but yet it is still difficult to find those that can do the work.
Our goal is to empower people to help their loved ones and others by making this work available to all those that wish to learn it. In the process we hope to build a community that will support and inspire students to continue to grow in their personal journey.
“I have wisdom, I would teach you to be wise. I have kindness, I would teach you to be kind.”
— Joseph B. Stephenson
What is The Stephenson Method and Who is Mr. Stephenson?
The Stephenson Method was developed by Joseph Bestford Stephenson in the early 1900’s. He had a new and original way of considering the human body; that of a self repairing machine designed to heal.
At a time in history when medicine was in its early days and often included invasive and painful treatments; he devised a noninvasive, painless, hands-on technique that purposed only to restore the body to natural function. He did not consider it to be “practicing medicine", a therapy, or an adjustment.
Mr. Stephenson identified and named various points in the body that are plexus; areas where there are intricate networks of nerves and vessels (both lymph and blood). In the 1980’s the Stephenson Foundation named these openings within the connective tissue “the Interstices”. Modern medicine has just begun to understand and describe these interstitial spaces, the first to do so coming out March 27th, 2018 from the New York University Langone School of Medicine. Today there is even discussion of considering these connective tissue pathways as a organ, like the skin itself. The Stephenson Method may be the only modality to focus on these areas.
The Four Principles of The Stephenson Method:
Restore Normal Temperature
Bring heat in with friction if the area is ischemic. Remove heat with cooling intent if inflammation is present.
Breakup Congestion
With circular friction gently break up any congestion.
Create a Vacuum
Using a gliding stroke and lots of oil, vacuum congestion to the nearest plexus. This is not manual lymphatic therapy that relies on compression. It is similar to Swedish Massage, the vacuum occurring under the skin and above the muscle.
Replace Substance
By holding the substance and waiting for the body to respond, you allow change to take place. In this manner the practitioner never has to be afraid of harming the client, because the touch never forces an adjustment.
The Practitioner
Mr. Stephenson’s goal was to never treat the symptom, but instead identify the cause of the problem. This removes any need to name a disease or label with a diagnosis. The practitioner of the Stephenson Method strives to do the same by not treating disorders, but only facilitating the body in its natural process of healing. This allows the practitioner to work alongside modern medicine or other therapies without fear of overstepping their scope of practice and instead complement and support the well-being of the client.
