Meet our WEllness PArtners
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, rhythmic hands-on technique designed to support the natural movement of lymphatic fluid throughout the body. Using light, intentional pressure, MLD works with the lymphatic system to encourage healthy fluid movement and support the body’s natural processes.
The lymphatic system also plays an essential role in immune function, helping transport immune cells, filter lymph, and maintain fluid balance throughout the body. By supporting lymphatic fluid movement, MLD works with a system that is integral to both fluid regulation and immune health.
Although MLD involves hands-on treatment, it differs significantly from traditional massage. Rather than working deeply into muscles and soft tissues, MLD uses very light, precise movements designed to stimulate the superficial lymphatic vessels located just beneath the skin. The gentle nature of the technique is intentional—when it comes to lymphatic drainage, deeper pressure is not necessarily better.
When medically appropriate, MLD may be used to support a variety of needs, including swelling and fluid retention, post-surgical recovery, lymphedema and lipedema management, pregnancy and postpartum wellness, and recovery following certain orthopedic or cosmetic procedures. It may also be incorporated into wellness care for individuals experiencing feelings of heaviness or puffiness, sinus congestion, or those simply looking to support healthy lymphatic flow.
Because MLD is gentle and calming, many people also find it to be a deeply relaxing and restorative experience. Each session is individualized based on your needs, comfort, and goals and may include full-body MLD, focused treatment of a specific area, facial lymphatic drainage, or a combination of techniques.
Sarah’s goal is to create a comfortable environment where you can slow down, reconnect with your body, and give your lymphatic system the support it needs to function at its best.
Emotion Coding
Emotion Coding is a gentle, energy-based wellness approach based on The Emotion Code method, which explores the concept of “trapped emotions”—emotional energy believed to remain after difficult or overwhelming experiences.
We all experience difficult, stressful, or overwhelming moments throughout our lives. Within the Emotion Code framework, it is believed that when an emotion isn’t fully processed, some of that emotional energy may remain with us and influence how we feel or respond to future experiences. Emotion Coding offers a gentle way to explore those emotional patterns without requiring you to relive or extensively talk through difficult experiences.
During a session, Sarah uses muscle testing, a technique used within the Emotion Code system, along with a structured chart of emotions as part of the method’s process for exploring and identifying potential emotional themes. Once an emotion is identified through this process, a magnet is passed along the Governing Meridian while setting an intention to release it. Sessions can focus on a particular concern or emotional pattern, or take a more open-ended approach guided by the Emotion Code process and the intention of supporting your highest good.
One of the unique aspects of Emotion Coding is that you don’t necessarily need to consciously remember or discuss the experience associated with an emotion. This can make the process feel gentle and approachable, particularly for people who don’t want to recount every detail of a difficult experience.
Emotion Coding is intended to support emotional awareness, relaxation, and overall well-being. It is a complementary wellness practice and is not intended to diagnose or treat medical or mental health conditions or replace medical care, psychotherapy, or other appropriate treatment.
Sarah D. Summers, OTR/L, C-MLD, CECP
Manual Lymphatic Drainage | Emotional Coding
Sarah is an occupational therapist who believes meaningful care begins with meeting people where they are, listening to what their bodies are communicating, and supporting change in a way that feels individualized and sustainable. Her approach recognizes the connection between physical, emotional, and everyday well-being, with the goal of helping the body find its way toward greater balance.
With a background in occupational therapy, Sarah has always been drawn to looking beyond individual symptoms to understand the bigger picture. Her own experiences navigating chronic health challenges gave Sarah a personal appreciation for care that looks beyond symptoms and considers the whole person. Those experiences further deepened her interest in integrative care and inspired her to expand her clinical skill set into complementary approaches that support overall well-being.
Sarah is certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage along with Emotional Coding, with additional training as a Certified Grief Informed Professional. Through these services, she combines her clinical foundation with gentle, individualized approaches designed to support each person’s unique needs and wellness goals. She especially values creating a space where clients feel heard, comfortable, and actively involved in their care.
Sarah is excited to bring these services to The Hive and to be part of a community that shares her passion for looking deeper, thinking differently, and caring for the whole person.
Outside of The Hive, Sarah loves spending time with her daughter and dog and making the most of life’s everyday moments. She’s happiest near the water and enjoys spending time at the beach, playing volleyball, traveling and exploring new places, and finding beauty in the little things life has to offer.