BIHC is honored to establish, in memory of Sarah Livesey, supportive care services for members of our community facing serious illness and end-of-life challenges.
Inspired by Sarah's vision and made possible through the generosity of the Livesey Endowment, this initiative is designed to provide compassionate, individualized support that nurtures physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By offering access to complementary therapies such as massage therapy, aquatic bodywork, craniosacral therapy, Bowen therapy, and creative wellness services, we hope to enhance comfort, reduce stress, and improve quality of life for individuals navigating difficult transitions.
One of Sarah's greatest wishes was to help people remain on Block Island, surrounded by the people, places, and community they love, during life's final chapter. Through this collaboration, BIHC is proud to help bring that vision to life by connecting residents with caring practitioners who share a commitment to dignity, comfort, and whole-person care.
We are deeply grateful to the Livesey family and all those whose generosity has made this program possible. Together, we are strengthening the support available to our neighbors and ensuring that compassionate care remains close to home.
Current Services Available:
- Massage Therapy – Provided by Crystal Hauser
- Aquatic Bodywork & Craniosacral Therapy – Provided by Jennifer Lighty
- Bowen Therapy & Process Painting – Provided by Susan Marte
Please see the service descriptions below. We anticipate expanding these offerings in the near future as additional practitioners and resources become available, allowing us to further support the unique needs of our community.
Warm Regards,
NettieRose Cooley, BIHC CEO
Crystal D Hauser, RI Licensed Massage Therapist: Palliative Massage Therapy Support
BIHC is pleased to share that Crystal Hauser, a Rhode Island licensed massage therapist with more than 31 years of experience serving both Block Island and Wakefield, is available to provide supportive massage therapy services for individuals receiving palliative care. Crystal is available year-round, with scheduled absences.
For more than 25 years, Crystal has had the privilege of supporting individuals and families during the end-of-life journey. Her approach focuses on comfort, relaxation, and quality of life rather than physical recovery. Services may help ease symptoms such as pain, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and stress while promoting peace, connection, and overall well-being.
Sessions are tailored to each individual's needs and comfort level and may include gentle touch, light stroking, holding, vibration, or gentle rocking techniques designed to encourage relaxation and provide comfort. Care is always delivered with sensitivity to the client's tolerance, positioning needs, and personal preferences.
As Crystal shares, "We are here to welcome our loved ones into this life. We should be there to help them exit as well."
Contact Information
Crystal Hauser
Phone: 401-743-2497
Email: cdhauser1@gmail.com
Crystal is available year-round with scheduled absences.
Jennifer Lighty, MA/LMT: Aquatic Bodywork & Craniosacral Therapy Support
BIHC is pleased to share that Jennifer Lighty, MA/LMT, is available to provide Aquatic Bodywork and Craniosacral Therapy as part of the supportive care services available to individuals receiving palliative care on Block Island. Jennifer Lighty will be on-island through at least Columbus Day 2026.
Aquatic Bodywork Journey is a deeply nurturing experience in which the recipient is gently floated and moved through the water, including periods beneath the surface, while fully supported by the practitioner. Conducted in a natural setting, these sessions can encourage profound physical and emotional relaxation, foster a sense of renewal, and promote connection with the healing qualities of water. Sessions may also be combined with craniosacral therapy.
Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle, light-touch modality that works with the body's craniosacral system to support the natural flow of cerebrospinal fluid and enhance the body's innate healing capacity. Deeply relaxing and restorative, craniosacral therapy may help individuals experiencing chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and other physical or emotional challenges.
Jennifer's work is rooted in a holistic approach to health and well-being, offering individuals an opportunity for comfort, reflection, and connection during life's most meaningful transitions.
Contact Information
Jennifer Lighty, MA/LMT
Phone: 401-374-5060
Email: waveofchange@gmail.com
Website: Jennifer Lighty
Jennifer will be on island through Columbus Day 2026
Susan Marte : Bowen Therapy & Creative Wellness Support
BIHC is pleased to share that Susan Marte is available to provide Bowen Therapy and process-based creative wellness offerings as part of the supportive care services available to individuals receiving palliative care on Block Island. Susan resides on the island year-round and is available to provide services as needed.
Susan brings a diverse background in holistic health and wellness, including training in Bowen Therapy, art therapy, naturopathy, psychophysical healing, and humanistic hypnotherapy. Her approach focuses on supporting the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—with compassionate, individualized care.
Bowen Therapy is a gentle soft-tissue modality that uses precise movements over specific points of the body to encourage the body's natural healing processes. Working with the fascia, or connective tissue system, Bowen Therapy incorporates intentional pauses that allow the body to self-regulate, realign, and respond at its own pace. The therapy may be used to address specific concerns while also promoting overall relaxation, balance, and well-being.
Susan also offers Process Painting; a guided creative experience rooted in principles of art therapy. Rather than focusing on artistic skill or the finished product, process painting encourages participants to explore emotions, self-expression, and personal insight through the act of creating. Offered individually or in groups, these sessions can provide a calming and meaningful outlet for reflection, healing, and connection.
Through gentle therapeutic touch and creative expression, Susan's work offers individuals an opportunity to find comfort, relaxation, and emotional support while navigating life's challenges and transitions.
Contact Information
Susan Marte
Phone: 401-212-3950
Email: balancingactbowen@gmail.com
Website: Balancing Act Therapies
