Hidden Gems: Meet Cecilia Bagwell of Thrive Therapeutic Touch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecilia Bagwell.

Hi Cecilia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I became a massage therapist in 2004 and gravitated immediately to medical rehab. My mom lived with multiple medical conditions, and while I was training, she became my best “case study.” I saw how thoughtful, adapted touch could lower pain, increase range of motion, and brighten her whole day.

In 2011, an overuse injury and arthritis made full-time hands-on work unsustainable. I opened a brick-and-mortar practice in Roswell so I could keep serving while building systems and training others. When COVID hit, everything in our industry shifted. I managed other ventures to keep things afloat, but one truth became impossible to ignore: people—especially residents in senior communities—were more isolated than ever, and safe, respectful touch was missing from daily life.

The idea for Thrive actually began back in 2011 when I realized how little access older adults had to specialized massage. I kept studying geriatric adaptations and planning. In October 2024, I finally launched Thrive Geriatric Massage and began partnering with senior living communities (Atria North Point was our first). Over the past year, we learned the rhythms of community life, built clinical protocols that residents and staff can trust, and focused just as much on caregivers—because when caregivers are supported, care improves.

In May 2025 we received 501(c)(3) status for The Thrive Institute of Therapeutic Touch, our nonprofit arm focused on training, research, and access. We’re developing programs that teach therapists what most schools don’t: dementia-informed care, Parkinson’s-specific adaptations, and trauma-informed approaches that respect the nervous system. In October 2025, on our first anniversary, we rebranded to Thrive Therapeutic Touch—because people don’t want to be labeled; they want to be seen.

Where we’ve landed is simple: evidence-aware massage that’s adapted for real medical histories, delivered on-site, with education and caregiver support. Touch is healthcare—and we’re here to make it safe, dignified, and accessible.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. I launched in October 2024. Q4 was about visibility—showing up in communities and proving I wasn’t going anywhere. January is when traction started: inquiries rose, and we added new community contracts. Then April arrived and everything changed. My neighbor passed after a long illness, and soon after I lost the love of my life to cancer—after four years of navigating treatment together. I spent two hours at the hospice with him: providing gentle massage, playing the music we loved listening to together, and sharing the stories that mattered. It was such a beautiful gift to share that moment with him.

In the weeks that followed, I lost additional relatives. In late June, my mother died. Grief stacked upon grief. As a single mother of three and a founder without outside investment, I kept the company moving while my nervous system was in survival mode. There were days I didn’t feel like I had anything left—and still, the mission kept me upright.

This season clarified my work. I understand palliative and caregiver-support massage in my bones now—not as concepts but as lived experience. I see how loneliness, cumulative loss, and medical complexity land in the body, and how gentle, skilled touch can regulate the nervous system, reduce pain, soften guarding, and invite people back into connection. It also taught me to build better: clearer protocols, realistic scheduling, trauma-informed practice, and strong support for caregivers who are quietly burning out.

No, it hasn’t been easy. But the hardship strengthened my empathy, refined my clinical judgment, and made me fiercely committed to delivering safe, dignified, accessible touch. That’s the backbone of Thrive Therapeutic Touch—and why I believe so deeply that this work matters.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Thrive Therapeutic Touch?
Thrive Therapeutic Touch is a community-based, medical-minded massage practice focused exclusively on seniors and the people who care for them. We partner with senior living communities to bring adapted, on-site care that is safe, dignified, and practical in real-world settings.

What we do

Clinical massage, adapted: We tailor every session for arthritis, osteoporosis, neuropathy, edema, Parkinson’s, dementia, and complex med lists—adjusting pressure, positioning, duration, and communication based on how someone presents that day.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD): Many residents live with swelling or reduced movement; MLD supports lymph flow, comfort, and function in ways a “standard spa massage” simply doesn’t.

Social Wellness Massage: Open-setting mini sessions and block scheduling designed around activity calendars, so care is consistent and accessible without disrupting routines.

Caregiver support: Chair-massage memberships for staff and family caregivers—because supported caregivers deliver better care and avoid burnout.

What sets us apart

Clinical discipline: We’re evidence-aware and contraindication-savvy. No “one-size-fits-all.”

Integration with community life: We build protocols, logistics, and reporting that work for Executive Directors, Life Enrichment, and Nursing.

Education first: Many older adults have had painful, inappropriate massages elsewhere. We explain why adapted touch matters and make consent, comfort, and safety the starting point.

Nonprofit engine: Our 501(c)(3), The Touch Institute, is set to train therapists in dementia-informed care, Parkinson’s adaptations, trauma-informed practice, and more—feeding a flywheel of quality back into our partner communities.

Brand pride
We lead with dignity: person-first language, clear consent, and measurable goals (less guarding, reduced swelling, improved sleep, greater engagement). Visually and culturally, our brand is warm, modern, and stigma-free—because no one wants to be reduced to a diagnosis or a label.

What to know about our offerings
We make therapeutic touch accessible, safe, and sustainable inside senior communities—serving residents and caregivers. In short: Touch is healthcare. We deliver it with skill, heart, and systems that last.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
How people can work with us

For senior living communities

Start with a Discovery Meeting. We learn your residents, schedules, and goals.

Welcome Workshop. We introduce residents and families to therapeutic touch—what it is, safety/contraindications, and benefits.

Meet-the-Therapist Day. Mini sessions and Q&A so residents and staff feel comfortable.

Launch Ongoing Care. Block-scheduled, on-site sessions (including Social Wellness Massage) integrated with your activity calendar and clinical needs.

Support your staff

Caregiver Massage Blocks. Reserve monthly hours for chair massage to reduce burnout and improve morale.

Allied partnerships. We team up with other therapy providers and nonprofits to deliver multi-modal support.

Support the mission

Donate or volunteer with The Touch Institute to fund caregiver relief, dementia-informed training, and access programs.

Join the team

We’re seeking licensed therapists with a medical/clinical mindset and a heart for senior wellness.

Service area: North Metro Atlanta (expanding).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thethrivetouch.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethrivetouch/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheThriveTouch
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thethrivetouch/