My story

From the bank to the treatment room

Before this, I spent seven years at Santander. My official job was personal banker, but over time I did the lot — behind the till as a cashier, counting vault, running the branch as manager when it needed running. I was good at the work. I just wasn't sure what the work was actually for.

Here's what I learned in those seven years: corporations pretend you matter to them. The truth is, you don't. You're a tool — a means to an end. They'll quietly suck the soul out of you and call it culture. I wasn't prepared to become a robot. I'd come to work to help people, and the higher I went, the less of that I was actually doing.

The change started with a head massage. A friend was tense, I offered to help, and afterwards she told me I had a natural gift for it. I didn't fully believe her — but I signed up to Brighton Holistics anyway, just to see. Level 3 in 2021. Level 4 the year after. Then Level 5 — the highest sports massage qualification the FHT recognises. Two years of studying, late nights, and learning the human body as a system rather than a target.

I left Santander in 2021 to do this full-time. No regrets. Every person who walks through my door gets my full attention — because I chose this work, and because honestly, helping someone feel better in their own body is the most worthwhile thing I've ever done with a working day.

I'm not a miracle worker. Some Google reviews call my hands "magic" — that's kind, but it's not the truth. The truth is I listen, I assess, and if you need someone else, I'll send you to them. Your recovery matters more to me than my appointment book.

Outside the clinic, I'm a member of the Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce, fully insured through the FHT, and DBS-checked. Zen Den Worthing is a one-person operation on purpose. You see me every time. I remember you, I remember your case, and we pick up exactly where we left off.

What I'm known for

My clinical specialisms

Most therapists in Worthing offer Swedish and deep tissue, and I do too. What people most often come to me specifically for is the work below — the areas I've put extra training, focused CPD, and the most clinical hours into.

Post-surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Liposuction, tummy tuck, breast reduction, post-mastectomy lymphoedema, lipoedema, chronic venous insufficiency. Rarely offered by other massage therapists in Worthing.
Sports massage for runners & cyclists Pre-event, post-event, and ongoing maintenance. ITB syndrome, achilles tendinopathy, calf strains, shin splints — the running and cycling injury catalogue.
Frozen shoulder & chronic shoulder pain Staged adhesive capsulitis protocol, rotator cuff dysfunction, postural shoulder tension from desk work.
Lower back pain & muscular sciatica Glute and piriformis release for sciatic nerve compression. If it's disc-related, I'll refer you to a GP or osteopath — your recovery matters more than the booking.
Postural correction for desk workers Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, hip flexor shortening, thoracic stiffness — the modern occupational pattern. I lived this for seven years, so I know what it does to a body.
Fibromyalgia & ME-friendly myofascial Gentle nervous-system work for clients who can't tolerate deep tissue. Slow, soft, never painful — paced carefully to what your body will accept that day.

How a session works

What to expect when you come in

Every session works the same way — we talk, I assess, I treat, and we plan. You'll know what I'm doing and why, and you'll leave with a clear sense of what comes next.

Step 1
We talk

A proper conversation — what's bringing you in, your medical history, current medications, what you want from the session. Usually 5–10 minutes; longer for first appointments or post-surgical cases.
Step 2
I assess

A physical assessment — range of motion, postural observation, palpation of the affected area. I'll tell you what I find before I start treating, so you know what we're working on and why.
Step 3
I treat

The technique is chosen for your problem, not by default. Pressure is adjusted to your tolerance, never beyond. I'll explain what I'm doing as I go — so you understand the work rather than just receiving it.
Step 4
We plan

What to do between sessions, realistic spacing for the next few appointments, what to watch for. If the problem turns out to be outside my scope, I'll refer you to the right professional — no ego involved.

Frequently asked about me

Things people ask before booking

Background, qualifications, scope of practice, and what to expect — all answered honestly.

What did Jan do before becoming a massage therapist?

Before this I spent seven years at Santander, working in every role from cashier and vault counting through to running the branch as manager, with personal banker as my official title. I left in 2021 to do massage therapy full-time after a friend whose tension I'd helped told me I had a natural gift for it. I haven't looked back. This is what I do and I love it.

Is Jan FHT-registered and fully qualified?

Yes. I hold the Level 5 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy — the highest sports-massage qualification recognised by the Federation of Holistic Therapists — plus Level 4 in Sports Massage and Level 3 in Body Massage. I'm a full FHT member, fully insured through the FHT, and DBS-checked. Certificates are on display in the treatment room and available for inspection at any appointment.

Where did Jan train?

All three diplomas were earned through Brighton Holistics — one of the largest holistic-therapy training schools in the South-East. The Level 3 diploma in Body Massage is dual-accredited by the FHT, ITEC, and VTCT; Levels 4 and 5 are FHT-accredited.

How long has Jan been practising massage in Worthing?

Full-time since 2021 — over four years of specialist clinical practice from the Durrington clinic. Zen Den Worthing has 66 verified 5-star Google reviews built up over that period.

What does Jan specialise in?

My clinical specialisms are post-surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) — including liposuction, tummy tuck, breast reduction, post-mastectomy lymphoedema, and lipoedema — alongside sports massage for runners and cyclists, frozen shoulder, muscular sciatica, and postural correction for desk workers. MLD is rarely offered by other massage therapists in Worthing.

What's the difference between Level 3, 4 and 5 massage qualifications?

Level 3 is the foundation Body Massage qualification — Swedish strokes, anatomy, contraindications. Most spa and salon massage therapists hold Level 3.

Level 4 adds sports massage techniques, deeper anatomy, and basic injury assessment.

Level 5 is the highest sports-massage qualification recognised by the FHT — advanced assessment, treatment planning, contraindication management, and post-rehabilitation work. Comparatively few practising therapists hold it.

Is Jan insured and DBS-checked?

Yes to both. Professional indemnity and public liability insurance are held through the FHT and renewed annually. I'm also DBS-checked (Disclosure and Barring Service). Both documents are available for inspection on request.

Does Jan work with post-surgical clients?

Yes — this is a substantial part of my work. Manual Lymphatic Drainage for post-cosmetic surgery (liposuction, tummy tuck, breast reduction), post-orthopaedic oedema, and post-mastectomy lymphoedema. Before treatment I'll require clearance from your surgeon, GP, consultant, oncology nurse, or physiotherapist, and we'll confirm the safe post-op timing window.

Does Jan offer home visits?

No — all treatments take place at the clinic at 20 Ainsdale Close, Worthing BN13 2QX. A dedicated treatment room means proper equipment, clean linens, controlled environment, and the right setup for clinical assessment work that's difficult to replicate in a domestic setting.

Does Jan see new clients, or are the books closed?

New clients are welcome. The online booking system shows 2 months of availability — easiest way to check what's open. For complex cases (post-surgical, chronic conditions, contraindications), message me on WhatsApp first so I can advise on the right session length.

Is Jan the only therapist at Zen Den Worthing?

Yes. Zen Den Worthing is a sole-practitioner clinic. Every appointment is with me personally — never a substitute therapist, never a junior. The advantage is continuity: same hands, same notes, same understanding of your case from session to session.

What CPD has Jan done since qualifying?

Ongoing CPD includes Manual Lymphatic Drainage for post-surgical recovery, advanced postural assessment, myofascial therapy for chronic pain and fibromyalgia, and sports injury rehabilitation progressions. The FHT requires documented CPD to maintain full membership — and frankly, I'd be doing it anyway.

Will Jan refer me on if it's not a massage problem?

Yes — and this is important. I'm not a miracle worker. If the problem is outside the scope of massage therapy (disc-related sciatica, suspected fracture, undiagnosed pain pattern, contraindicated condition), I'll say so and refer you back to a GP, osteopath, physiotherapist, or sports medicine doctor. Your recovery matters more than my appointment book.

Hi, I'm Jan — Level 5 FHT Sports & Remedial Massage Therapist in Worthing

The person you'll actually see when you book

From the bank to the treatment room

My clinical specialisms

What to expect when you come in

We talk

I assess

I treat

We plan

Things people ask before booking

I'd genuinely like to help you feel better