We’re thrilled to share that founder Sandy Saldano and Therapeutic Kneads were featured in the February 2026 issue of Highland Park Neighbors. The Q&A takes a genuine look at nearly four decades of clinical massage therapy, what it really means to build a team the right way, and why Sandy has always believed massage is healthcare, not a luxury.
“My approach is clinical and non-spa. A therapeutic modality for goal-oriented, client-focused change in the body, bringing about pain and stress relief.”
The piece covers Sandy’s journey from the Quad Cities to the Chicago School of Massage Therapy in 1987, the moment she discovered massage was a real profession, and why she eventually left a chiropractic office to build something entirely her own, opening Therapeutic Kneads in Highland Park in 1997.
A few things from the interview that we think say a lot about who we are:
Nearly 40 years of experience. Sandy has been a Licensed Massage Therapist in Illinois since 1988, and our Training and Education Director was her instructor. Together they bring close to 80 years of hands-on clinical knowledge to every treatment plan.
A team built differently. Our therapists are employees, not independent contractors, and they receive benefits and stable income. They go through an intensive 4-week training before ever seeing a client. That stability translates directly to better, more consistent care.
Community care that goes beyond the table. Therapeutic Kneads is a Community Care Provider for the VA, serves the geriatric population at Lake Forest Place Senior Living, and sees clients for chronic pain, cancer care support, sports recovery, and whole-family wellness.
Massage as healthcare, not a luxury. From the very first consultation, we take a health history, build a customized treatment plan, and match clients to the therapist best suited to their goals. Because that is what real therapeutic care looks like.
The interview also gets personal. Sandy talks about what drew her to anatomy and physiology, what she would do with a million dollars, and why her favorite holiday is Christmas (because she loves being “Sandy-Clause”). It’s a genuinely warm read.
