ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – The Healing Arts Center, a decades-old massage therapy training school in St. Louis County, has shut down as of Friday afternoon.
For 35 years, the Healing Arts Center trained aspiring massage therapists with instruction in anatomy, physiology and special techniques. It combined classroom study and hands-on training through a 50-week program.
Tom Tessereau, Owner of The Healing Arts Center, shared a statement Friday to the school’s website and Facebook page announcing its closure.
The statement reads, in part: “For over 30 years, HAC has been more than a school, it has been a community of students, faculty, clients, and friends dedicated to healing and growth. We are deeply grateful for the trust, support, and love you have shown us throughout the years. … We understand this news is deeply disappointing.”
The Healing Arts Center did not immediately cite a reason for its closure.
According to the statement, the Healing Arts Center is working to preserve student records and explore teach-out programs or possible collaborations with local colleges. The statement also noted that the Healing Arts Center would not be able to process refunds or schedule appointments for clients at this time.
For Level 5 students nearing graduation, the Healing Arts Center says helping students complete their program and certification remains the school’s top priority and it is seeking pathways with other schools to help them finish.
According to the Healing Arts Center website, for students seeking a refund: “The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development may allocate a limited pool of funds back to students. While these funds may not fully reimburse everyone, information about eligibility and the process will be shared as soon as it is available.”
The next Healing Arts Center training session was supposed to begin on Oct. 13, according to the website.
The school’s building, now closed, is located at 10073 Manchester Road.
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