Inside R&R - Staff Spotlight

Richard Lynn Harrison, MSOM, LMT, ACBT

Principal Therapist | Clinical Director | Educational Supervisor – R&R Therapeutics, LLC

This month, we're honored to spotlight Richard Lynn Harrison, the heart and guiding hands behind R&R Therapeutics. With a background that bridges the rigor of Western clinical sciences and the nuance of Eastern healing traditions, Richard has spent decades in service to his community through hands-on therapy, public health work, and education. His journey is one of depth, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to accessible, transformative care.


What originally drew you to the healing professions—and what paths did you explore before becoming a licensed therapist?

Well, when I was a kid in elementary school, I got my hands on some old medical texts from a thrift store and became fascinated by the human body and healing. Growing up in a low-income family in Mississippi, we didn’t always have consistent access to healthcare, and we faced inherited conditions that often showed up as musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. That made me acutely aware of suffering early on—and I wanted to help.

I found a few massage books at a yard sale and started experimenting. That early spark led me down a winding but meaningful path. In high school, I joined a pre-med tracking program that let me rotate through clinics and hospitals. I loved learning the science, but I also became deeply engaged in religious service work and wanted to help people who couldn’t access care.

Later, I began studying medical lab sciences in college, but as life unfolded, I became more aware of the limitations of Western medicine—especially in addressing whole-person care. That realization led me to explore other paths, including technology, anthropology, and social work, where I became deeply interested in traditional healing systems and their spiritual roots. That exploration ultimately led me to the Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, where I studied East Asian medicine, clinical bodywork, and sports medicine.


You have a diverse education in both Western and Eastern medicine. How has that shaped your approach to bodywork?

It’s really the backbone of my approach. At the Institute, I had the opportunity to study side-by-side systems: the meridian and energy theory of East Asian medicine and the neuromuscular and clinical assessments of Western bodywork. My brain started connecting the dots—seeing how these two systems could complement and complete each other.

When I put my hands on a body, I’m not thinking in just one framework. I’m assessing postural imbalances, energetic patterns, clinical contraindications, and functional movement—all at once. That blended lens allows me to treat the whole person, not just the symptom.


Your healthcare experience goes far beyond massage. Can you share more about your background in public health and medical service?

Absolutely. Before fully stepping into clinical practice, I spent 14 years with the Hawaii Lions Eye Bank, an ocular recovery organization within the organ donation system. I started in data entry, but when the director recognized my background in health sciences and laboratory procedures, I was quickly moved into a lab technician role. Over time, I advanced to become the Laboratory and Distribution Coordinator, working directly under the Director.

During that time, I handled a wide range of responsibilities:

When the eye bank closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn’t stop serving. I joined a local nonprofit as a Community Health Worker, educating underserved populations about COVID, tracking strain variants and outbreaks, and staying current with evolving public health data. We worked closely with the Department of Health to provide testing, PPE, and support, especially to high-risk and unhoused populations.

Once the world began reopening and events resumed, I transitioned into working as a medic at concerts, clubs, and festivals. I maintain active training in first aid, triage, and vital sign monitoring, which helps me provide support in emergencies. In today’s world, having someone on-site who is medically trained and grounded in trauma-informed care offers real peace of mind—for both event staff and the public.


What was the moment you knew this work was your calling?

It came during those early hands-on sessions in bodywork school—when I felt the body respond not just to technique, but to presence, to pattern, to purpose. I could see how Eastern and Western methods could be layered together into something highly effective and compassionate. Adding sports medicine into that framework gave me the precision and performance tools I needed, and from there, I never looked back.


How do you balance evidence-based clinical approaches with traditional practices like meridian theory or energetic work?

That’s an interesting question—and one I was just discussing with some people the other night. First, I’d say that meridian theory and energetic work are evidence-based, just in a different way. We can see and feel the benefits in our clients, and to me, that’s evidence of effectiveness—even if it doesn’t always fit the Western scientific model.

But beyond theory, the real answer is that I meet the client where they are. It depends on who I’m working with, what their symptoms are, and what kind of touch and treatment style they’re most comfortable with. Bodywork is tactile and dynamic—I’m constantly feeling for change, blockages, shifts in breath or tone. I might begin with structural reintegration and neuromuscular techniques and end up balancing energy channels—or vice versa. The truth is, one leads to the other. By treating one, we’re often influencing both. The systems are interwoven, so our work must be responsive and fluid.


Many clients don’t know the differences between various bodywork styles. How do you educate them—and how do you decide which modalities to blend?

At R&R, we take a team-based and client-centered approach. When people call to schedule, you, River, do a fantastic job answering questions and guiding people through their options. But when needed, we offer free consultations, so I can get a sense of their goals, personality, comfort level, and body needs—and make personalized recommendations.

Treatment isn’t a fixed recipe. People’s needs evolve quickly. One week someone might come in for performance recovery and the next for injury rehab. Or someone managing long-term low back pain might suddenly develop acute neck tension. I’m constantly reassessing and adjusting.

I also approach each session with a “triage mindset”—focused on the client’s immediate concern but always treating the body as a whole. A temporary limp shifts spinal alignment. Scar tissue affects posture. Everything is connected, so even when we focus on one area, the goal is full-body balance.


What inspired you to take on the role of an Educational Supervisor?

I love what I do, and I feel a deep responsibility to share the knowledge and skills I’ve developed with others who share my passion for healing. We need more highly trained, clinically-minded bodywork therapists, and I’m proud to be part of addressing that need.

Massage therapy in Hawaiʻi is often introduced through hospitality-focused programs, which provide valuable relaxation-based care. But many of these programs don’t offer advanced clinical, medical, or rehabilitative training—and that’s where clinical therapists can fill the gap. I’ve seen clients whose PT referrals ran out and their progress stalled—until they resumed care with me.

That kind of hands-on clinical support is essential, and we work hard to keep it affordable: no add-on fees for cupping or gua sha, below-average rates, and donation-based sessions I often volunteer for myself.

I want to train apprentices who are not just skilled, but deeply committed to service and community care. One day, I’d love to open a school—but for now, I keep the mentorship personal and immersive so that each student receives the best education I can give.

"If I came into a fortune and never had to work again—I’d still teach. Because these skills change lives."


When training new therapists, how do you help them navigate multiple traditions and techniques without getting overwhelmed?

I teach in progressive levels, giving students time to build confidence and clarity. We start with Western-style Swedish massage, then move into East Asian bodywork, sports massage, and finally clinical/medical techniques.

Once that foundation is laid, we start case-based integration. That’s when the pieces click and students begin to see the connections across modalities and traditions—and how they all weave together into a coherent system.


What are some core values or philosophies you try to pass on to every student or mentee?

First and foremost, build connection with your clients. Healing happens through relationships. We’re not just technicians—we’re allies working toward a shared goal.

In Chinese medicine, we talk about the "art of 10,000 questions". But in real life, I’ve found some of the most useful insights come when you talk story with a client. That’s when little details emerge—often the missing piece that makes everything make sense.

I also emphasize the importance of listening—really listening—to your clients. Many people come to us after years of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told their pain is imaginary. Pain is complex—there’s no lab test for it. When I simply give someone my full attention, work on them while listening and affirming that I believe them, it gives them something vital: hope.

And hope is essential. Without it, healing can’t begin. When someone feels heard, seen, and supported, that becomes the foundation for everything else.

And finally, I teach that every person deserves equal love and care, no matter their financial status, race, gender, orientation, or beliefs. Healing is a human right.


Final Thoughts

Richard Lynn Harrison’s journey—from rural Mississippi to public health leadership, organ donation, and advanced clinical bodywork—embodies what R&R Therapeutics stands for: skill, service, and soul. His work reflects a deep belief that true healing lies in integration—of systems, of traditions, and of people.

Whether you’re receiving care, learning under his mentorship, or meeting him out in the community, Richard shows up with heart, hands, and humility.

“If I never had to work again, I’d still do this. Because this work changes lives—and I believe in spreading that change.”


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