Corey rocked my world with her genius know-how and intuition back in 2006 - http://www.yelp.com/biz/in-symmetry-san-francisco#hrid:ZVFlsyjOQYjPJROFWrzmhQ. So - when I got her newsletter - a week or two ago - notifying me to her new location in Palo Alto, her April specials, and her Katz Meow treatment - I knew I had to return for a dose of her talented touch. I even went all the way down to the Peninsula on Caltrain on a sunny day (which, for those who know me well, is typically reserved for art sessions in Hippie Hill) for Corey :) But the trip was worth it. Corey is phenomenal. She's not only one of the most gifted estheticians that I have ever been to, but she's also incredible at bodywork, and just a fun, loving, and good person. A session with Corey will soothe your body woes, your face troubles, and it will feed your soul. That may sound hokey - but it's true. Corey has always strongly believed in nourishing the skin with natural calming and moisturizing products. But at her new practice - in Palo Alto - she now couples all of the elements of a well executed facial with healing wonderful bodywork. The rationale is that skin and the body are intertwined and if your body is stagnant - your skin will most likely be as well. So why not address both - in a mind blowing session of pampering and attention. Corey's been doing bodywork for an extensive number of years now - and as Ingrid S - pointed out - she even used to work with high profile bands and Broadway productions. My whole Sunday session with Corey was pure bliss. She fixed the alignment of my neck and back. She eased my muscles and encouraged blood flow in my back with cupping (http://www.itmonline.org/arts/cupping.htm my first time trying it). She massaged my fingers and feet with heavenly smelling lavender lotion and then proceeded to plump my skin with her carefully selected products and soothing use of hot and cold stones. Purely euphoric. What's particularly comforting for me - is that I know my skin will stay fresh and glowing, long after the treatment - thanks to the products that Corey uses. Corey doesn't try to oversell you when it comes to products and has whittled down her product list to a very select few things - - which are all gentle, but effective for the skin. If you don't like a product or have issues with a certain product - she encourages you to bring it back or to ask questions on how to best use it. I've tried a number of estheticians in the city, and while I've sung the praises of a handful and have awarded one or two - five stars - I truly reserve the utmost praise for Corey. Corey does her craft because she loves it and is passionate about it. She focuses her all - on all of her clients. You feel special when you enter and leave her peaceful sanctuary. Sashaying back to the Caltrain, with loose relaxed shoulders, I kept on staring at my reflection in car windows. My clean, fresh, and luminescent skin shone brightly on both dusty and just washed car windows. Trust. read more

I have been seeing Corey for about 6 years now and she is amazing. I went to her for major TMJ pain and head tension and while there is no cure for this other than changing your own habits and posture every time I see Corey I am significantly better for months and months after. Corey's work combines multiple different areas making a visit with her truthfully worth it.. you get the relaxation , deep tissue work and benefits of a massage, the adjustments you would expect at a chiropractor, and deep pressure Rolfing techniques. While the procedure inside the mouth for tmj is painful it is a good pain as you can feel the immense amount of tension and knots being released. When I see Corey she really considers the patient as a whole not just looking at the jaw but understanding it's all connected throughout the body. She has furthermore helped me address other issues such as back pain, sciatica, foot pain from making the wrong movement while exercising etc. She is truthfully a miracle worker and I highly recommend a visit with her she has and continues to help me tremendously! read more

I went to Corey for severe lower back pain not TMJ :) She is a true healer and a kind heart, also is very concerned with her patients. She is very booked and I have been wait listed for months but have been lucky to have been 5 times. She did cupping therapy twice and I could literally feel the pain being sucked up into the cup... I have been struggling with issue for 2 years and Corey has helped me diagnose what exactly is causing this pain. After all the incompetent Dr.s and medieval tests She even diagnosed what my problem was, she's a intuitive Love her to death too read more

I first got a facial with Corey in 2005 as a Valentine's' Day gift from my (then-boyfriend) husband. As someone who LOVES facials and gets them on a regular basis, I was amazed at Corey's detail to attention (she puts treatment on my lips! she does extractions in my ear!) and facial routine. She uses both hot stones and cold stones to bring the blood to the surface of your skin and flush out all the badness. I had never felt so clean and had never received so many compliments on my skin as I did after that first facial with her. After that, I drove 45 miles from Palo Alto to San Francisco on a regular basis to get facials from Corey. Fast forward 4 years, Corey gets her own practice in Palo Alto! I JUST came back from my facial with her, with an added TMJ release and I feel so relaxed and so balanced. I leave Corey feeling really good to the core and she doesn't even massage my whole body! When I receive massages from other therapists, I feel good and relaxed during the massage and even on the drive home. But as soon as I get home and the stresses of life hit me again, BAM! I feel all twisted and knotted up. Not after Corey's facials. The relaxed feeling I have from her, the inner-balance I get lasts a good long time. Routine: She has the most unique facial regimen I've ever experienced. She uses hot/cold stones and does the best neck/shoulder/arms massage ever. As mentioned above, she is very thorough in her extractions and even looks in your ears! Skincare: Corey's skin is her own testament to her core belief in good skincare. She researches and uses only the best products. My skin has never looked so good. Bedside Manner: Corey listens and assesses your skin before beginning the facial. She is so professional and very immaculate when treating your face, you will never feel cleaner. Clearly, I'm a huge fan of Corey's. I'm so happy to be able to leave her this review, as a happy client of hers for the past 4 years. read more

Yes, this is another rave review for Corey. She is one of the best healers around-- you can tell she really wants to improve the quality of your life. Simply put, she is incomparable and is truly the best at what she does. I actually feel blessed to have had her in my Self Care Arsenal for over 5 years now! If you have TMJ and you are just using a nightguard or even worse, doing nothing at all, do yourself a HUGE favor and make an appointment with Corey ASAP. Btw, nightguards are kinda useless. They protect your teeth but don't address the underlying jaw tension. I found myself just clenching down on mine. :-/ Luckily, you CAN address the underlying tension with a visit to Corey. There aren't many people doing what she does and definitely no one does the amazing combo she does. She's a ONE STOP SHOP-- you can get your facial, get your massage and get your TMJ release all at the same time and at the same place! Yes, those first few TMJ appointments were pretty painful. When Corey put those gloves on and started working, involuntary tears would stream down my face. Sounds like a joke but it isn't. But what would one expect when knots and jaw tension have been building up without release for YEARS? Of course it's gonna hurt a little. But it's worth it. Ten thousand times worth it. And the pain subsides after a few sessions. And it isn't cause Corey isn't working as hard, it's just that as one progresses, there is less and less tension in your jaw. Yes, you heard right. As soon as my first session was over, my face was so relaxed, it almost felt like I had novacaine in my cheeks. That's how much tension had built up in my jaw over the years! My whole head felt so light it felt like a DIFFERENT head. I am not exaggerating. I walked out feeling kinda spacey. I was so dedicated to Corey's TMJ sessions , I think it took me almost a year before I even tried her facial. But once I tried Corey's facial, OMG, I was transported to a different planet. It was literally the best facial I ever had. It's unlike anyone else's. She does BODYWORK on you during your facial! And I don't mean the perfunctory shoulder or hand massage. I mean, she goes deep and does extensive work while her lotions and potions are working their magic on your face. You are getting a facial and bodywork all at once!! Not just any facial or massage either but PURE BLISS. (With the TMJ release, bliss comes later-- hah hah). I can't overstate this enough-- if you want the best facial, massage and/or TMJ release, go see the best: Corey Katz. read more

it's been 2 months, so an updated review is due... I've been seeing Corey weekly for 4 weeks, and lately every 2 weeks. for the past 3 weeks I've slept without my retainer. That's right!!! it all started 2 appointments ago, Corey suggest "try sleeping without it" to which i cried: "what? what if i need it?!!" Corey just said casually "i can ALwAYS fix you Amy!" with those words and trepidation (i admit, I had some doubts; afterall i remember not being able to EAT A SANDWICH before I came to see Corey) - i started sleeping.. without.. my retainer. one night passes by, when I woke up i did a quick inventory of body parts. jaw a bit tight but no limited movements nor any pain. went through a day of normal eating and yapping. After the 3rd night, i honestly admit that i had forgotten where I stored my retainer. All the boys will thank you, dear Corey. As much as I tried, "SEXY" falls short when I had to have my night guard when the boys sleep over *wink wink* and we're going strong (we, as in me and my non-retainer-wearing jaw). I still go to Corey every other week for my appointment - and we work on my jaw as well as other parts of my body that holds sooo much stress. The TMJ part of the massage no longer brings me to tears - it hurts but not much more than a muscle knot. I constantly have pretty bad neck and shoulder pains, and last time I saw Corey, she told me we'll fix those too. Do I dare not believe this woman, whose amazing body working skills truly enable me to sleep without a retainer? I certainly do. Corey is worth every penny and more. I haven't ever had anyone else in my life, doctor, sports therapists, etc, that has truly made my issues go away. If you are wondering could there ever be a fix for your TMJ issues - trust me, I now live it daily. Go make your appointment and live without the pain - YOU DESERVE TO. read more

Corey is super sweet and a hell of a masseuse. I went to see Corey after reading rave reviews of her on yelp and am writing this now (and giving less than 5 stars) because I feel compelled to mention that while Corey is great at what she does, it is not only time consuming to cure TMJ, it is also a bit financially draining. The TMJ massage she gave me about 2 months ago was horrifically painful, to the point of tears and screams, which I think MAY have paid off IF it cured (or even reduced the severity of) my TMJ. I actually think it may have helped, had I gone back to see her on more than one occasion, but I could not bring myself to pay money for this extreme pain inducing massage, especially when nothing changed after the first time. Of course Corey can't predict how many sessions it will take to cure my TMJ, which she rated 4/7 on a TMJ severity scale (I can't chew without my jaw clicking). But had I known that one session would do nothing to help my TMJ without follow-up sessions, I probably would have never gone in the first place. The reason I didn't go back (besides the pain, which I could have taken if I knew there was an end in sight to my jaw clicking) was because I had no idea how many (not cheap) sessions it would take to help this problem. With no end in sight time wise, it made me uneasy to think this could cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars, and it may not even help in the end. And yes, I journal, am healthy, and often work fewer than 40 hours/week! read more

She is amazing!!! Literally a miracle worker. I went in just to relieve the pain/tension from my jaw and got so much more. Her integrative multi-disciplinary approach creates the most amazing results. I got a huge mood and energy boost and totally quit smoking afterward. She didn't even mention any of this, I just noticed it kinda happen magically afterward. Everyone was commenting that they hadn't seen me in such great spirits in years. Immediately after our appointment, I walked out to my car, which was parked under some trees. The color of the trees was so much more vivid than it had been before our appointment; just like how colors become more vivid after you come out of a major depression. But the trippy thing was that this was just from all the stuff she was breaking up in my body releasing. She doesn't advertise any of this as benefits to her treatment. I am stating this to express why I am totally 100% addicted to her services now. The services hurt. They hurt bad. But with the results I get, I can't wait to go back and have her hurt me again. It is seriously the most therapeutic pain ever. I have never gotten such amazing results from anything else in eastern or western modealities. She is totally worth every dollar you spend on her services. Do it! You will thank yourself! Oh, my jaw feels great too! ;) read more

Corey has freaky strong hands and I'm notorious for loving the painful kind of massages. Pain = good. That's why I got Thai massages from Bua Thai. But, I discovered Corey through my boyfriend. His colleague swore by her TMJ massage because she grinded her teeth at night. I realized that I wanted to experience this magical and somewhat scary experience. She puts her fingers in your mouth and you're tearing from the pain? Sign me up. During my first visit, Corey evaluated my body and told me that the left side of my body is shorter than my right, which meant misalignment in my hips and shoulders, which affected my neck and jaw. My upper back was super tight, so she did cupping on my back. As your muscles relax, the cup pressure eases up. That was really cool, but the cups left "bruising" marks. I looked like an alien, but the marks themselves didn't hurt and it went away after 3 days. As for the mouth part - my mouth was definitely sore and swollen! I teared, but never claimed mercy. It was pretty painful though. She spent about 5-7 minutes working on my mouth. So, what's the verdit? I'm kinda addicted. Corey gives the most intense, targeted massage ever - but I love it. In fact, I'm coming up on my third massage (in a 2 month span). My jaw feels much looser than before and I hope that eventually I'll be cured from my nighttime grinding. read more

I found Corey from all the 5-star reviews on Yelp... and 5-stars-worthy she is! Corey has an intimate and private set-up off of California Ave... heavy curtains, elegant decor.... and most importantly... a comfy massage bed! Oh wait, did you think Corey was all about facials? Well, she is, but with every facial, she throws in a wonderfully relaxing full body massage. Yup, that's right. While your mask is setting, Corey is working out those knots in your shoulders. One word: heavenly. Corey has an impressive background traveling around with rock stars, working out all the kinks they get from a life on the road. She thinks giving massages is FUN (wish that were the case with my husband!) , so when she became a Licensed Esthetician, she decided to keep giving massages, too! But, back to the facial... Corey is amazing.. the attention-to-detail just cannot be matched. I went in with dry, irritated skin, and left with a radiating glow. My face felt so soft and smooth. I even bought a few of her products, which were very reasonably priced. And, as many of the other Yelpers mentioned, my jaw felt so relaxed... I had no clue I carried that much tension in my jaw! I highly recommend that your next day of pampering be spent with Corey. You will leave feeling soooo relaxed... in fact, be careful driving home! :) read more

Unprofessional and misleading marketing. She says one thing and doesn't live up to hype.

Yes, Corey is quite good. She'll kick your a$$, but it's well worth it. Her most impressive quality is her intelligence. She knows the physiology of the body very well. And she can see when something is out of whack. I've got a bum shoulder, combination of playing sports as a kid, spraining said shoulder as a kid, over use from being on the computer all day long, and age. When she started working on me she knew exactly what the problem was - my lats! So she gave me some non weight bearing exercises to do to get my shoulders loosened up and my lats engaged (to pull the strain off the shoulders) and that has certainly helped. Shoulder still isn't where it needs to be, but I feel confident she'll help me get it there. I've only seen her twice, have a third appointment scheduled and will continue to see her. I highly recommend you making an appointment to see her. read more

I've been going to Corey for about 2 years. She has definitely helped my TMJ. I wish I could go every week, but I think my jaw might lock up in protest. J/K. A word of warning, the modalities she uses include rolfing,which can be quite painful during the treatment. However, the short term pain is definitely worth it if you've suffered from TMJ or other chronic pains. One plus, after she's worked on my spine, I feel two inches taller. (OK, this last one might be considered hyperbole). In all seriousness, Corey is super friendly and cares about her clients. I love her interdisciplinary approach and knowledge. read more

Like many, I am questionable on effusive yelp reviews. Yet, here I am. Corey is amazing. Her targeted attention on my jaw released tension I had held for years. I literally felt like I had a brand new face after the treatment. It was ridiculously painful for those moments when she is releasing your jaw muscles - but it is so worth it. I felt like a whole new person. She has an amazing arsenal of techniques and a firecracker personality - she is caring, funny and enthusiastic. All which is good when she is willing your spine and musculature into submission and happy alignment. Highly recommend to those who don't mind pain for great results. read more

Corey's massage is good yet painful. After trading massage for caring for her horse which was very nice, it appears she may have used me for personal financial gain. Why would she avoid returning an email to a previous patient who had suffered severe fibromyalgia pain and that patient kindly writes to tell her what helped, nearly cured her fibromyalgia and not bother to write back and say thanks for the info. It certainly wasn't anything wrong on that patients side or behavior. Be careful. These days, particularly when someone touches your body they may be able to use you. Some people may be more prone to that than others. read more

Corey is a miracle worker! I cannot recommend her highly enough. She is truly one of a kind, and I feel very incredibly lucky to have found her. I feel 1000 times better after my appointments with her - every time. Even when I have no idea what specifically it is that's hurting me, Corey always knows what's wrong. And more importantly, she always has a fix! She is so knowledgeable about the workings of the human body - just brilliant. Also, her TMJ treatments are out of this world. I had never experienced anything like them, and wow, are they painful! Prepare yourself. But if you have TMJ/lock jaw issues like I do, they are 100% worth it. I honestly recommend her to everyone I know, and she gets the same rave reviews from everyone. She is really the best of the best, and you will not be disappointed. read more

My husband and I went to see Corey a couple of weeks ago. I surprised my husband with a private Couples Hot Stone Massage Class date afternoon, and it was awesome thanks to Corey. She is kind, fun, and her touch is amazing. She is articulate, so instructions are easy to follow. We left her studio relaxed and confident with our new knowledge of how to massage each other. I can't recommend it enough to other couples looking for something fun to do, something other than the old "dinner and a movie" standard. It truly is the date event that keeps on giving! read more

Unfortunately the massage caused more harm than helping. I went for the TMJ treatment and the cupping. I was extremely uncomfortable for 2 days due to all the bruises caused by the massage. After the bruise pain subsided, the lower back pain was still there. The TMJ treatment left a deep mouth sore inside my oral cavity, which became infected the next day. As the wound got worse over the next few days, I tried texting Corey but did not get any answers. It eventually healed, leaving a scar behind. I thought the treatment was unnecessarily harsh. read more

This review is long overdue but I figure better late than never. Just for a little background. I started suffering from serious, painful, and paralyzing migraines in the summer of 2006. A few months into it I got a mouthgaurd which helped a bit but when the migraines came on, let's just say those are days I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. Life went on till about fall of 2010 where I developed a serious case of tinnitus (ringing in the ears.) Thats when I started getting serious about finding help because I couldn't take it anymore. I was in so much pain and an emotional wreck. After lots of prayer and tears...that's when I found Corey and ultimately my path to healing began. Corey did an amazing job making me feel comfortable from the getgo. Her endearing personality and charm can make the meanest of scrooges smile :) Now, about the actual massage. Corey did a lot of techniques on me (I know, she's super talented!): 1) Body Massage: It was amazing when she worked on my body. There was this one time where she helped align my spine and I couldn't believe the pops I heard (it didn't hurt.) She helped me understand that I hold a lot of tension in my upper body and that certainly doesn't help my migraine issue. All the massages she did on my arms and leg provided so much relief, especially since we type so much, mannnn when she got to my hands, the relief was yummy!! 2) Cupping Therapy: What's interesting is that Corey, along with massage, performed cupping (dry, not fire) on my back. Cupping is when you place a vaccuum/cup on your back, drawing up the skin. It is believed to open up the skin's pores, which helps to stimulate the flow of blood, balance and realign the flow of qi, break up obstruction, and create an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body. I had heard of cupping but never had it done and just trusted her. Let me just tell you....it was like a MIRACLE!!!! So....about the second or third time of cupping I developed a round bruise on my shoulder blade. I was shocked because not only was it the darkest bruise I've ever had but it was on the exact spot on my shoulder I feel so much pain!!!! For years I had chronic pain in my shoulder, especially when I was stressed. I literally remember all the finals I had in college and how my shoulder pain would act up. The doctors would just give me muscle relaxant after muscle relaxant and it would take days to work. I'm happy to say I haven't had any chronic pain in my shoulder since (about two years)!! Last but not least... 3) Jaw work: The massages Corey did on my jaw were intense. I never knew we had so many muscles that were so tight caused by holding in stress and tension. Every session we peeled away layers and finally got to the nitty gritty. I remember her releasing the tension, not only in my TMJ, but also in my forhead and brow area. Even my mom noticed that the usual puffiness/swelling I have on my neck, shoulders and face reduced. Oh...along with releasing tension, I threw out my mouthgaurd. At first, I was shocked she told me too but I did and I haven't looked back since. There's also another aspect about the sessions with Corey I have to mention. Corey is not only an amazing professional but a WONDERFUL human being. She's been so supportive in helping me learn that lifestyle change is necessary in reducing my pain, that it's just not massages in my case. In my situation, Corey didn't have all the answers too ALL my issues, but she provided wonderful support and guidance to getting better on multiple levels. During that time, I did visit my primary care doctor and migraine specialists up at UCSF to rule out any other reasons and Corey was extremely supportive (again, she's a true professional and is a champion at helping her client get better.) Sometimes, people need a network of help and Corey would be an integral and powerful part of anyone's network. What's funny is that at UCSF my specialist told me that research has shown that mouthgaurds are more detrimental to health than helpful. At that point I said, "I know, my TMJ specialist, Corey, told me so!" :) I'm happy to say I'm doing much better than I was in the past. I have a better grasp over preventative care for my migraines and have come leaps and bounds in helping myself lead a life without migraine causing stress and migraines. I would recommend Corey whole heartedly...I love her! read more

Corey is a life saver... from the TMJ work, to the Rolfing (I can run again, that speaks for itself) and I can breath through my nasal passages once more... and then there's the chiro adjustments... and let's not forget the massages... she is a one-stop shop... not to mention a interesting and fun conversationalist... what more do you really need? go in and get your life saved! read more

She did an amazing work. After I had done the TMJ massage from her, it was hurt badly, but I felt a lot better in couple hours later. Hopefully I can arrange another visit with her. Thanks Corey. read more

Corey is a miracle worker! I have had a locking and popping jaw for as long as I can remember, practically my whole life. One session with Corey and I can open my mouth. It's truly amazing. Just one session! Granted, you should be warned that it was quite painful, but that was what had to happen to fix the problem and she definitely helped me work through the pain of it. I always assumed that fixing my TMJ would mean surgery and that it was just something that I was always going to have to live with forever. Had I only known that one session with Corey was all it would take!! Seriously, if you have TMJ, seeing Corey is the smartest thing you could possibly do. read more

What can I say. I'm just having a great experience with townhog deals. I didn't have much expectation when I drove there, but wow~ That is all I can say. It was the very best facial experience that I had. She worked with whole body circulation. Today is one day after the special facial treatment, my face is brighter and my energy level is up for no reason or for reason. :) I kept looking at the mirror today as my face looks growing and brighter - I really don't know exactly what she did, but a hot and cold treatment on the face was THE best. Haven't I done enough deep tissue massage in the famost resort spas previously! Yet, Corey's hands were strong and aligned my neck and back. Entire body massage(even fingers and toes) are all included in her signature facial. Once she has done with the body treatment, I felt released and relaxed. It was such a soothing experience. If you want something extraordinary facial experience to boost your self esteem, I definitely recommend her. read more