Manual Osteopathic Therapy
My own personal growth as a manual therapist has spanned nearly 20 years. I started out in massage therapy, then delved into Upledger CranioSacral Therapy which I have been practicing since 2009, and I most recently completed a 4 year Masters in Osteopathic Manipulative Sciences from the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy (CAO). I have also engaged in various ways with other modalities throughout the years, but I have found that CranioSacral and classical osteopathy are the modalities best suited to me and my practice.
The vast healing potential of CranioSacral Therapy is what drew me to practice body work in the first place. After conventional medical care, physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment did not alleviate the symptoms I was experiencing following numerous concussions, a broken neck and other injuries, mainly from contact sports, it was CranioSacral Therapy which helped restore my health. The “magic” which I experienced from such a gentle, relaxing, therapeutic modality was immediate and lasting, with each treatment peeling away layers of dysfunction. Manual osteopathy then further relieved layers of dysfunction and fibrosis which I had been holding for years that other modalities had not been able to address.
Classical osteopathy (of which CranioSacral Therapy is an offshoot), is a principles based approach to determining the causes of mechanical and physiological dysfunction, then treating them to restore the body’s ability to self-heal and self-regulate. What drew me to osteopathy was seeing the tremendous results of this approach first-hand, as well as how it would offer me a unique method of addressing complex structural compensation issues with clients. When the body’s ability to compensate for the wear and tear we put on it becomes compromised from injuries, repetitive strain, or functional changes from aging and disease it can lead to persistent pain and other symptoms affecting muscles, fascia, joint mobility, as well as the cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, and endocrine systems (among others). Classical osteopathy is particularly adept at treating such issues. Whether you have a complex health issue that is not resolving with other forms of care, or you were recently injured, I would love the chance to help restore your health using classical osteopathy.
CranioSacral therapy on the other hand tends to be a more subtle, though very powerful, modality in its own right. It can be the key to unlocking the body’s healing potential, and it has certainly helped heal the trauma I and many others have experienced. Being able to provide similar results for my own clients is incredibly rewarding, and my understanding of how it works has transformed CranioSacral Therapy from “magic” to applied science, where I’m facilitating the release of often deeply held physical restrictions and supporting the body’s own regenerative functions. By also therapeutically holding space and treating the whole person, not just their symptoms, I am able to address the unique nature of an individual’s patterns. Debilitating symptoms from various injuries and conditions can be resolved in this way, even ones that people have been living with for years.
Besides my background in sports and bodywork, I enjoy spending time in nature, working on my own personal development and spirituality, relaxing with a good book, and occasionally musing on world affairs. I love helping others, and sharing my therapeutic gifts with others is truly a pleasure. The treatment room is one of my favourite places to be, and I hope to see you there so we can work together to restore your health.