Emotional Support Dog on Duty

This is not really a FAQ - but as an FYI - every Friday we have an emotional support dog accompany Casey, our psychotherapist, to work. Ginger is a quiet & gentle Frenchie who loves people. She spends most of the day in session, but her pitter-patter-paws can be heard walking up and down the hallway greeting clients between her appointments. If you are allergic, or averse to being in a space with dogs, you can either avoid booking appointments on Fridays, or let us know to keep Ginger in her room while you are in shared spaces such as the waiting room or entrance.

Is your space scent-free?

We do not offer a completely scent-free environment, however if you are scent-sitive we are happy to make efforts to avoid using certain products on the day of your appointment. Just let your therapist know -before- the day of your appointment.

What should I expect at my first appointment with you? 

Manual Osteopathy: There will be an interview portion, where your therapist will go over your intake form with you, seeking clarification and determining a treatment goal. (The intake form can be filled out online to save time at your appointment). Following this, there will be an assessment phase, where your therapist will have you standing, sitting, and/or laying down, and use their hands to bring your body through different ranges of motion to assess flexibility and tissue health. This will be followed by a treatment phase which may include musculoskeletal, visceral, craniosacral techniques. Treatment is gentle, should not be painful, and is often described as very relaxing. If anything makes you uncomfortable during treatment, you are encouraged to inform your therapist, and they will adjust the technique to be more appropriate. There will be a short reassessment to determine treatment outcomes, discuss potential treatment plans. 

Breathwork: In our one-on-one session, we'll start by discussing your current emotions, needs, and goals. I'll then teach you the specific breath pattern(s) for our session. Then, you'll lie down on a massage table, and I'll guide you through the active breathing phase. As you relax to music, I'll lead a meditation and body scan to deepen your connection with your body. The approximately 25-minute active breathing session will include the incorporation of Reiki for an enhanced experience. We'll conclude the session with time for reflection on any insights and feelings you've gained.

The Community Breathwork class follows a similar structure. At the beginning of the session, I encourage participants to share (though sharing is optional). During the breathwork segment, participants lie down on yoga mats, receiving continuous guidance and cues. After the active breath portion, participants have the option to journal if they feel compelled, and then can choose to share their experiences if they wish. 

Massage Therapy: there will be a short interview portion, where we review your intake form, and discuss your concerns treatment goals. There may be an assessment portion, where your therapist will test different active and passive joint ranges of motion, and may have you do a few standing or sitting tests such as bending forward, to the side, or rotating, which looks for muscular restrictions. Based on these findings, the therapist will determine the areas in need of attention. Massage Therapy appointments often include disrobing, where you will remove your clothes (to your comfort level) and lay on the massage table underneath a sheet and sometimes a blanket. The therapist will expose the area to be addressed, (such as a leg) and cover it back up when moving away from that section, and onto another. Communication is encouraged regarding topics such as pressure, comfort, and pain. Conversation between you and the therapist is optional, as some people find it easier to relax without talking. If this is the case for you, feel free to relay this desire to your therapist.

What should I wear to my appointment? 

Breathwork: come wearing loose, comfortable clothes. I would advise no heavy meals or large amounts of liquids beforehand. Please bring water with you, a journal and a pen, and please dress in layers, as breathwork can make you feel cold and/or hot (we supply blankets).

Manual Osteopathy: come to your appointment wearing flexible clothes, or clothes that you can move in. Appointments often involve taking the joints through their ranges of motion, and restrictive clothing can hamper that. You may be standing, sitting, or laying down during the session. If you wear belts, or jewelry, you may be asked to remove them for the duration of treatment. 

Massage Therapy: generally speaking, massage therapy appointments involve disrobing. You will be covered by a sheet during the massage, and the level of undressing depends on your comfort level, but commonly for a full body massage, people dress down to their underwear. 

Are you services covered by my insurance plan? Do you do direct billing? 

Our manual therapies (osteopathy, massage therapy, acupuncture) are covered by insurance plans. Counselling services may be covered, depending on the plan. Breathwork services are not covered. 

The cost associated with each service depends on the length of appointment time. Please refer to our prices page for details. 

We do not offer direct billing for any of our services. However, we provide you with an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. These can be sent as a PDF via email, or printed. 

How often do I need to come for treatment?

Treatment frequency is determined by many factors (chronicity and severity of issues, insurance coverage, scheduling) and will be something your therapist will discuss with you. If you are dealing with several issues, your treatment plan may include more frequent visits in the beginning to optimize health benefits. For general health maintenance, it really depends on the person; some people benefit from monthly appointments, or even weekly, while others like to book only a few sessions per year. Ultimately, it is whatever is available and right for you.

What are some things I can do between appointments to help my progress? 

This answer is largely dependant on the individual. Generally speaking, stretching and gentle exercise are encouraged, but obviously some cases require restrictions and specifications. Often times your therapist can provide you with suggestions per individual case.  

If you have experienced a new injury, a standard rule of thumb is to apply ice within the first 24-72 hours. Ice can be applied for 15-20 minutes every hour as needed. Rest, and Elevation, and compression of the area are suggested when possible. 

Breathwork is safe to practice every day. Please ensure that you're in a safe place to do so, preferably seated or lying down. Please do not practice in water or while driving. 

I see a physio (or chiropractor, or another therapist), can I also get Osteopathy?

Yes! While there may be some overlap between modalities, Osteopathy has a wider view and treats the whole body and it’s systems, whereas physiotherapy can be very specific. So while you may be doing rehab exercises for a specific area, other areas may be compensating or holding musculoskeletal patterns. Osteopathy can be a very helpful and complementary treatment alongside other modalities.