My Transition to Osteopathy
I am very pleased and proud to announce that as of June 7th, 2024, I have completed my studies and graduated from the Canadian College of Osteopathy! This means that I have received my diploma in Osteopathy Manual Practice (DOMP). As my family knows, and many of my clients who have been following this process know, this has been quite a journey, starting all the way back in 2019 – before the COVID-19 pandemic! Although it took the better part of five years to complete, I can say it has been a tremendously satisfying process of not only academic achievement, but also personal and professional growth as well.
Many clients have been asking what this means for my practice going forward. The good news is I will be continuing to practice at Kingston Integrated Healthcare. However, I will be transitioning my practice away from massage therapy with the goal of solely practicing osteopathy. As of September 1st, 2024, I will no longer be providing massage therapy services. My rates will also change to those of on Osteopathic Manual Practitioner. (As always, rates are posted on our website, here. Answers to some questions about insurance coverage are on our FAQ Page, here.)
What is Osteopathy?
Lots of people have been curious about what the difference is between a massage therapy treatment and an osteopathic treatment. One main difference is no more lotion (and a lot less laundry)! For an osteopathic appointment, the client wears comfortable clothing such as shorts and a T-shirt, so there are no sheets or draping. This allows for a more dynamic flow between treatment and assessment techniques. Many techniques are applied as the client lies on their back, stomach, or side. Some techniques are also applied in a seated position.
The goal of osteopathy is not to chase a person’s pain or symptoms (even though these are always considered during treatment). Instead, an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (DOMP) treats much more globally to restore proper movement and function throughout the entire body. We want to restore normal anatomical and physiological function and relationships. For example, this is why correcting a misaligned pelvis could help with shoulder pain, or why freeing restrictions in the foot could help to alleviate headaches. You can learn a little bit more about Osteopathy, here.
Why I Became an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner
One of the main reasons I was drawn to osteopathy in the first place was because massage therapy did not provide me with adequate tools to help my client the way I wanted to. Now, with a much more comprehensive understanding of the structural and functional relationships throughout the body, combined with a much more elaborate set of techniques to address and normalize these relationships, I feel like I have the tools to help more people with a much broader spectrum of health concerns.
As many of my current clients are aware, I have already been incorporating many osteopathic techniques into my massage therapy treatments. I hope everyone who has not yet experienced the benefits of osteopathy will be willing to give it a try! Please do not hesitate to reach out to ask me questions or discuss osteopathy further in the coming days and weeks if you are unsure if it can help you on your journey towards better health!
