Massage Therapy in Victoria
There are many types of massage therapy available in Victoria and we are very fortunate to have some of the most talented and experienced registered massage therapists on our team. We are a well established, reputable and trustworthy clinic and have been providing massage therapy in Victoria since 2008. Our massage therapists offer therapeutic massage, relaxation massage, sport massage, and pregnancy massage. What makes us unique is our work culture including our mentor program. Two of our massage therapists who have been practicing for over 30 years and several are approaching 20 years of clinical practice. These "senior" RMT's mentor and share their knowledge and experience, so our entire team of RMT's are prepared to provide you with the highest possible quality of care. We are always striving to stay up to date on the most current evidence based research, treatment techniques and pain science. Rest assured, you are in good hands here.
Each massage treatment is unique to your needs. Based on your health history, treatment goals and our assessment tools, we provide a treatment that is specifically for you. Depending on which RMT you choose, treatment may include a combination of approaches and techniques like myofascial release, deep tissue massage, swedish massage, trigger point release, muscle energy technique (osteopathic joint adjustments), lymph drainage, therapeutic exercise, relaxation techniques, aromatherapy, craniosacral or neurokinetic therapy. We also believe in educating our patients and empowering them by teaching therapeutic home-care exercises and mindfulness techniques.
Each massage therapist treatment style is unique. We encourage you to read through the biographies below so you can find the right fit. Our front desk staff are also available to help point you in the right direction.
Each massage treatment is unique to your needs. Based on your health history, treatment goals and our assessment tools, we provide a treatment that is specifically for you. Depending on which RMT you choose, treatment may include a combination of approaches and techniques like myofascial release, deep tissue massage, swedish massage, trigger point release, muscle energy technique (osteopathic joint adjustments), lymph drainage, therapeutic exercise, relaxation techniques, aromatherapy, craniosacral or neurokinetic therapy. We also believe in educating our patients and empowering them by teaching therapeutic home-care exercises and mindfulness techniques.
Each massage therapist treatment style is unique. We encourage you to read through the biographies below so you can find the right fit. Our front desk staff are also available to help point you in the right direction.
Direct insurance billing for massage therapy is available for most plans including ICBC, Pacific Blue Cross, Great West Life, Sunlife, Veterans Affairs, RCMP, MSP, Chamber of Commerce, Johnston Group and more.
If you want to confirm that we bill your extended health plan directly for massage please call. We are happy to help.
If you want to confirm that we bill your extended health plan directly for massage please call. We are happy to help.
Meet Our Registered Massage Therapists
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Douglas Kropp, RMTDouglas is a graduate from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria. He has been athletic all his life, growing up playing hockey, soccer, skateboarding, snowboarding, mountain biking and surfing. His personal experience with sports injuries and chronic migraines along with his fascination for the human body has greatly influenced his passion for massage therapy and holistic health.
Douglas has experience in treating many conditions including, but not limited to, migraines and headaches, fibromyalgia, arthritis, concussion, fracture recovery, post-immobilization ,multiple sclerosis, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel, chronic pain as well as acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and imbalances. His approach to each client as a unique. He is devoted to helping them achieve their optimal wellness goals by integrating an individualized treatment plan using a variety of techniques, a thorough assessment and personalized home care routines. Douglas is devoted to helping his clients to play a primary role in their own healing process by offering his knowledge and experience along with mindful movement modifiers and remedial exercises as tools for his clients to utilize outside of the treatment room. He will be continuing on with his healthcare journey by furthering his education in myofascial release techniques, craniosacral therapy, pain science and completing his Bachelor of Health Science degree. Douglas is currently accepting new patients. |
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Jenn Maurice, RMTJenn has been practicing since 2018. As a gymnast and competitive swimmer in her youth, Jenn thrives on researching new techniques and exercises. This curiosity enables her to assist clients with a variety of conditions; from stress reduction or relief from symptoms of arthritis, to sports massage and injury rehabilitation. Treatment techniques include deep tissue, trigger point release, active and passive stretching as well as general swedish massage. She loves to incorporate movement into her treatments, empowering her clients to feel the positive changes within their bodies and become the lead in their own health story.
Jenn is currently accepting new patients. |
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Kasey Thompson, RMTKasey has been practicing massage since 2006 and uses specific orthopedic testing, neurokinetic therapy and postural assessment to pin point the cause of your pain. She focuses on therapeutic and sport massage in her practice, while incorporating therapeutic exercise, patient education and pain science. Myofascial release, muscle energy technique, trigger point release and swedish massage are just some of the techniques that may be used in your treatment.
Adding to her skill set, Kasey has completed the Stott Pilates Rehab Instructor Training program. A comprehensive home care routine of both stretching and strengthening exercises will give you the tools and resources you need to stay healthy and symptom free, long after you recovery from your injuries. Kasey is currently accepting new patients. |
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Katie Twohig, RMTKatie began her career as a Registered Massage Therapist in 2018. Her approach is intuitive and comprehensive; considering the muscular, fascial, and skeletal systems and recognizing that no body is the same. She seeks to create a calm and supportive treatment space, and develop a treatment plan that honours the client’s individuality and strength. Katie utilizes a blend of Swedish, myofascial release, joint mobilizations, and both passive and active muscle stretching modalities in her treatments. She strives to educate her clients on self-care routines and offers stretching and exercise guides to assist.
Katie is currently accepting new patients. |
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Taylor Watson, RMTTaylor has been practicing since 2018. Her passions for health, movement, wellness and mindfulness led her to pursue a career in massage therapy, where she is excited to work with people to help them live full and healthy lives. Through her education, she has been fortunate to provide massage to diverse demographics and enjoys having variation in her practice.
Taylor’s treatment style places an emphasis on calming the body and mind while focusing on functional movement to facilitate wellness. She practices with a patient-centred approach and encourages patients to feel a sense of empowerment when it comes to their well-being. Her goal is to offer treatments that can help people to feel more at home and at ease in their bodies. Taylor is currently accepting new patients. |
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Bogdan Pyasta, RMTBogdan graduated in 2010 from the massage therapy program at Everest College (Toronto). He has since gained experience in a variety of different clinics and educational settings as an educator for RMTs at Langara College (Vancouver).
Bogdan is passionate about patient education and the holistic approach to recovery. He finds satisfaction in knowing that with each treatment, the client is incrementally closer to full recovery. Helping patients regain overall wellness to better pursue their own passions is his main goal. In his spare time Bogdan enjoys riding motorcycles, cross-training, cycling, hiking, camping and performing on stage as a singer with a band. Bogdan is currently accepting new patients. |
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Steve Ferris, RMTSteve Ferris has been a Registered Massage Therapist in Victoria since 1987. He graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Vancouver. He also supervised and was a teaching assistant for 8 years at the WCCMT in a variety of orthopedic courses. Steve joined Remedy Wellness Centre in 2016 and has continued to share his experience and knowledge with our team. We are very lucky to have him here.
Steve's treatment style is therapeutic and orthopedic focused. He uses many techniques including deep tissue, swedish, muscle energy technique and kinetics therapeutic exercise programming. Steve is not currently accepting new patients. |
Massage Therapy FAQ's
What should I expect in my first massage visit?
You will receive an email with a link to fill out a health history form and choose your communication preferences (email or text reminders, newsletter, etc). You can also opt to arrive early and fill it out at the clinic. Your RMT will review it and will likely have some follow up questions to help him/her determine what your goals are. Depending on what you are coming in for, there will likely be an assessment and some testing which gives your massage therapist an idea of where to focus their efforts in the treatment. A treatment plan will be discussed and you will be given an opportunity to ask questions and give your consent to the treatment plan.
Your RMT will tell you how to get on the table (face up, face down, sidelying, etc.) and give you options for disrobing or not. Though typically people disrobe and are covered/draped with a sheet and blanket during treatment, it is not necessary. Your comfort is very important to us, so we are perfectly capable of working through clothing.
It is important that you provide feedback to your RMT about what you experience during the treatment and about the depth of treatment. FYI, deeper or harder is not always better. No pain, no gain is a myth. You should be able to stay relaxed and not have to tense up due to the depth of treatment. Usually your RMT can feel this happening and will adjust the pressure, but it's very helpful if you can let him/her know as well. There's a "happy zone" we are trying to find, where the depth is providing some therapeutic relief, but you're not left feeling beat up afterwards.
Your massage therapist will let you know when they are leaving the room at the end of the treatment so you can take your time getting up and dressed. You can simply crack the door open when you're ready. If your RMT thinks that some home-care would be beneficial, like stretches or strengthening exercises, he/she will reserve about 5 minutes at the end of the treatment to run through this with you. A follow up treatment plan will also be discussed if needed.
How much time does the assessment take?
It depends. If you're coming in for a relaxation treatment and have an uncomplicated health history, it will be very brief. If you've been in a car accident recently or have more serious acute and/or chronic injuries, it will be more extensive. In order to figure out what the problem is, we have to do some digging, which does take time. We do try to be as efficient as possible with our assessment to allow for as much on table treatment time as possible, while still being effective.
How many massage treatments will I need?
Its hard to say. If you have an acute injury or a problem that just happened recently, we may be able to resolve it in 2-3 visits. If you're problem is chronic that means it's been "sitting" in your nervous system for much longer and may require more care. Participation in your recovery also has an impact. If your RMT recommends that you rest from activity for a week, or do some exercises daily and you either can't or don't, that will draw things out more and lead to more treatments. This is why we are so keen on patient education and therapeutic exercises. Our goal is that you won't need us anymore. You may also just enjoy having a relaxation massage every so often, which is totally fine too. Either way, we can work with you to figure out a treatment plan that fits into your busy life.
How does billing my insurance directly for massage work?
Bring your billing numbers and/or claim card with you. You are welcome to give us this information in advance over the phone so we can store it to your secure patient profile. We submit the claim online shortly before you arrive. It will tell us how much your plan will cover and if there is a remainder you can pay that portion via cash, Debit, VISA or MC. Typically they cover 80% or 100%, up to a dollar maximum per year. Some plans are unlimited for massage. Some require a doctors referral for massage. Some have a deductible that has to be satisfied before your coverage kicks in. Unfortunately, we can't access these details, but your insurer can. We advise calling them or logging into your online profile with your insurer, to clarify your coverage so there are no surprises. Most of them have an app you can use to track how much coverage you have and how much you've used to date.
What if I have an ICBC Claim and need massage therapy?
Research has shown that early intervention post MVA is connected with a much higher chance of walking away with no lasting chronic pain. ICBC updated their coverage policies for massage therapy in April 2019.
What if I have a WCB claim and need massage therapy?
Unfortunately we do not bill WCB directly for massage. You will find that most clinics don't. You can still come in for treatment with a Registered Massage Therapist and submit your receipts to WCB for reimbursement. We recommend discussing this with your adjuster so you know what to expect for reimbursement and the number of treatments they will approve.
You will receive an email with a link to fill out a health history form and choose your communication preferences (email or text reminders, newsletter, etc). You can also opt to arrive early and fill it out at the clinic. Your RMT will review it and will likely have some follow up questions to help him/her determine what your goals are. Depending on what you are coming in for, there will likely be an assessment and some testing which gives your massage therapist an idea of where to focus their efforts in the treatment. A treatment plan will be discussed and you will be given an opportunity to ask questions and give your consent to the treatment plan.
Your RMT will tell you how to get on the table (face up, face down, sidelying, etc.) and give you options for disrobing or not. Though typically people disrobe and are covered/draped with a sheet and blanket during treatment, it is not necessary. Your comfort is very important to us, so we are perfectly capable of working through clothing.
It is important that you provide feedback to your RMT about what you experience during the treatment and about the depth of treatment. FYI, deeper or harder is not always better. No pain, no gain is a myth. You should be able to stay relaxed and not have to tense up due to the depth of treatment. Usually your RMT can feel this happening and will adjust the pressure, but it's very helpful if you can let him/her know as well. There's a "happy zone" we are trying to find, where the depth is providing some therapeutic relief, but you're not left feeling beat up afterwards.
Your massage therapist will let you know when they are leaving the room at the end of the treatment so you can take your time getting up and dressed. You can simply crack the door open when you're ready. If your RMT thinks that some home-care would be beneficial, like stretches or strengthening exercises, he/she will reserve about 5 minutes at the end of the treatment to run through this with you. A follow up treatment plan will also be discussed if needed.
How much time does the assessment take?
It depends. If you're coming in for a relaxation treatment and have an uncomplicated health history, it will be very brief. If you've been in a car accident recently or have more serious acute and/or chronic injuries, it will be more extensive. In order to figure out what the problem is, we have to do some digging, which does take time. We do try to be as efficient as possible with our assessment to allow for as much on table treatment time as possible, while still being effective.
How many massage treatments will I need?
Its hard to say. If you have an acute injury or a problem that just happened recently, we may be able to resolve it in 2-3 visits. If you're problem is chronic that means it's been "sitting" in your nervous system for much longer and may require more care. Participation in your recovery also has an impact. If your RMT recommends that you rest from activity for a week, or do some exercises daily and you either can't or don't, that will draw things out more and lead to more treatments. This is why we are so keen on patient education and therapeutic exercises. Our goal is that you won't need us anymore. You may also just enjoy having a relaxation massage every so often, which is totally fine too. Either way, we can work with you to figure out a treatment plan that fits into your busy life.
How does billing my insurance directly for massage work?
Bring your billing numbers and/or claim card with you. You are welcome to give us this information in advance over the phone so we can store it to your secure patient profile. We submit the claim online shortly before you arrive. It will tell us how much your plan will cover and if there is a remainder you can pay that portion via cash, Debit, VISA or MC. Typically they cover 80% or 100%, up to a dollar maximum per year. Some plans are unlimited for massage. Some require a doctors referral for massage. Some have a deductible that has to be satisfied before your coverage kicks in. Unfortunately, we can't access these details, but your insurer can. We advise calling them or logging into your online profile with your insurer, to clarify your coverage so there are no surprises. Most of them have an app you can use to track how much coverage you have and how much you've used to date.
What if I have an ICBC Claim and need massage therapy?
Research has shown that early intervention post MVA is connected with a much higher chance of walking away with no lasting chronic pain. ICBC updated their coverage policies for massage therapy in April 2019.
- $107 for your Initial Appointment (60 minutes)
- $80 for a Follow Up session for up to 12 sessions, within 12 weeks from the date of your accident.
- If you require more treatment, extension requests can be made. If you have further questions, please call, we are happy to chat.
What if I have a WCB claim and need massage therapy?
Unfortunately we do not bill WCB directly for massage. You will find that most clinics don't. You can still come in for treatment with a Registered Massage Therapist and submit your receipts to WCB for reimbursement. We recommend discussing this with your adjuster so you know what to expect for reimbursement and the number of treatments they will approve.