Let Me Introduce Myself

Hi, I’m Laura!

You already know a bit about me from checking out my website, but I figured I would expand a bit more to let you get a better sense of who I am and how I work.

My career has spanned a few decades and I’ve watched this profession change throughout the years. While I maintain that it’s important to come from an evidence-informed place to deliver trustworthy care, I have always maintained viewing you as a whole person–Body, Mind, and Spirit, and use my instincts to help heal you.

There is a term in health care called The Biopsychosocial Model (of health, pain, etc) which directs health care providers to consider a patient in a holistic way, that is, the Physical, the Mental, and the Social aspects of their life that contribute to chronic pain.

Years ago before this model was developed, I’d had some patients mention that their physician stated that 12 weeks after an injury, it should be resolved. So why was it in some cases not yet healed? I didn’t have a definitive answer for them, except that if the pain was still there, it clearly wasn’t resolved on some level and that there may be more to the issue than just the physical. Now, with an evidence-based framework, your health care providers should know that an unhappy family life or that you hate your job can be the cause, or at the very least, contribute to your pain.

So as your therapist, I will take into account that your chronic pain may be because of personal or professional difficulties and that we can focus on increasing relaxation on purpose so you aren’t in a stressed state the entire time you’re on the table.

My intention in becoming a massage therapist had been firmly grounded in wanting to heal people, particularly inspired by a family member who struggled with chronic pain. Before starting the massage therapy programme in Toronto, I took my level I Reiki so I could connect with patients on an energetic level because that’s where diease/dysfunction often starts and could be one of the missing pieces of their healing. Regardless, the combination of logic and instinct have yielded positive results.

If this makes sense to you, contact me so we can begin our work together. I can’t wait to meet you!