My Practice | Nanaimo Osteopathy

Welcome to my practice

I have been practicing osteopathy since 2015 after graduating from the Canadian College of Osteopathy in Toronto. Since then, I have been working with people with a range of symptoms and have developed a passion for working with people who experience persistent and complex pain and women throughout the perinatal period. My passion for this work has provided me with travel opportunities to Nicaragua where I volunteered alongside a pediatric physiotherapist conducting rural home visits, and to Peru, where I volunteered for Osteopathy Without Borders.

I love getting to know my patients and feel that it is truly a privilege to work in a capacity where I have the time to hear the stories and perspectives of the people who entrust me with their care. I feel it's important to keep up to date on current evidence-based practices and clinical guidelines (I typically have a few books on the go and many computer tabs open for researching!), but also place great value in understanding people's lived experiences.

I am a mother to two wonderful, silly, and active boys and have come to appreciate the beautiful rollercoaster that parenting can be. Having experienced struggles with breastfeeding my first born and finding it difficult to find support has motivated me to provide support to lactating parents who wish to provide their infants breastmilk. I strive to support other parents during this precious and demanding phase of life and love to work with people throughout perinatal period and beyond. When I'm not treating or taking courses, I love exploring sea critters at the beach with my little ones and my husband, going on hikes, and enjoying good food.

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Education & Credentials

Education

Graduate Certificate in Chronic Pain Management, McGill University
Diploma in Osteopathy, Manual Practice (D.O.M.P.), Canadian College of Osteopathy (Toronto)
(5-year in-person program + thesis)
B.Sc. Kin (with distinction) University of Saskatchewan

Professional Affiliations

OsteopathyBC: Professional Member
Member of the International Association for the Study of Pain
OsteopathyBC Board Member 2018-2021
Canadian Federation of Osteopaths, Research Committee Member

Continuing education

Breastfeeding for Health Professionals - Douglas College (136 hour course)
Cesarian-Birth Informed Healthcare Practitioner - Embodia, Katie Kelly
How to Measure and Treat Central Sensitization - Carolyn Vandyken & Dr. Sinead Dufour
Non-Internal Introductory Pelvic Health - Pelvic Health Solutions
Diastasis Recti Reframed - Antony Lo
Biopsychosocial Reframed - Carolyn Vandyken, Reframe Rehab
Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy - Dr. Sinead Dufour, Reframe Rehab
STarT Back Online Training - Keele University
Gentle Movement & Relaxation Program – Pain BC
The Pain Foundations Course Series - Pain BC
Collège des Études Ostéopathiques, Montreal Symposium:

Osteopathic treatment of women: hormonal health, fertility, during the pre- and postnatal period.
Canadian College of Osteopathy Founders Day:

Osteopathic care of the mother during pregnancy and after miscarriage.
Canadian College of Osteopathy Founders Day:

Still Technique
Hatha Yoga Instructor 200hr YTT
CSEP Personal Trainer

You're in good hands here.

Education & Experience

Anne-Marie has extensively trained and has over 10 years of clinical experience.

Osteopathy is not regulated in B.C. and it is important to work with practitioners who have completed adequate training. Anne-Marie is a member of OsteopathyBC which is affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths. She has completed numerous post-graduate courses including a certificate in chronic pain management and the educational requirements to become a lactation consultant, and training in pelvic health.

Biopsychosocial Approach

Pain management has typically been addressed from a biomedical perspective, which fails to account for various other factors that could be contributing to your pain and should be integrated as part of your treatment plan. Just because the cause of your pain doesn't show up on an x-ray or MRI doesn't mean it's 'all in your head' either.

Embracing a person-centered approach includes acknowledging the psychological, emotional, lifestyle, occupational and other factors that can impact your nervous system and how your body processes stimuli and how you experience pain. Though pain neuroscience is complex, together we can find practical solutions to help you to feel better and be able to do more.

Trauma-Informed Care

This is a safe space where you will have the ability to make choices and informed decisions about your care. I consider every person seeking treatment to be the expert in their experience, where my role is to provide support, information, resources, advocacy, and goal planning to enable you to better manage your condition. I work with compassion and respect and understand that physical symptoms and chronic pain are sometimes associated with histories of emotional or physical trauma.

Lactation Support, Perinatal & Pediatric Care

Fast-track appointments for time-sensitive concerns.

If you are struggling to feed your baby or have concerns about your little one, please call the clinic to book your appointment. We will do our best to get you in asap and understand that the sooner we can address these concerns, the better the outcomes.

Patient Advocacy

As part of intake and treatment planning, I can provide a letter for you and your doctor that outlines a symptom picture, provides information about those issues that may be addressed with osteopathic treatment, and highlights those issues that may require further investigation. Information on how your symptoms present or can be interacting and what can/or can’t be reasonably addressed with manual therapies can help facilitate the conversation when you follow up with your doctor.

Integrative Exercise & Movement Therapy

Guiding you to move safely towards your goals.

Certain movements, or lack of movement is often a factor that can influence one's pain. It can also be part of the solution. Understanding how to move safely in order to build strength and resilience is an important part of any rehabilitation program. Whether you would like support by incorporating therapeutic exercises to manage pain, or would like guidance towards putting together a workout, or would like to return to exercise after having a baby, I can provide you with videos & planning strategies tailored to your needs & goals.

Inclusive Healthcare

Everyone is welcome here.

I provide a safe and inclusive space for people of all body shapes & sizes, all genders, sexual orientations, all cultural backgrounds. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible.