
our team
Our qualified practitioners work closely as a team to provide you with a treatment plan specific to achieving your therapeutic goals.
Charlene Waldner, RMT (she / her)
Sports Rehab - Relaxation - Deep Tissue - Muscle Energy Technique
Charlene graduated from the 3000 hour program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria in 2012. Since then she has had the pleasure of working in a variety of spa and and clinic environments, as well as enthusiastically volunteering at many sporting events. She enjoys working with clients of all ages, including seniors and youth. As a lifelong athlete and fitness advocate, Charlene is passionate about educating clients in ways to stay injury-free, recover from sport related injuries, and maintain a healthy body. She also enjoys working with clients in office settings to help all those professional-sitters out there to stay injury-free on the job! For more information about Charlene, please check out her website!
Darcie Coles, RMT (she / her)
Sports and Injury Rehab – Chronic and Acute Pain – Prophylactic and Supportive Taping – IASTM (Graston)
Darcie completed the 3000 hour Massage Therapy program at West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria in 2011 and has since returned to join the faculty of WCCMT Victoria in 2016. She has volunteered with many sporting organizations and groups in both the capacity of an RMT, as well as an organizer, and has enjoyed working and traveling with local swim teams to competitive events, including Canadian Nationals and Olympic Qualifying Trails. She is a life-long learner and is continually seeks to better her understanding of the human body and the forces enacted on it that cause physical discomfort and limitations. Creating patient centered care is always her goal, and Darcie enjoys meeting patients where they are at and helping them meet their goals while build a deeper connection with their bodies. Her continuing education includes focus for athletic individuals and persistent pain cases, as well as technique specific courses such as prophylactic taping (Kinesio Taping), instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (Graston), Ligamentous Articular Strain Techniques, and functional weight training and rehabilitation. In her spare time, Darcie enjoys spending time with her friends and family, working with her dogs, dancing, kayaking, and one day returning to horseback riding.
Emily DeMontigny, RMT (she / her)
Muscle Energy Technique - Joint Mobilization - Myofascial Release
Emily values the potential for change in each appointment and in each human being. A graduate of the 3000 hour program at West Coast College of Massage Therapy (New Westminster, BC) in 2002, she offers 14 years of experience in private practice. Emily has also worked as a Clinic Instructor for WCCMT and Vancouver Career College for 11 years. her continuing education includes craniosacral technique, lymphatic drainage, and end-range loading. Emily also enjoys working with clients experiencing constipation, chest restriction/tightness, and post-trauma cases. Personally, Emily enjoys community, music, great food, nature, and exercise. She is happy to join the multidisciplinary team at Absolute Therapy and be in beautiful Victoria, BC.
Emily Mann, RMT (she / her)
Deep Tissue - Relaxation - Trigger Point Therapy - Myofascial Release
Emily is a graduate from West Coast College of Massage Therapy 2200 hour program in Victoria. She enjoys working with a diverse group of clientele and values patient education. She encourages her clients to take an active role in their rehabilitative process while promoting a calming and supportive environment. In her free time you can find Emily exploring the local coffee shops and hiking trails. She also has an interest in human anatomy and physiology and is happy to share lots of informational tidbits or answer any questions you may have. She is excited to be at Absolute Therapy and plans to explore all the professional adventures the clinic has to offer.
Eric Vanderwekken, RMT (he / him)
Deep Tissue - Relaxation - Trigger Point Therapy - Myofascial Release
Eric graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2011, and has been practicing in Victoria ever since. Eric is passtionate about education, and has been an instructor at WCCMT for the past six years. In the clinic, his treatments are a blend of therapeutic and relaxation catered to each individual client using, but not limited to fascial work, trigger point therapy, joint mobilizations, and both active and passive movements.
In his downtime, Eric enjoys playing disc golf semi-competitively, back country hiking, beach and mountain time. In the winter months he can be found reading, playing video games or bingeing a good show!
Ina Sembaliuk, Client Care Specialist (they / them)
A new addition at Absolute Therapy, Ina was born on a bathroom floor right here in our city! A true local that’s passionate about the quality of your care. Ina is the friendly face that greets you from behind the front desk. They are a third year student and currently in the Office Administration program at Camosun, with several years of client care experience. Ina loves to ensure a comfortable, inclusive, and accessible environment for all of our clients. Whether you need assistance with your appointment or just someone to chat with while you await your treatment, Ina is very happy to help!
Jordan Martindale, RMT (she / her)
Registered Massage Therapy
Jordan is a graduate of the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in Victoria. As a lifelong competitive athlete, Jordan believes passionately in the benefits of regular movement and self-care, as well as the positive effects of Massage Therapy. With her background and prior education in sport, Jordan loves working with an active population, and cites working with Rugby Canada as the highlight of her time at WCCMT. She aims to blend the scientific knowledge gained throughout her education with each client’s individual needs to develop a unique treatment plan for everyone she sees.
Jordon Pohl, RMT (he / him)
Deep tissue - Muscle Energy Techniques - Joint Mobilization - Relaxation
Jordon graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy here in Victoria. Having grown up in Victoria and spent 30 years truly connecting with the island community, Jordon is always looking for ways to give back and support this wonderful place he calls home. His background playing and coaching sports combined with a desire to help those in need helped encourage Jordon into the practice of Massage Therapy. Jordon loves to work with all demographics, from the general public to competitive athletes and has had lots of experience working with both. He enjoys spending his free time hiking the mountains and exploring the many beaches of the island and also loves to keep busy with a bass guitar or some other musical instrument in his hands.
Kailer Belliveau, New-Grad Therapist (she/her)
Myofascial Release - Trigger Point Release - Abdominal Massage
Kailer is excited to offer Wellness Massage at Absolute while she awaits the successful completion of her board exams to become a Registered Massage Therapist in Fall 2023. Being someone who loves to dive into all that life has to offer, she is excited to gain more experience putting her skills into practice to help people to be comfortable in their bodies. Kailer has a history of dance, basketball, ultimate frisbee and rock climbing, along with snorkelling and scuba diving. Due to being so active, she has experience with rehabilitating her own sports injuries and can relate to the experience of both acute and chronic pain. She also has experience treating trans* individuals post chest reconstruction surgery/ gender affirming surgery, and enjoys assisting individuals to create a safe space for themselves within their own bodies. Growing up on Quadra Island, she also has a strong passion for the outdoors and marine life and was a marine educator for several years before making the switch to Massage Therapy in 2021.
Keith Bes, RMT (he / him)
Myofascial Release - Trigger Point Release - Deep Tissue - Relaxation
Keith's passion for healing dates back over a decade when he received his Reiki 1 certification. With a deeply intuitive approach to Massage Therapy, Keith strives to create a safe space for change and healing. With a keen interest to expand his natural abilities with a thorough understanding of how the body functions, he completed the RMT program at the West Coast Collage of Massage Therapy in 2022. A highlight from his time at WCCMT was creating and executing a 10-treatment plan for his research paper on the effects of Massage Therapy in treating pain and restriction associated with chest-binding; Keith found it incredibly rewarding to work with a transitioning patient to improve their quality of life, while also educating his peers on methods of care for the trans community. In his free time, Keith can be found pouring paint onto canvas, knotting up macrame creations, sewing fun festival wears, or spinning fire in Fernwood. He also loves biking around the Victoria and exploring the gorgeous island we call home.
Kevin Thayer, RMT (he / him)
Registered Massage Therapy
Kevin graduated from Victoria’s West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2021. A lifelong athlete and explorer, Kevin finds joy and expression in movement. A background in basketball, strength training, and swimming led him into a committed movement and meditation practice which sparked his interest in human anatomy, and ultimately Massage Therapy. As a new and humble therapist, Kevin seeks to connect with clients through commonalities and a sense of community. Kevin has found movement combined with periods of functional rest as a positive tool for both physical and mental growth, and he would like to work with you to facilitate your own sense of growth, whatever that may be. Kevin’s current interests are ocean swims, martial arts, trail running and meditation. After being shown so many healing and learning modalities throughout life by skilled and compassionate teachers, Kevin is inspired to share these skills with you through manual therapies and homecare.
Kristy Elesko, BA, RMT (she / her)
All Bodies Welcome - Abdominal Work - Injury Rehab - Pre/Post-natal Care
Kristy joined Absolute Therapy as a graduate from WCCMT Victoria in 2014, where her work treating Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorder won a research award. Kristy gained valuable personal experience and motivation to pursue Massage Therapy following an injury after completing her first 5km race in 2011. She has successfully worked with patients through their recovery of common injuries such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis and tension headache management. She also regularly treats patients with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, Ehler-Danlos Syndrome and Traumatic Brain Injuries. She offers mobile massage therapy services for new parents in the first 8 weeks after their baby's arrival. Recovering from birth and caring for a new infant can make traveling to the clinic difficult and Kristy endeavours to make massage accessible to parents during this time. Kristy currently works at Absolute Therapy and returned to WCCMT as a supervisor and instructor in 2016. She is passionate about camping, cold plunging, E-biking and her niblings.
Lisa Eckert, New-Grad Therapist (she / her)
Myofascial Release - Joint Mobilizations - Deep Tissue - Relaxation
Lisa graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in April 2023. Even as a new practitioner, Lisa strives to make her practice as inclusive as possible, and welcomes clients from all walks of life. She enjoys the many challenges life offers, yet knows the importance of dedicating time for self-care. Lisa is also a graduate of the National Circus School of Montreal, and former professional circus artist specializing in acrobatics. She co-founded Island Circus Space, the first circus school in Victoria. Her experience as an acrobatics coach has helped her to develop a solid foundation in body mechanics, movement progressions and stretching programs. Lisa endeavors to be an ally to all those in her life, be it as a friend, a coach or as a practitioner, and understands the importance of sometimes being downright silly.
Maria Brownlow, Yoga (she / her)
Mental Health and Well-Being – Chronic Pain – Neurological Conditions
Absolute Therapy is pleased to refer clients to Maria for therapeutic and adaptive yoga. Maria has been student of yoga for 10 years, and began teaching in 2016 after taking her first Yoga teacher training in Nepal. With training in traditional Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga she began training in therapeutic yoga to deepen her knowledge for working with those facing acute and chronic health conditions and how the practices of yoga can be adapted to suit the needs of anyone to promote wellbeing and health. Appointments can be booked directly through Maria and will take place at our clinic space. If you are interested in booking an appointment or learning more please contact Maria at: mariabrownlowyoga@gmail.com or 604-379-1009.
Nicole Hubers, RMT (she / her)
Registered Massage Therapy
Nicole graduated from Victoria's West Coast College of Massage Therapy in August 2022. In addition to her studies in massage therapy, Nicole previously completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences Athletic Therapy and her post-graduate diploma in Mental Health and Disability Management. Nicole is also a 200-hr registered yoga teacher. Nicole's previous education and experience has allowed her the opportunity to work with a variety of body conditions in both clinical and on-field settings, while prioritizing the needs and goals of the individual at hand. Her involvement with various sports has ultimately led to her interest in biomechanics, functional movement, performance and athletics; she brings her combined knowledge and skills to treat effectively while inspiring her clients to take part in their own health & well-being. Nicole aims to encourage a mind-body connection to create an empowering environment for each individual's healing capabilities, leading to a well-balanced life.
Rebecca Tranter, RMT (she / her)
Sports massage - Deep Tissue - Myofascial Release - Relaxation
Rebecca is a graduate from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy 2200 hour program in Victoria. She enjoys working with clients from all walks of life, and has special interest in working with athletes or helping clients return to athletic routines post-injury. From a young age Rebecca has always felt the importance of movement as part of wellness in life, and patient involvement and movement are often included as part of her treatment approach. She loves learning about the mind/body connection, and is excited to embark on her career as an RMT to continue to learn and help people every day. In her spare time Rebecca can be found in the gym, coaching or taking part in Crossfit classes, exploring the island, playing a game of crib or reading a good book.
Sarah McLean, RMT (she / her)
Deep Tissue - Myofascial Release - Relaxation - Trigger Point Release
Sarah is pleased to be joining the Absolute team providing interim care for Darcie’s clients this Spring while Darcie takes a short sabbatical to raise puppies. Sarah has been a practicing RMT since 2019, graduating from Sutherland Chan School of Massage Therapy in 2018. Client centered care is at the crux of her treatments, recognizing the value of clear goal setting and working with the client to create a treatment that is right for the individual, which can be ever changing. In its simplest form Sarah believes that massage therapy is a valuable tool in better understanding, appreciating and learning about your body and how connecting on a deeper level with your body is a necessary step in all types of healing. With a Physical and Health Education background she understands the power that knowledge and education about the body can have for people's self esteem, continued healing and connection to oneself. Sarah is trained in many techniques including STR (soft tissue release), myofascial release, trigger point therapy, joint mobilization, deep tissue massage, reiki level 1 practitioner and relaxation massage. Sarah is looking at becoming a certified yoga instructor with hopes to become a yoga therapist. In her spare time you can find Sarah surfing the south island, backpacking Vancouver Island, attending concerts, longboarding and biking around Victoria.
Sam Dalke, RMT (she / her)
Trigger Point Therapy - Myofascial Release - Deep Tissue Techniques - Stress Management
Sam is a graduate from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy here in Victoria. Through her massage practice, Sam endeavours to understand the underlying cause of each person’s condition. She is passionate about helping her clients reach their health goals with the use of assessment and comprehensive treatment planning. Sam has special interest in the treatment of overuse/ repetitive strain injuries and headaches, and strongly believes massage can help improve one’s quality of life, both physically and emotionally. When Sam is not massaging, she can be found biking, hiking and exploring all this wonderful island has to offer.
*Please note that Sam is on maternity leave effective December 2022.
Tiffany Pelletier, RMT (she / her)
Graston Technique - Myofascial Release - Postural and Sports Rehab
Tiffany has been practicing as a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) since early 2006. Since her successful completion of the Massage Therapy program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy, she has worked in a variety of integrated health clinics here in Victoria, as well as in New Zealand. In 2010 Tiffany was pleased to open Absolute Therapy. Tiffany strives to continually share her commitment to creating positive lifestyle changes through her practice and the workshops she provides in the community. She enjoys working with a variety of clientele and is passionate about educating about the wonders of massage.
*At present Tiffany is taking a break from her public practice to continue with other adventures.
Rosie
The Absolute team is thrilled to welcome our new team mascot, the adorable Rosie! Being new to the team, Rosie is still learning the ropes at Absolute but is certain to win you over with her enthusiasm. She is currently in training to become a Certified Therapy Dog, and in her off-time can be found playing with other puppies at the dog park, chasing toys or enjoying a good snooze. She looks forward to making Absolute Therapy a relaxing environment for all of our wonderful clients and can't wait to meet you soon!