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our team

Our qualified practitioners work closely as a team to provide you with a treatment plan specific to achieving your therapeutic goals.

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Alex Fontaine, RMT (she / her)

Trigger Point Release – Deep Tissue – Sports Massage/Rehab – Relaxation

Alex graduated from Victoria’s West Coast College of Massage Therapy in August 2023.
Throughout school, she was able to work in a variety of environments, including relaxation,
rehabilitation, and sporting events. One of her highlights throughout the WCCMT program was
creating a treatment plan focusing on the effects of massage therapy on symptoms associated
with endometriosis. This was an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling process. She is dedicated to
keeping a fully inclusive practice, helping everyone feel comfortable in their bodies. Alex has used
a variety of modalities to help people achieve their goals, including trigger point release, active
and passive modalities, myofascial release, and joint mobilizations. Outside of massage therapy, Alex has always had a strong life-long passion for dance, and currently teaches at an adult drop-in studio in Victoria teaching a variety of styles from contemporary to heels. This background has helped developed a base of body muscle movement and injury rehabilitation. Other than dance, Alex also enjoys weightlifting, paddleboarding, camping, going to the beach and exploring local restaurants in her free time. 

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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 passionate 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!

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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!

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Jordan Martindale, RMT (she / her)

Deep Tissue - Sports massage - Relaxation - Myofascial Release 

 

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. 

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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.

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Kailer Belliveau, RMT (she/her)

PNF stretching  - Sports and Injury rehab and prehab – Deep Tissue – Myofascial Release

Kailer graduated from The West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2023. Before going to school for massage therapy, she worked as a marine science educator in Vancouver and has always been passionate about the ocean and the outdoors. 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. Understanding the mind-body connection and how integral that connection is to healing and living ones fullest life is a key element to Kailer’s approach to massage therapy.

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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.

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Kevin Thayer, RMT (he / him)

Fascial Release - Relaxation - Deep Tissue - Stretching & Strengthening Homecare 

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.

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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.

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Lisa Eckert, RMT (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.

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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.

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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.

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Sarah McLean, RMT (she / her)

Deep Tissue - Myofascial Release - Relaxation - Trigger Point Release 

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. 

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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.

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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!

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