Melissa West: Clinic Director, BPE, RMT, MCMT

Melissa West has been practicing Massage Therapy since 1996 and has been a resident of Kamloops since 1997. She graduated from UBC with a Bachelor's degree in Human Kinetics and went on to obtain a diploma from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 1996. Melissa utilizes her background in Human Kinetics to complement her Massage Therapy treatments by providing her patients with an interdisciplinary approach to their rehabilitation and care.

Melissa is dedicated to helping people rehabilitate, prevent, and manage injuries and/or chronic conditions, by providing patient-centered care and promoting permanent positive lifestyle changes. Her approach is neurocentric, which focuses on regulating the nervous system to promote a healthy mind-body connection, and ultimately manifest physical health and wellness. Melissa also has a passion for teaching and her practice offers her the ability to teach through patient education, movement therapy classes, and pain/stress management seminars.

After several years in practice, Melissa realized that she could not address all the needs of her patients single-handedly. Therefore, Melissa uses an interdisciplinary, team approach, and refers patients to resources outside the clinic if necessary. Melissa is always looking for additional practitioners to join the team in order to enhance patient care.

Over the years, Melissa has been able to give back to the Kamloops community by volunteering with various sports teams (hockey, football, rugby, soccer) and providing first aid, Massage Therapy, and athletic training services as required. She has gained invaluable technical experience, as well as connections with the community at large, by continuing with volunteer activities. Melissa cherishes the experience of joining Operation Nicaragua to train impoverished women in relaxation massage techniques which allowed them to be gainfully employed at various tourist resorts in their country. The income these women may now generate will help to guarantee food and shelter for themselves and their families.

Melissa's lifelong goal has been to be fit, feel healthy, and live pain-free and she wants to help others do the same.

Michael Reoch, RMT

Since Michael can remember, he has had a passion for helping people. That passion, mixed with his drive to learn how the body works led him to become an RMT.  He has spent hundreds of hours in post-graduate education on the science of pain. He uses this knowledge to uniquely assess patients and figure out how he can help. Like most RMTs, he has training in many different techniques. He will work with you to find the one that best suits your body. He believes that firm/deep pressure is not always better than lighter/superficial pressure. What is important, is where the pressure is applied. 

He is excited to settle with his family in Kamloops. They have recently decided to move from the lower mainland and can't wait to get to know the community better.

Michael's credentials:  He graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2007 and is a member in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC) and the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC (RMTBC). He is a past instructor at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. He has chaired research panels at a variety of conferences, including the Third International Fascia Research Congress in Vancouver, the RMTBC international Persistent Pain conference, and the RMTBC Manual Therapy conference.  He teaches postgraduate courses on the neurocentric approach for pain management to RMTs, Physios, Osteos, and Chiros throughout BC as well as across Canada, the USA, and in Europe. 

Marcia Wright Reoch

When I was younger, I suffered from a chronic shoulder problem after intense sport training. My rehab involved a wonderful manual therapist who helped me through my pain, and inspired me to do the same for others. I use manual therapy, patient education, and strengthening with patients. I have a passion for working with women during and post-pregnancy, a passion that was enhanced by having had two children of my own. In my 16 years practicing as an RMT, I have gained a strong knowledge working on a wide variety of pathologies and postural imbalances. I believe that postural alignment and muscle balance are important in recovery.  My husband, Michael, and I started a massage therapy practice in South Delta 10 years ago, which you can read more about at http://wellandable.ca/. 

​In my free time, I enjoy being active and hanging out with my family. I love swimming, nature, and most outdoor activities. I enjoy DIY projects around the house and being creative in many different ways, such as sewing, poems, and art projects with my kids. Most recently I have become very interested in permaculture and growing much of the food my family eats.

​I graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2007. I am a member in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of BC (CMTBC) and the Registered Massage Therapists Association of BC (RMTBC).

DEANDRA TOUSIGNANT, M. ED. COUNSELLING

• E-RYT 200 Yoga Instructor
• Desensitization Therapist
• Pain/Stress Care Coach

Deandra has been teaching yoga for over five years and completed a direct 200 hour Yoga Alliance certified mentorship with Katrina Ariel in Kamloops, BC. In the past five years, she has taken various workshops with highly skilled instructors including Michael Stone, Anodea Judith, Ryan Leier, Bram Levinson, Neil Pearson and Noah Maze. Her helping practise is grounded in the belief that by creating space, in our lives, to heal and grow, we facilitate greater community healing and change. As a yoga instructor she incorporates learnings from her Masters in Education Counselling, as well as her training in Somatic Experiencing.

In her counselling sessions, Yoga classes and workshops she strives to create a space where individuals can be present with themselves physically, mentally as well as spiritually. Her classes and meditations encourage nervous system regulation and self-compassion. Combining her training in counselling and yogic studies, she specializes in yoga and meditation for everyone including those who experience the impacts of trauma, chronic pain and mental illness.