Clinically-informed care for sensitive and engaged humans

Massage Therapy

Registered Massage Therapy in Victoria, BC

Currently on sabbatical and in non-practising status with the CMTBC. I plan to return to practice in summer 2025.

I’m an RMT (non-practicing)with a focus on hands-on treatment that supports soft tissue health and nervous system regulation.

In each session, I draw from evidence-informed approaches including myofascial release and Craniosacral Therapy.

My approach is subtle, precise, and responsive—ideal for those seeking care that honours sensitivity, complexity, and nuance.

My practice focuses on:

  • Releasing tension and restrictions in fascia and muscle

  • Supporting nervous system downregulation through gentle touch

  • Improving comfort, mobility, and ease of movement

  • Addressing symptoms related to persistent pain, injury, or postural strain

About My Practice

My massage therapy practice focuses on subtle, nervous-system-based treatment, with Craniosacral Therapy (CST) as the primary approach. CST is a restorative therapy that works with the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord to support your body’s natural healing processes.

Whether you’re seeking relief from pain, stress, physical injury, or looking to deepen your connection with your body, CST offers a non-invasive, whole-body method for restoring balance.

Learn more about what to expect, coverage, and treatment details in the tabs below.

  • Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on treatment approach that works with the craniosacral system—the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround, protect, and nourish the brain and spinal cord. This system plays a vital role in supporting the health and function of the central nervous system (CNS), which influences nearly every other system in the body.

    CST focuses on assessing and treating restrictions in these membranes and surrounding connective tissues. The goal is to improve the environment around the CNS, enhancing the body’s natural ability to regulate, repair, and restore balance.

  • Many factors, including physical injury, repetitive strain, poor posture, inflammation, and stress can influence the craniosacral system.

    These forces may create tension patterns in the body’s connective tissues (fascia). Over time, these patterns can disrupt the natural balance of the craniosacral system.

    When restrictions occur, they can interfere with the function of the central nervous system and contribute to symptoms such as headaches, chronic pain, fatigue, and nervous system dysregulation.

    Long-term stress and strain can manifest in the body as muscle tension, altered breathing, and heightened nervous system arousal. If these patterns persist, they can impact the tissues and function of the body.

    CST practitioners use light, precise touch—typically no more than the weight of a nickel—to assess the movement and quality of the craniosacral rhythm and observe the client's nervous system response.

    When restrictions are identified, gentle techniques are applied to encourage the release of tension in the membranes and surrounding tissues. By restoring ease and mobility within the craniosacral system, CST helps create the conditions for the body to self-correct and return to a more balanced state.

  • Clothing: You’ll remain fully clothed and lie comfortably on a treatment table. It’s recommended to wear loose, comfortable clothing to support ease during the session.

    Touch: The therapist uses light, non-invasive contact—typically at key points on the body including the head, spine, sacrum, shoulders, torso, and legs. Touch is gentle and sustained, allowing the body to respond without force.

    Experience: Many clients report a sense of deep relaxation, stillness, or emotional release during or after the session.

    You may notice subtle internal shifts, a sensation of unwinding, or increased spaciousness in the body. Every session is unique, shaped by what your system is ready to access and release.

    Aftercare: It’s common to feel calm, clear, or grounded post-treatment. Some people feel energized, while others feel introspective or need rest. Allowing some quiet time afterwards can support integration.

  • While CST is a very gentle and low-risk approach, it is not appropriate for all conditions. It is not recommended for individuals with:

    • Acute intracranial hemorrhage

    • Recent traumatic brain injury (within 6 weeks)

    • Severe bleeding disorders

    • Increased intracranial pressure or active CNS infections

    If you’re unsure whether CST is a good fit for you, a consultation can help determine appropriateness and safety based on your health history.
    Email Dana to set this up:
    danasmithmassage@gmail.com

  • Yes. Craniosacral Therapy (CST) falls within the scope of practice for Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) in British Columbia. As long as your CST session is provided by an RMT, it is typically eligible for reimbursement under most extended health benefits plans that cover massage therapy.

    Be sure to check the details of your individual benefits plan for specific coverage information.

Who I Work Best With

This practice is a good fit for people who:

  • Are engaged in their own healing process and want support with the physical component

  • Experience persistent or complex discomfort or pain and are seeking sensitive, respectful care

  • Appreciate subtle, nervous-system-aware treatment

  • Prefer a collaborative, client-centred approach that adapts to how your body responds

While these sessions are grounded in physical treatment, I recognize that the body is not separate from the whole of who you are. Within the scope of massage therapy, I offer care that honours your lived experience and supports your physical goals in a co-created, respectful environment.

A Note on Fit

If you're simply looking to use your extended health benefits for general massage, there are many skilled RMTs who would be happy to support you.

My practice is specifically designed for those who want to work with a practitioner attuned to sensitivity, complexity, and the subtle layers of physical well-being.

My Values:

My practice is rooted in respect for you, your body, your story, and the pace at which recovery unfolds.

These values guide every aspect of how I work:

  • Informed consent and clear communication
    Consent is not a checkbox—it’s an ongoing dialogue. I prioritize transparency, check-ins, and mutual understanding throughout each session.

  • Client autonomy and collaboration
    You are the expert on your own experience. I bring clinical skill and therapeutic presence; together, we tailor each session to reflect your needs and preferences.

  • Respect for lived experience, complexity, sensitivity, and individual needs
    No two bodies are the same. Neither are any two moments of your lived experience. I honour the ways your history, identity, and sensitivity shape how you experience touch, pain, and recovery. I hold space for your ongoing process of transformation and integration.

  • Adaptability over protocol
    There is no one-size-fits-all. I adjust my approach based on what your body communicates in real time, rather than following a fixed sequence.

  • Pace that honours the nervous system
    Real change happens when the body feels safe. I work slowly and sensitively, allowing your system to unify at a sustainable pace.

  • Presence over performance
    This is not a space where you need to “do it right” or strive for results. You are welcome as you are, and our work unfolds from that foundation.

  • Trauma-sensitive, choice-driven care
    I understand that touch can bring up unexpected sensations or memories. I offer treatment with awareness, choice, and the option to pause, shift, or stop at any time.

  • A whole-person lens within professional scope
    Though I work within the physical scope of massage therapy, I understand that pain and tension do not exist in isolation. I bring a grounded, integrative awareness to every session.

  • Belief in the body’s capacity for change
    Even when things feel stuck, I trust that your body has wisdom—and that subtle, respectful care can help unlock more ease, function, and vitality.

It’s an honour to do this work—and a privilege to be entrusted with your care.

About Dana

Honouring the body’s wisdom.
Grounded in professional integrity.

I’ve been a Registered Massage Therapist since 2012, licensed by the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia. I am currently on sabbatical and in non-practising status with the CMTBC, and I’m in the process of reinstating my licence with the intention to return to clinical practice in summer 2025.

Over the years, I’ve worked in a range of clinical environments—running a small multidisciplinary clinic, collaborating with a team of sports performance and movement specialists, working in wellness centres, and practising within a longevity medicine setting. Across all populations, one thing remains true: people benefit from skilled, respectful guidance in learning to partner with their bodies.

In addition to hands-on care, I’ve taught at massage therapy colleges, supervised student clinics, and mentored new practitioners as they build confidence, competence, and therapeutic presence. I also worked alongside the leadership team at a massage therapy college to co-create and implement a Student Resilience program—an initiative that brought together my passions for well-being, personal development, and maintaining sustainable excellence in high-pressure environments. These roles have deepened my respect for the intelligence of the body—and for the ethical and multifaceted responsibility we hold as health care providers.

Though my massage therapy sessions are rooted in physical treatment and evidence-informed practice, my broader work is shaped by a deep commitment to personal growth, creative expression, and social responsibility. I maintain a creative practice, engage in ongoing inquiry about the nature of healing, and remain curious about the intersections of collective consciousness & spirituality, the physical & psychological human experience, and the impacts of partnering with the rhythms of the natural world.

Wellness, for me, is not just an individual pursuit—it’s a collective imperative. When we are well, we show up with more clarity, compassion, and capacity to create change.

My work is one small part of that vision.