Massage therapy, Kelowna
Craniosacral therapy in Kelowna
Craniosacral therapy is among the gentlest things done in a treatment room. The therapist's hands rest at the base of the skull, along the spine or at the sacrum with pressure about the weight of a coin, listening for and encouraging small changes in tension.
What craniosacral therapy actually involves
It comes from osteopathy and is used for the kind of problem that does not respond well to being pushed on: headaches with a jaw or neck component, tension that returns as soon as it is released, and a nervous system that stays on alert. Sessions are quiet, fully clothed or draped, and most people describe a sense of heaviness or drift.
Three practitioners here have trained in it and use it inside their own discipline: Christy, a Registered Massage Therapist, as part of a massage treatment; Becky, our physiotherapist, within physiotherapy; and Kate, a manual osteopath with advanced cranial osteopathy training, within osteopathic treatment. Which one you book depends on what else you want treated and on which clinic suits you.
It is not a substitute for assessment of a new head injury, and it makes no promises about conditions beyond tension and restriction. What it offers is a very gentle route in when everything else feels like too much.
Booking this
With Christy, book a 60-minute massage and ask for craniosacral work. With Becky or Kate, book a physiotherapy or osteopathy appointment at Kirschner and mention it at the start.
Book any massage appointment and tell your therapist you want craniosacral work, or call the front desk and they will match you with someone who does a lot of it.
Before you book
See a doctor first for any recent head injury, sudden severe headache, or new neurological symptoms. Craniosacral work is for tension and restriction, not for diagnosing what is behind them.
People book craniosacral work for
- Headaches with a neck or jaw component
- Tension that returns as soon as it is released
- People who find firm pressure hard to tolerate
- A nervous system that will not settle
- Gentle work alongside physiotherapy or osteopathy
Not sure this is the right fit? Call either clinic and describe what is going on. The front desk will point you at the style, or the discipline, that suits.
Craniosacral therapy pricing in Kelowna
Craniosacral work is booked as a registered massage therapy appointment, so the rates are the standard massage rates. They include tax, and the time covers assessment, changing, education and home care.
Massage therapy
$90
30 minutes
Massage therapy
$110
45 minutes
Massage therapy
$135
60 minutes
Best for a first visit
Massage therapy
$155
75 minutes
Massage therapy
$190
90 minutes
Kirschner
#120 - 1815 Kirschner Rd
Mon-Thu 7:30am-7pm, Fri 8:30am-4pm, Sat 8am-3pm
Often booked for
Tension headaches
Most recurring headaches are not coming from your head. Tightness through the upper neck, jaw and shoulders refers pain up and around the skull, and treating that tissue is often what changes the pattern.
Read moreTMJ & jaw pain
Jaw pain, clicking and clenching respond to hands-on treatment more often than people expect. The muscles involved are reachable, both from outside and, where appropriate, inside the mouth.
Read more
Who provides it
Every one of our 13 Registered Massage Therapists can take this appointment. Book by name, or ask the front desk who has the most experience with craniosacral work.
Derya Welder
R.M.T., Owner
- Lymphatic drainage
- TMJ and jaw pain
- Hot stone massage
Glenmore + Kirschner
Profile and booking
Kristina Addison
R.M.T.
Not accepting new patients
- Functional movement
- Mobility and flexibility
Kirschner
Profile and booking
Christy Vat
R.M.T., Clinic Manager
- Headaches and migraines
- Nerve pain
- Digestive concerns
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Cassie Poch
R.M.T.
- Postural imbalance
- Exercise soreness
- ICBC claims
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Chantal Whitaker
R.M.T.
- Recovery and injury prevention
- Chronic pain
- Body awareness
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Alyssa Watkins
R.M.T.
- Pregnancy massage
- Chronic pain
- Postural imbalance
Glenmore
Profile and booking
Kirby Hogg
R.M.T.
- Return to activity
- Deep tissue work
Kirschner
Profile and booking
Olivia Szombathy
R.M.T., IASTM Certified
- IASTM
- Deep tissue
- Prenatal massage
Glenmore + Kirschner
Profile and bookingMassage therapy questions
Do I need a doctor referral to book?
No. In British Columbia you can book massage therapy, physiotherapy, osteopathy, kinesiology and acupuncture directly, with no referral. Some extended health plans ask for a referral before they reimburse, so check your own plan if you intend to claim.
How much does a massage cost in Kelowna at Back in Health?
Registered massage therapy is $90 for 30 minutes, $110 for 45, $135 for 60, $155 for 75 and $190 for 90 minutes. All massage rates include tax. We recommend 75 minutes for a first visit so there is time to assess properly.
How long should my first massage appointment be?
We recommend 75 minutes. A first visit includes a health history and assessment, and a 75-minute booking means that happens without eating into hands-on treatment time. Shorter appointments work well once your therapist knows your history.
What is the difference between massage therapy, physiotherapy and osteopathy?
Massage therapy treats soft tissue directly to reduce pain and tension. Physiotherapy assesses how a joint moves and loads, then combines manual treatment with a progressive exercise plan. Manual osteopathy is gentler and whole-body, easing restriction across joints, fascia and connective tissue.
What should I expect at my first visit?
Arrive a few minutes early to complete a short health history. Your practitioner will ask about your symptoms and goals, assess the area, and then treat. You leave with a plan: what was found, what to do at home and whether a follow-up is worth booking.
Will I be sore after a massage?
Some mild soreness for a day or so is common after deeper work, much like after a workout. Drink water, keep moving gently and use heat if it helps. Sharp or lasting pain is not expected, so let your therapist know at your next visit or call the clinic.
What should I wear?
For massage you undress to your comfort level in private and stay covered by a sheet, with only the area being treated uncovered. For physiotherapy, osteopathy and kinesiology, wear or bring loose clothing you can move in.
Are your massage therapists registered?
Yes. Every massage therapist at Back in Health is a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), which is a regulated health profession in British Columbia. That registration is what makes your treatment eligible for extended health coverage.
Do you offer hot stone or infant massage?
Yes, both with Derya. She has completed training in therapeutic hot stone massage; book a massage with her and ask for stones, or call to confirm. Infant massage appointments are 30 or 45 minutes and are booked as a new infant patient the first time.
We bill your insurer directly.
Less paperwork at the desk, with clear answers before treatment starts.
Full billing details- Most major insurers
- You pay only the portion your plan does not cover, at the desk. Coverage still depends on your individual policy.
- ICBC accepted
- Massage, physiotherapy and kinesiology. Bring your claim number. WCB and WorkSafeBC are not accepted.
- No referral needed
- In BC you can book any of it directly. Some plans still ask for one before they reimburse, so check yours.
- Canada Life
- Sun Life
- Manulife
- Johnson
- Pacific Blue Cross
- GreenShield
- Empire Life
- RWAM