Trauma-Informed Restorative Massage Therapy

Annie Bray, RMT

Serving Ottawa, Ontario

427 Gilmour Street

Ottawa, K2P OR5

By appointment only

Registered Massage Therapy is eligible for reimbursement with most insurance providers. Please check with yours to be sure.


New patients

Option 1 : If you’re ready to book your intake session, please click below and book your appointment or email me at info@anniebray.com

Feel free to also add your name to the waiting list, which will notify you automatically if something comes available sooner.

Option 1: Book a free introductory phone or video. These calls are helpful if you have questions or would be more comfortable connecting and building some rapport before our first in-person appointment. Click below to book an intro call!

Returning patients

Book at any time through the online booking service or by emailing me at info@anniebray.com

Services

  • Restorative Massage Therapy

    Trauma-informed, somatically oriented massage to support recovery and wellbeing.

    In person in Ottawa, Canada.

  • Mentorship for Massage Therapists

    Prevent burnout, improve patient relationships and deepen career satisfaction.

    In person and online.

  • Soft Skills For Hard Times

    Training & Resources for Massage Therapists

    COMING SOON

As an RMT, I bring warmth, great communication skills and a whole-human approach to massage therapy. I’m committed to staying current with research and follow an evidence-informed approach to assessments and treatment.

My treatments progress at the speed of trust*. I practice Radical Ongoing Consent, creating clarity and agreement at every step so you feel safe enough to receive my support. 

I strive to create a stable environment for those who are on the journey of trauma recovery, as well as a welcoming space for all bodies to be held with care. 

I’ve been practicing as a Registered Massage Therapist since graduating with honours from the International Academy of Applied Health in 2013. Since 1999 I’ve trained and worked as a registered acupressure therapist, registered yoga teacher and have completed many years of training and mentorship as a meditation teacher.

I bring years of experience as a community mental health worker to my treatments and more recently have finished an immersive program that focus on body-based, trauma-informed somatic coaching. You can read more about me and my training here.

*I carry this concept from writer-activist Adrienne Marie Brown.

It can be helpful for some new patients to have a short chat by phone or zoom before adding your name to the waiting list or coming in for your first visit.

What to expect from trauma-informed restorative massage therapy?

My trauma-informed approach can help make it possible to access safe touch at a pace that is manageable for you, which can be a valuable part of a trauma recovery journey. 

While clients sometimes experience emotional release, and I am equipped to hold space for that, the intention of these sessions is not to provoke trauma release. I am not a mental health professional and it is outside my scope as an RMT to provide trauma therapy.

I believe in approaching trauma supportive massage therapy at a doable pace that supports your nervous system to reclaim a sense of resilience, regulation and safety, over time.

Whether you are living with traumatic stress or not, I believe that everyone can benefit from a trauma informed, somatically-oriented approach to massage.

Potential Benefits:

Decrease pain

Improve sleep

Improve breathing mechanics

Support recovery from injury, surgery and illness

Reduce stress and relieve tension

Improve mobility, joint function and tissue health

Promote mindfulness, self-awareness and self-compassion

Nervous system regulation 

Increase a sense of choice and agency through consent

I believe all bodies deserve respect and care.

My intention is to offer a supportive space for all bodies to receive care. I practice through a lens of body neutrality, and remain committed to unraveling biases based on extremely narrow cultural norms. 

During my time as a massage therapist, many folks with non-conforming bodies—including those with larger bodies, tattoos, piercings, disabilities, scarring (including self-harm), body-hair and more—have reported feeling ease and safety in my practice.

As a cisgendered, white woman I’m committed to dismantling internalized racism and homophobia and learning to hold meaningful and supportive space for BIPOC and LGBTQ2IA+ folks. 

Accessibility

Our clinic is working towards full accessibility.

At the moment we have a full ramp but recognize that our double front door might be an obstacle for some people. We ask that you reach out if you would like to make a plan for accessing the space so we can help. We have an accessible bathroom and we also have chairs that can comfortable accommodate a range of body sizes in all of our rooms.

In my massage practice I often use a cushion that can be supportive in the following scenarios:

  • Back pain and tension

  • Larger/ Fat bodies

  • Large or tender chest

  • Pregnancy

 Book Me in Ottawa

By appointment only

Tuesdays 9 AM-430 PM

Thursdays 11 AM-7 PM

Fridays 9 AM-3PM

Saturdays 10AM- 2PM

427 Gilmour Street- Suite 1

Ottawa, K2P OR5

Parking information and how to prepare for your treatment will be provided in your booking confirmation.

The space is on the first floor. We are currently working towards complete accessibility but right now there are several steps to access the building. Please reach out if I can help make a plan for accessiblity.

Rate includes HST:

70-minute intake or ongoing treatment - $170

I offer a small number of sliding-scale spaces. If you are interested please inquire. All spaces are currently full but I can add you to the waiting list.