About

Hi, I’m Brianna,

I grew up in the forests of Northern Vancouver Island in the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw (Port Hardy) and K'ómoks (Comox Valley) territories. My ancestral roots are predominately Irish, Scottish, German, and Native American from the Nlaka'pamux Nation (Lower Nicola Band) near Merrit BC. Although I didn’t grow up with knowledge or cultural understanding of my Celtic and Native roots, I have always felt a strong connection and calling to earth-based traditions, and seasonal rhythms.

My longing to understand the body and the human condition started very young. Growing up around addiction and disassociation combined with my own health challenges inspired a lot of curiosity and desire for deeper connection and healing. When I was 14 my grandma died of cancer and I became obsessed with researching alternative cures, which marked the beginning of my medicine studies. This lead me to studies in Buddhist philosophy, meditation, Ayurveda, yoga, herbal medicine, somatic therapy, energy and body work, plant ceremony, and later to Chinese Medicine.

Since childhood I struggled with reoccurring UTI’s, viral infections, and insomnia. After extensive travelling in my early 20’s I contracted the parasite giardia, and spent the next 10 years navigating gut issues, which later lead to chronic fatigue. Growing up without exposure to preventative or holistic approaches to health, I initially pursued conventional medical care, including medication and surgery, which did not fully address my concerns or their underlying causes. I understand what it’s like to exist with chronic pain and never feel well. I know it can be discouraging to try so many things and still not feel better. Nature-based medicine and modalities that acknowledge the mind/body connection and include nature’s wisdom is where I have found the greatest healing. Plants have played a profound role in my life, first through food and nutrition, and later through herbal medicine and psychoactive plant medicine ceremony. My healing journey has been deeply informed by plant medicine ceremony and teachings rooted in Indigenous traditions, which have shaped both my personal path and my approach as a practitioner. These experiences have expanded my understanding of healing as a deeply relational, embodied, and interconnected process. Before becoming a practitioner, I spent nearly a decade working in horticulture and landscape design, studying permaculture and plant ecology, and cultivating a hands-on understanding of plants through the practice of herbal medicine-making. My transition from gardener to practitioner has been a natural evolution, from tending the living ecology of the land to tending the unique ecology of the human body. The same principles of observing patterns, understanding relationships, and creating the conditions for health and vitality now guide my work in Chinese medicine.

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My Philosophy & Approach

I see every body as a unique ecosystem of intelligence that has physical and energetic parts. I treat from a whole system perspective, meaning I don’t look at things as singular, I look at them as connected to a whole system. A river that stops flowing is not an isolated event or separate from the forest that stand beside it.
I am an advocate for a less is more approach and I lead with curiosity and listening rather than agenda to fix the issue. I believe the body knows what it needs if given the opportunity to feel into what that is. I believe healing is a co-creation between the practitioner, the intent and attention of the client, and the body intelligence. In my practice I offer an open-hearted presence to support clients into deeper somatic awareness and embodied connection. I am passionate about educating my clients and providing lifestyle support to take out of the treatment room.

Certifications/Training

I am deeply grateful for all of my teachers and helpers along this journey, including the plants, animals, and more-than-human forces. Apart from these trainings, my work is strongly influenced by my experience with plant medicine journeys, nature connection, somatic counselling and extensive movement and dance practice.

Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Pacific Rim College

Dr. Tan’s Balance Method Level 1 & 2 Acupuncture, with Sonja Tan

10 Week Bodywork Intensive,with Malcolm Clark

Breast & Rib Massage Workshop, with Malcolm Clark

Somatic Inquiry Play Shop, with Mariah Moser (Combining Attachment Theory, Parts work, Trauma Resolution and Somatic Explorations)

Embodied Relational Gestalt Training, with Michael Clemmensat Esalen Institute in Big Sur California

7 day Somatic Meditation Retreat, Vajrayana Buddhist practice at Stowell Lake Farm on Salt Spring Island

Youth on Fire ~ A Somatic Rite of Passage Dance Teacher Training, with Melissa Michaels (Combining Bill Plotkin’s Eco-psychology principles and the human development wheel, Gabriel Roth’s 5 Rhythm framework and Somatic awareness techniques for body-centered rites of passage.

Jin Shin Do Acupressure Level 1 Training,with Tolling Jennings on Lasqueti Island (Combining Japanese Acupressure and Qi Gong)

Wild & Alive, with Thriving Roots Wilderness School (9 month nature connection program exploring land-based ancestral skills, the 8 shields model, mentorship and village living)

Permaculture Design Course,with Starhawk at OUR Eco Village

East West Herbalist Course, with Michael & Leslie Tierra through the school of Planetary Herbology

Thai Yoga Massage Training, with Julia Sevitt

Quantum Touch Level 1~ Becoming Energized, with Randy Zonnis (Energy Healing through somatic visualization and breathing techniques)

Reiki Level 1,with Taiya Curle

Testimonials

Brianna is an incredible, talented and such a calming presence. Honestly the best session I have ever experienced. Massage was perfect pressure and smooth to the touch. She listened and held the space in such a peaceful and subtle fashion. She carefully preformed cupping using glass and made sure I was okay with needles when she offered to use them. I reflected to her that I was in such a space of tranquility to me it felt psychodynamic. I work as a tree climber and if you do any kind of trade work I would highly recommend going to see her.

~ Derek A.

Highly recommend Brianna for your treatment. The minute I stepped in her space, I get wrapped with a sense of calmness and peace. From the few questions she asked and through out the treatment I received, I felt in good expert hands. After her treatment, I felt an ease in my breathing that I didn't felt for months and slept soundly for the first time in more than a year.

~ Mathieu P.

Brianna has a gentle, healing touch, and a thoughtful, thorough approach to treatment. My session included Tui Na massage, cupping, and needles. This combination of modalities really felt like an all-encompassing experience that left me feeling extremely relaxed and refreshed. I went into treatment with a sore neck and was pleasantly surprised to leave with decreased neck discomfort and a generally more relaxed feeling in my body. Brianna's treatment felt like such a powerful full-body reset.

~ Daniel B.

It was an absolute pleasure learning from Brianna. She explained and demonstrated everything with clarity and confidence, creating a space where everyone felt comfortable and supported. Her presence as an instructor was both grounding and inspiring. She was always attentive and available when we needed guidance. It was beautiful to witness her in her element, sharing her talent with such grace and assurance. I'm truly grateful for the experience of learning from her, and for all the unexpected lessons I learned about myself through the practice of contact dance.

~ Patrick M.

Brianna’s instruction was exactly what I was looking for. I found it constructive and greatly beneficial to my dance development. There were areas I had been struggling to find guidance on elsewhere and Brianna addressed each one with knowledge, clarity and depth. Her ability to explain and embody each concept made the learning approachable and safe. I left with a renewed confidence and excitement to get back on the dance floor. I can’t recommend Brianna and her offerings enough!

~ Rebecca D.