— Eric Purves
Eric Purves is the founder of the Centre for Evidence Based Education. Like most massage therapists he began his career learning as many modalities, believing this was needed to help his patients, but it seemed that no matter how many techniques he learned his patients weren’t improving any faster. After years of frustration, and the realisation that most patient’s primary goal was to live pain free, he went to graduate school at UBC and received his Masters of Rehabilitation Science where he studied pain science and the use of evidence based practice for massage therapy. Through knowledge translation to clinical practice, his patients experienced better outcomes. Since then he has dedicated his career to educating therapists in pain science and evidence-based practice.

The Science of Massage Therapy

Don’t have time to read all the latest research on massage therapy? Then this webinar is for you. It will answer questions such as what does massage therapy do? How does it work? Why do some people feel better while others feel worse?

By the end of this webinar you will have a thorough understanding on the physiological and psychological impacts of touch and how massage therapy can positively influence an individual’s experiences of pain and function. We will end the presentation by discussing practical applications and I will answer the questions, when, why and how to use certain techniques and approaches so that you can provide more impactful and meaningful outcomes with your clients.

— Erin Singer RMT

Erin is an RMT in both BC and AB. She volunteers with the Pain Society of Alberta, and is part of the Foothills Professional Group focusing on pregnancy and pediatrics. Erin's postgraduate studies span child psychology, neurophysiology, nutrition, and pain science, enhancing her practice in movement & rehabilitation, and concussion testing. With over two decades as a first aid instructor, Erin advocates for children's access to qualified compassionate care with people who think kids are awesome!

Creating Safe Spaces for Pediatric Patients

Early experiences in healthcare profoundly shape children's perceptions and interactions with healthcare providers throughout their lives. This webinar aims to enhance your ability to effectively communicate with pediatric patients, establish a nurturing clinical environment, and understand fundamental aspects of brain development, all with a dash of humour!

By drawing on your previous experiences with children and integrating new knowledge, you will be empowered to refocus your clinic to actively engage children in their treatment plans. Practical examples of creating a child-friendly environment will be explored, such as optimising room setups to positively influence a child's perception, adapting communication styles to be engaging without being condescending, involving children in naming medical equipment, allowing them time to explore their surroundings, and encouraging them to ask questions.

You will be empowered to advocate for your youngest patients and be confident that you can provide a safe, supportive environment for them.

— Tanya Thomlinson RMT

Tanya Thomlinson is an RMT in Calgary, Alberta whose practice focuses on clients experiencing grief and loss. Her education includes a BA in Psychology and a Certificate in Grief Education, as well as considerable experience as a grieving person, a caregiver, and a grief support provider. She is a regular volunteer with the Rejuvenation Program at Ronald McDonald House Calgary. Outside work, Tanya is mum to two wonderful humans and three adorable felines. She loves reading, binges true-crime podcasts like there’s no tomorrow, and makes the world’s best pierogis, according to her family and friends.

Understanding Grief and its Effects on the Body

Did you know that you probably have grieving clients? It’s true: chances are high that you are already working with people who are grieving, whether or not they have chosen to share that with you. And did you know there are things you can do in your practice to help your grieving clients feel more comfortable and authentic, so they can get the most out of their session? This webinar will answer questions like what is grief and what does the grief experience look like? What effect does grief have on the body, the brain, and the emotions? How can I accommodate the unique needs of my grieving clients and importantly, how do I do this while remaining within my scope of practice?

— Susan Shipton MCLSC, RMT, CDT

Susan Shipton has been a massage therapist in Toronto since 2012 with a practice that focuses on supporting people through all stages of cancer. She is a Vodder- certified Combined Decongestive Therapist, trained in managing lymphedema and holds a Master’s degree in Interprofessional Pain Management. In 2024, she launched an 8-hour online continuing education course for RMTs on Oncology Massage.

Scar Tissue and Manual Therapy

As massage therapists, we’ve been taught that we can “soften scar tissue” and “release adhesions” with our hands. But how true is this? What does the research say? How do we reconcile current evidence with clinical practice?

In this webinar, we will briefly review what scar tissue is, how it is formed and what role it plays in healing. We will examine recent research around scar tissue and manual therapy and what tissue changes we can and can’t achieve. We will consider how to apply this evidence to our clinical practice and discuss timelines, safety, and efficacy of manual interventions in scar tissue.

Participants will leave with a current understanding of the limits and benefits of massage therapy in scar tissue management and an updated narrative to better serve their clients.

— Claudette Marie Warren, BSCHKIN, RMT
Claudette Marie brings over 18 years of dedicated practice in massage therapy, She earned an Honours Degree in Human Kinetics from Saint Francis Xavier University, complemented by a Massage Therapy Diploma from the prestigious Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy. Her clinical practices in both Newfoundland and Labrador have a combined focus on movement and mobility based techniques geared to alleviate pain and improve function. Claudette advocates for education and empowerment within the treatment setting, giving the client responsibility in their treatment journey. Outside of "clinic mode", you will find Claudette on the water rowing or paddling, in the woods hiking with her dogs, or on the volleyball court

Back to Basics: Movement Based Manual Therapy

Revisit the massage therapy technique standards in a way that enables you to interact more efficiently with the client's nervous system to increase mobility and decrease pain via nerve and/or joint mobilizations. The benefits are longer lasting effects between treatments, meaning you can treat more clients less often, you work within an enjoyable pain-free treatment zone for the client and there is less physical effort required in your everyday treatment regime.

We will explore both ends of the manual therapy continuum between the interactor style of treatment versus the operator style of treatment, as well as, Movement Based Techniques as a combined, yet simplified approach to treatment. By the end of this webinar you will appreciate the different styles of both joint and nerve mobility and movement that can be combined within a massage therapy treatment, to aid in a pain-free treatment experience.

— Mark Finch, RMT

Mark is an engaging and dynamic presenter who brings a broad foundation of knowledge and clinical skills to his courses. Mark is an RMT who has been in practice since 1996. He has training in Massage Therapy, Structural Integration and Visceral Manipulation. He has a passion for helping people with soft tissue and pain complaints of all kinds. In this webinar you will gain an understanding of pain mechanism classification, what the current evidence is and where this fits into Evidence-Based Practice. You will also learn simple tools to classify the dominant pain mechanism and how these tools are easy to integrate into your existing practice. 

How Understanding Pain Mechanism Classifications can Benefit your Massage Treatment

Do you find yourself confused over conflicting advice about how to treat pain? Learn treatment strategies most likely to help patients with nociceptive, nociplastic and neuropathic pain. Not all pain treatment is the same and ‘one size fits all’ is definitely not the best
clinical strategy. Pain mechanism classification is a simple tool that helps you be more effective and efficient in the clinic. Classifying the dominant pain mechanism helps clinicians to focus on a treatment approach that is more likely to help the patient. Targeted treatments just make more sense.

In this webinar you will gain an understanding of pain mechanism classification, what the current evidence is and where this fits into Evidence-Based Practice. You will also learn simple tools to classify the dominant pain mechanism and how these tools are easy to integrate into your existing practice.