THE VHHC HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS
After serving the Victoria community for over eight years, the Victoria Holistic Health Clinic is has closed its doors (as of the end of August 2021), however the VHHC’s director Séamus continues to see clients in person at his private office just 5 minutes away. Like many of us Séamus has pivoted to an online approach as well.
If you wish to book an appointment with Séamus or learn more about his new offerings, please visit:
Victoria Holistic Health Clinic
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Do you want freedom from emotional or physical pain? Do you long for unmedicated relief and real solutions that you’re realizing conventional medicine can’t provide?
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We are Victoria’s centre for effective alternative health services & education, addressing problems of the Body AND Mind.
Our modus operandi:
To heal the body, treat the mind. To treat the mind, heal the body.
If you’re ready to move beyond conventional medicine and try something different, something holistic…
…You’re in the right place!
Our Services
BODY WORK
INTEGRATED BODYWORK (IB)
Experience all-in-one bodywork
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Integrated Bodywork (IB) is exactly as it sounds – it is an integration or synergy of some of the most effective physical and energetic methods of bodywork treatment, both modern and ancient. IB utilizes a broad range of techniques to increase the scope of what can be accomplished in sessions and significantly speeds the body’s self-healing abilities. IB may greatly reduce recovery time from certain types of chronic health conditions, such as:
- chronic pain
- alignment issues, both skeletal & muscular
- chronic back problems, particularly lower back pain
- chronic neck, shoulder, and joint pain
- chronic headaches/migraines
- arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
- menstrual dysfunction and irregularity
- chronic digestive/gastro-intestinal conditions
- other chronic organ problems leading to serious health conditions
- long-standing mental-emotional issues including depression and anxiety
- degenerative nerve conditions
IB recognizes that the more angles at which you come at a particular problem, the faster it is solved. The methods and procedures utilized in Integrated Bodywork overlap with the following disciplines: Shiatsu Therapy, Tui Na Massage (Traditional Chinese Massage for Injuries), Active Release, Orthopedic Assessment, Cupping, Medical Qi Gong, Polarity Therapy, Re-Balancing, Biofeedback / Muscle Testing, Bodytalk, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Myo-fascial Release, Dry-needling, guided visualization, etc. There is much overlap in the techniques used in all of the above modalities, a few of which are explained below.
Some of the elements of IB:
Cupping
The art of Cupping is an ancient practice found in many cultures. From China, Korea, and Japan, to Afghanistan, Egypt, & Mongolia, cupping has been used for centuries by much of the Eastern continent. Traditional cupping involves the use of orb shaped cups made of natural materials such as glass, clay, and sometimes wood. Of course in modern day plastic cups have been developed as well.
The magic of cupping lies in the vacuum effect of the cups. The practitioner creates this vacuum by quickly inserting a flame into the opening of the cup to burn off any oxygen after which the cup is quickly placed on the skin before oxygen can re-enter. This vacuum or suction effect creates a negative pressure 3 inches into the body, working to draw out dead cells, poisons, and toxins held deep within the tissues and organs.
The principle use of cupping is to heal very old soft tissue damage from long-standing injuries; injuries such as from sports, motor vehicle accidents, and repetitive use. Cupping helps to relax chronic muscle spasms and tension, resolve headaches, and can quickly turn around colds and flu’s. It is especially effective in resolving the problems associated with scar tissue and myo-fascial adhesions.
It is important to note that cupping leaves noticeable marks on the body. The skin becomes red, blue or dark purple resembling bruising from physical impact. These marks, however, are a healthy and natural bi-product of the healing process. They can be touched and pressed without pain. It can take up to two weeks for the skin to return to it’s usual colour.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu utilizes a wide range of acupressure techniques for various chronic and acute health problems including: Pain & stiffness of the joints, musculoskeletal alignment issues, low-back pain, neck & shoulder pain, headaches & migraines, menstrual dysfunction, and digestive dysfunction.
Most methodologies residing under the umbrella of acupressure, including Shiatsu, utilize both physical and energetic stimulation of specific points all over the body. The still and focused nature of Shiatsu is what sets it apart from the rest.
There are two main schools of thought when it comes to Shiatsu. One branch (sometimes called the “Namikoshi” method) places all of it’s emphasis on acupressure applied only by the fingers, namely the thumbs. Namikoshi Shiatsu is based completely on Western science. It’s framework is based solely on western anatomy, physiology, and patho-physiology and locations of points are deduced strictly in relation to the physical structures of the body.
The other main branch of Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu, is a traditional style utilizing not only the fingers and thumbs, but any part of the body deemed effective, such as the palms, elbows, forearms, knees, and feet. Emphasis is placed on Qi, tsubos, and meridians themselves (the lines of pure energy running through the body. See FAQs page for more info on these concepts). Like all ancient healing sciences, Zen Shiatsu utilizes the same meridian and tsubo systems of the body that eastern acupuncture does. Practitioners use their “intrinsic force” to manipulate the Qi, tsubos, and mai (meridians) of the patient. This concept is common within all ancient eastern healing sciences.
In both forms of Shiatsu the practitioner assesses and treats the body simultaneously, making Shiatsu one of the most efficient forms of hands-on treatment.
Energy Healing
Most traditional healing methods from around the world include an energy healing component. Though very physical in nature, methodologies like shiatsu, acupuncture, thai massage, etc. all focus on the Qi of the body, not the physicality. There are also other methods included in IB that are exclusively energetic. Here are a couple:
Reiki is a Japanese healing technique utilizing the subconscious power of symbols and awareness of energy-flow patterns. The symbols and their meaning are safe-guarded amongst Reiki practitioners in order to preserve the purity and safety of their use. The mind is used to project energy through the practitioner and patient to heal the body on all levels through the energetic foundations of organic life.
Pranic healing has it’s roots in Ayurveda, India’s most revered healing science system. Pranic healing utilizes the subconscious power of colour, and sometimes sound, in order to work with the energies of the human body more effectively. Every colour has it’s own unique healing properties which the practitioner uses to manipulate the energies of the patient. This is a potent energy healing technique, the use of which must be used with care.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis goes by many names in the modern age: Trance, flow state, theta state, “the zone”, etc. It is the state of hyper-learning and therefore the ideal state for changing your subconscious patterns – a process hypnotherapy is specifically designed for.
Hypnotherapy is the father modality of all subconscious mind-related healing arts in the West. The techniques used in hypnotherapy were borrowed from Taoist & Buddhist monks by westerners long ago, and made into the effective, efficient, and science-based art-form that it is today. Through intentional use of the hypnosis, hypnotherapists use a wide variety of techniques to transform a client’s unwanted behaviours and health problems. They do this by re-engineering the core (subconscious) beliefs that drive the body-mind in the way the client desires. The result is often a new and vastly superior modus operandi – a set of behaviours that finally generate the thriving healthy life that was beginning to seem impossible for many.
Whether the difficulty lies in chronic depression, anxiety, addiction, low self-worth, phobias, or any other form of self-deprecation and self-sabotage, hypnotherapy has a reputation for getting to the root cause of these issues, generating lasting (and often permanent) transformations. Though hypnotherapy “may” be most well known for dealing with phobias and addictions, its uses today surpass these, “possibly” lending itself well to countless physical, psycho-emotional, and even spiritual health problems. Because western science has now proven what ancient cultures around the world have taught for millenia, that the mind can directly change the body, hypnotherapy “may” be considered helpful for virtually any health problem. The placebo effect is testament to just that.
Our repeating patterns of thought create our beliefs, which result in our behaviour, which results in both our character and bodily health. By working to effectively alter core belief systems to work for you rather than against you, hypnotherapy facilitates self-realized potential through the mysterious and powerful placebo effect of your mind.
Tui Na
Tui Na (‘twee-nah’) is an ancient form of traditional Chinese massage. It involves repetitive, deep, stroking methods of massage along with passive stretching, pulsating pressure, skeletal adjustments techniques similar to western chiropractic, and myo-fascial release techniques similar to Active Release. Like Shiatsu, the Tui Na practitioner utilizes intrinsic force to have their pressure penetrate into the body in a way that feels deeper and far more satisfying than what just muscle strength (eg. western massage) can provide. Tui Na “may” be renowned for helping resolve deep-seated soft tissue damage caused by severe physical trauma (such as from motor-vehicle accidents or sports injuries). Other conditions Tui Na is known to effectively alleviate are: Chronic muscle pain and fatigue, bone injuries, chronic headaches/migraines, skeletal misalignment issues, menstrual dysfunction, edema, myo-fascial compression syndromes, scar tissue complications, & gastro-intestinal dysfunction. Tui Na and Shiatsu have similar track records in their effectiveness and are based on virtually the same ancient sciences. If you wish to learn more about the workings of these asian healing systems please read the information provided in the “Shiatsu” tab.
MIND WORK
LIFE COACHING & COUNSEL (LCC)
Experience next-level life coaching, upgrade your life, never look back
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LCC is an empowerment-driven fully integrated coaching approach to personal transformation, designed to lift your life to a new level. LCC addresses all areas of life (diet, exercise, mental health, dating, relationships, self-esteem, self sabotage, etc.) and accelerates your ability to overcome your greatest personal health and life challenges. LCC is facilitated through regular daily contact through video/phone calls, texts, and in person sessions (for locals), plus homework, accountability commitments, hypnotherapeutic elements, and various other methods of ensuring you get on track and stay there. Have you ever experienced reliable, effective, and next-level support from someone who knows how to have your back in a way that actually works for you? Imagine the combined force of both soft and tough love from a human being that won’t let you back down on yourself… a huge heart that both holds space for your tears and fears, yet holds you accountable so you never give up again. LCC will change your life if you let it. Book a free intro coaching call today and see if these words match your experience. I dare you 😉
BMR-Hypnotherapy
Hack your subconscious, change your life!
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Hypnotherapy is the father modality in the west for all subconscious mind (energy-psychology) related healing arts. The techniques used in hypnotherapy were borrowed from Taoist monks by westerners long ago, and made into the effective, efficient, and science-based art-form that it is today. Through intentional use of the hypnotic state (aka. hypnosis or trance), a hypnotherapist uses a wide variety of techniques to transform a client’s unwanted repetitive behaviours by re-engineering the core beliefs that drive them. Whether the difficulty lies in chronic depression, anxiety, addiction, low self-worth, phobias, or any other form of self-deprecation and self-sabotage, hypnotherapy gets to the root cause of these issues generating lasting (and often permanent) positive change. Though hypnotherapy is most well known for dealing with phobias and addictions, its uses today far surpass these, lending itself well to countless physical, psycho-emotional, and spiritual health problems.
Body-Mind Repatterning (BMR) is an integration of elements found in hypnosis, EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing), muscle testing, tapping, live-channelling, and others.
Our beliefs shape how we think, which results in our behaviour, which results in our character. By working to effectively alter core belief systems to work for you rather than against you, hypnotherapy facilitates self-realized potential through intentional activation of the mysterious and powerful placebo effect of your mind.
REIKI
Rebalance & recharge your energy-body
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Reiki is a Japanese energy healing methodology designed to influence the energetics of the human body to aid rapid rebalancing and healing of all of the body’s systems. This is done via the practitioner’s mental (energetic) influence over the client’s biology using the subconscious power of ancient symbols to affect the quantum level of being. Many ground-breaking studies have been done on the healing effect of mental intent on the human body since the early 1900s, putting Reiki amongst the few forms of energy healing that have a worldwide following. Reiki does what it says it can do and if you have never tried a purely energetic form of treatment, Reiki is the place to start.
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Here’s what our clients have to say:
The Victoria Holistic Health Clinic provided treatment to properly address the chronic neck and back pain that has caused me severe headaches for most of my life. In particular, I was extremely impressed with the holistic approach which went far beyond physical treatment, connecting other aspects of life, emotions, and stress that influence my wellbeing. Thank you for the safe and comfortable space to fully explore the healing process and to better understand myself.
Prior to going to the VHHC I felt tension and pain throughout my entire body as I struggled with chronic pain, previous injuries, and various health issues. Now not only do am I pain free, I also feel more centered, energized, and happier than I’ve been in a long time. I think I may have finally found a place that can assist me on my healing journey.
They really listened to what was going on in all facets of my life. I really felt heard, seen and honoured. Not to mention, the actual bodywork session was amazing!
I thought I was going in for just a massage… I was quite wrong. It was so much more than that. My practitioner really paid attention to what I had written down on my intake form and he really knew how to get to the root causes of my issues.
The level of understanding I was shown of the body, as well as the mind, and how they react with each other, was powerfully insightful and helped explain long-standing issues I’ve had. During my session, my practitioner was very conscious of making me feel safe, both mentally and physically, and the atmosphere was very relaxing and calm. I recommend the VHHC to everyone!
Get help with the following:
Anxiety
Appetite problems
Arthritis / Rheumatism
Alignment issues
Asthma
Auto-immune conditions
Backache / Lumbago
Blood pressure irregularity
Bronchitis
Bowel irregularities
Bursitis
Cancer
Car accident injuries
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Circulatory problems
Chronic dehydration
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic inflammation
Chronic pain
Chronic back problems (ie. low back pain, degenerated discs, etc.)
Constipation
Depression
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Disc Degeneration
Digestive disorders
Fibromyalgia
Frigidity
Frozen Shoulder
Headaches and Migraines
Immunity problems
Infertility
Inflammatory conditions
Insomnia
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Joint problems / pain
Menopause
Menstrual dysfunction
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular pain/stiffness/ache
Muscular spasms
Neck pain
Neurological conditions
Osteoporosis
Plantar Fasciitis
Pregnancy health
Premenstrual syndrome
Sciatica
Shoulder pain
Soft tissue damage
Stones (gall, kidney, bladder, etc.)
Stroke Recovery
Tendonitis
Toxicity
Whiplash