About Lisa Matthews

Here’s the thing.

I never knew what being a Highly Sensitive Person (or an HSP) really meant growing up. I’d heard the term before and thought “Oh yeah that sounds something like me,” and left it at that.

It wasn’t until the depths of burnout and breakdown that I realized how pivotal it really was to learn sacred self-care for my Highly Sensitive self.

You see, I used to be a Registered Nurse. I loved being an emergency nurse in particular, (ironic I know).

Yet I just had no flippin’ idea how much the crazy shift work (and the hospital environment in general) was overloading my nervous system and body past what it could handle…day in, day out.

I lived in such a deep state of overwhelm for years before my body and my mind, finally said…enough.

I went through some pretty intense and prolonged persistent pain (aka chronic pain) and anxiety, with many strange symptoms showing up that the medical community couldn’t explain. Trust me, it is a very weird experience to go to the ER I worked at and ask to be checked out.

As difficult as it was at the time, these experiences taught me more than any book or training ever could about the body and its healing capacities on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual layers.

To make a long story short, I had to take a 2 year medical leave to focus on healing body, my mind, and my spirit from the years of overwhelm that I’d lived with, along with previous injuries and traumatic experiences that had taken their toll.

I dove into learning about the nervous system during my Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Training.

I deeply explored and read everything I could get my hands on about the trait of High Sensitivity.

I integrated this together with my Massage Therapy training with an expanded scope of practice for navigating the challenges people experience in their physical body, their muscles and joints.

The path I’ve walked in life, from the mountains to the valleys, has greatly enriched my life. I now seek to support others on their own healing path.

Official Bio

Ok so that’s a little about my own journey, here’s a more ‘official’ kinda bio for you (written in third person of course, because, that’s how you’re meant to do these things ;)

Lisa recently graduated from Vicars School of Massage Therapy and has received her designation as a Registered Massage Therapist in BC. Her sessions are now covered under extended health benefits.

Lisa’s approach to massage is gentle yet effective, weaving intuition with her knowledge of the body and a wide variety of treatment techniques. (Please note she does not do sustained deep-tissue massage.)

Lisa is also a Registered Craniosacral Therapist, and finds this work can be very effective at calming the nervous system. She’s been working in the healing arts for about 15 years with a background as a Registered Nurse.

She has a special interest in working with those who have jaw pain (TMJ dysfunction) and related headaches, as well as working with Highly Sensitive People, who can especially benefit from a nervous-system focused treatment style.

Her intention is for every person to feel deeply relaxed while also feeling empowered, having learned a little more about their body after every soothing session.

When she’s not working, you can find Lisa wandering in the woods, riding her motorcycle, or reading a book with a cat (or two) on her lap.

**Please note: Lisa is not accepting ICBC or WCB cases at this time

Training

Bachelor of Nursing Degree (LaTrobe University) - 2010
Emergency Nursing Postgraduate Certificate (BCIT) - 2012
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Diploma (Body Intelligence) - 2017
Somatic Psychology & the Potency of the Psyche Postgraduate Certificate (Body Intelligence) - 2018
Flower Essence Services (FES) Professional Course -2019
Flower Essence Services (FES) Practitioner Training - 2020
Remedial Massage Therapy Diploma 2200 hours(Vicar’s School of Massage Therapy) - 2024

You can book in for a session at 2 locations:

If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send the days you’re available to lisa@combinationhealing.ca

I acknowledge that I live, work, and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sn̓ʕaýckstx (Sinixt), the Secwepemc, the Ktunaxa, and the Syilx. This area is also called Rossland, BC, Canada in the beautiful South Kootenay Region.