Brheigh moved to Banff in 2015, shortly after completing her BA in International Development Studies at Dalhousie University. Despite being born and raised in a small and quiet Nova Scotian town, she felt drawn to the fast-paced and adventurous mountain lifestyle that Banff had to offer. After spending several years travelling and pursuing mountain hobbies, Brheigh felt called again to her passion for healing and wellness and to further her education. She enrolled in a four year intensive osteopathy program at the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy in January 2020, persevering through her program despite the global pandemic. She graduated in April 2024, as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner.

Brheigh believes that movement and exercise are directly related to both physical and emotional wellbeing. She is passionate about assisting others in healing so that they can enjoy this beautiful mountain playground and contribute to a vibrant community.

How would you describe your Style of Osteopathic techniques?

Osteopathic Manual Therapy is a gentle, hands-on manipulative treatment that focuses on bringing the body back to its proper alignment for optimal health. The OMP believes that the body’s structure will dictate its function, and that the body in true form has the tools it needs to heal itself. Just as one may place a house plant near a window and provide it with water, the OMP facilitates healthier living conditions for the body so that it may self-heal. This healing does not just happen on the table, but adjustments to treatment can continue from days to weeks after.

Osteopathy considers the systems and layers of the body as one unit of function. As the OMP works through these layers, they hunt for the root cause, without focusing solely on the effects or symptoms. For this reason, don’t be surprised if your appointment for a sore shoulder turns into a hip adjustment- this is a totally natural part of the process and what sets osteopathy apart from other modalities.

Classical Osteopathy is also principles-based, which means that each treatment will be catered to the patient’s individual needs. If one ‘technique’ is not working for the patient, there are many ways that we can pivot for best results and patient comfort.

What do you do when you aren’t working at the clinic?

When not in the treatment room, Brheigh can be found snowboarding, cross-country skiing, scrambling, back-country camping, doing yoga or trying a range of other sports. A multi-sport day is always a good day. She also enjoys attending to her house plants, getting creative with plant-based recipes, playing with her parrot and sharing a laugh with friends.

What made you decide to become an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner?

After experiencing first hand how chronic injuries restricting motion can impact mental health, quality of life and feelings of self-worth, Brheigh decided to pursue a career as an osteopathic manual practitioner in order to help others experiencing this. She chose osteopathy because each treatment is a unique puzzle that differs every time to cater to each individual patient. She was also drawn to the fact that osteopathy focuses on finding the root cause over treating symptoms, and uses only hands as the tool to administer treatment. Brheigh loves this field of practice both for its physical and mental benefits to the patient, and for the beautiful and rewarding feeling that comes with helping others.