Our Team
At Balance Physiotherapy & Massage, our team in Okotoks is dedicated to helping you move without pain, recover fully, and get back to the active lifestyle you love. We deliver personalized, hands-on care tailored to your unique goals—whether you are rehabilitating from a sports injury, managing everyday aches, or striving for peak physical performance. Combining clinical expertise with a compassionate, patient-centered approach, we are here to support your long-term health every step of the way.
Physiotherapists
Aaron Wong
Physiotherapist, B.M.R. PT., BSc. HNS., CAFCI
Originally from Winnipeg, Aaron holds degrees in both Nutritional Sciences and Medical Rehabilitation in Physical Therapy. He is deeply committed to progressive, functional rehabilitation, moving patients past basic pain management into long-term performance. Aaron has pursued extensive continuing education to offer highly targeted care for complex issues, holding advanced certifications in Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders, advanced functional dry needling, anatomical acupuncture, and McKenzie spine protocols. Outside the clinic, Aaron loves staying active across a variety of sports. You can usually find him balancing his time between golf, Pilates, and training for half-marathons, full marathons, and triathlons. He leverages this diverse personal background in endurance training and sport to create welcoming, positive, and results-driven recovery plans that help Okotoks residents return to the activities they love. Advanced Training & Focus: Advanced TMJ & Jaw Pain Treatment Functional Dry Needling & Anatomical Acupuncture McKenzie Lumbar Spine Protocols & Level II Orthopedics K-Taping & Sport Injury Rehabilitation
Jack McArdle
Physiotherapist Intern, MscPT., B.Sc Kin.
An Okotoks local since 2009, Jack is proud to serve the community he calls home. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan and went on to complete his Master of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Alberta. With over 15 years of experience as a hockey player, Jack has an exceptional understanding of sports performance, athletic conditioning, and injury rehabilitation. He specializes in helping active individuals of all ages—particularly hockey players, runners, baseball athletes, and those training through Pilates—transition seamlessly from acute pain recovery back to peak sport performance. Jack combines manual therapy, individualized exercise progression, and clear education to build long-term physical resilience. Outside the clinic, he remains deeply connected to the local hockey community as a referee for elite and youth games, and stays active through running, tennis, skiing, and golf. Advanced Training & Focus: Youth Sports Performance & Hockey Rehabilitation Running Assessment & Gait Training Functional Exercise Programming & Manual Therapy Injury Prevention for Weekend Warriors & Athletes
Massage Therapists
Lauren Hagan
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
With over a decade of clinical experience as a Registered Massage Therapist, Lauren has an established reputation for delivering highly effective, outcome-focused care. She focuses on deep tissue massage and advanced myofascial release, backed by a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and biomechanics. Rather than just offering temporary relief, Lauren focuses on identifying and correcting the root causes of chronic pain and dysfunctional movement patterns. She is best known for successfully treating stubborn neck, shoulder, and lower back tension. As a retired competitive bodybuilder and active fitness coach, Lauren has an extensive background in strength training. She intimately understands how the body responds to high-performance loading, physical stress, and recovery—applying this deep clinical knowledge directly to her therapeutic practice. Believing firmly that the body is meant to move without restriction, Lauren collaborates closely with each patient to ensure every treatment is perfectly tailored to their goals, comfort level, and active consent. Clinical Focus & Techniques: Advanced Deep Tissue Massage & Myofascial Release Targeted Neck, Shoulder & Lower Back Realignment Active Lifestyle & High-Performance Recovery Postural & Biomechanical Alignment Care
Laurie Litchfield
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)., RAPID., MTAA.
Laurie is a highly skilled Registered Massage Therapist with 2,200 hours of accredited institutional training. She focuses on advanced, evidence-based therapeutic modalities designed to restore pain-free movement and accelerate recovery. As a certified practitioner in RAPID NeuroFascial Reset, Laurie is exceptionally effective at targeting the nervous system to quickly release chronic tissue tension, unlock joint restrictions, and alleviate stubborn, long-standing pain. In addition to advanced deep tissue and myofascial release techniques, Laurie is a Certified Lymphatic Therapist (CLT). Her extensive training in manual lymphatic drainage allows her to expertly support immune function, minimize post-injury or post-surgical inflammation, and help the body heal from chronic ailments. Whether you are looking for target-specific clinical relief, recovery from an acute injury, or a moderate Swedish massage to reduce stress and improve circulation, Laurie tailors every treatment plan to your unique physical goals and active consent. Clinical Focus & Techniques: RAPID NeuroFascial Reset (Certified Practitioner) Certified Lymphatic Therapy (CLT) & Swelling Management Advanced Deep Tissue Massage & Fascial Release Swedish Massage for Stress Relief & Circulation
Kristine Ritchie
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Krissy graduated from the Calgary College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in 2019 and remains a member in good standing with the CMMOTA. Her unique educational background allows her to look at the body through a distinct clinical lens, focusing on how the nervous and musculoskeletal systems interact. Krissy is dedicated to finding and treating the root causes of physical dysfunction, playing a vital role in restoring fluid, pain-free movement, and long-term vitality for her patients. Highly compassionate and outcome-driven, Krissy continuously expands her skillset to offer specialized, highly targeted clinical care. Her treatments are entirely customized to the unique goals and active consent of each patient—whether you are a busy parent managing daily stress, an individual navigating the chronic pain of a degenerative condition, or a high-performance athlete looking to accelerate recovery. Clinical Focus & Techniques: Therapeutic Myofascial Release & Deep Tissue Care Dynamic Cupping Therapy Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Extremities)
Robin Adair
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Robin’s lifelong fascination with human movement and body mechanics began during her early years growing up on a family-run wilderness resort in New Brunswick. From childhood days filled with canoeing, kayaking, and swimming to later founding a small-town rugby team, an active lifestyle has always been her baseline. After graduating from the Evolve College of Massage Therapy in Winnipeg, she relocated to Alberta to connect with the Rocky Mountains and support individuals who share that same adventurous, active spirit. Deeply empathetic and intuitive, Robin approaches recovery with a strong focus on self-compassion and customized care. She brings a vast clinical toolkit to the clinic, with advanced training in NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT), Active Isolated Stretching, Muscle Energy Technique, Myofascial Cupping, and the Concussion Fix protocol. Whether you are navigating recovery from a complex sports injury, managing everyday physical strain, or seeking a restorative treatment to realign the body, Robin tailors every session to your unique physical goals and active consent. Clinical Focus & Techniques: NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) & Fascial Plane Awareness Concussion Fix Protocol & Head/Neck Injury Recovery Myofascial Cupping & Active Isolated Stretching Sports Injury Rehabilitation & Functional Mobility
Teri-Lynn Winter
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Teri-Lynn graduated from MaKami College with an advanced 3,000-hour Registered Massage Therapist certification. She is incredibly passionate about connecting with her patients and becoming an integral partner in their long-term health and recovery journeys. To continually elevate the level of care she provides to Okotoks families, Teri-Lynn regularly pursues advanced continuing education, currently expanding her clinical toolkit to integrate RAPID NeuroFascial Reset techniques. With a strong foundation in both advanced deep tissue massage and therapeutic relaxation, Teri-Lynn expertly adapts her pressure and style to meet your specific physical goals. Whether you are looking for target-specific myofascial release to address stubborn tension, recovery from daily physical stress, or a restorative session to reset the nervous system, she ensures every treatment is completely guided by your personal comfort and active consent. Outside the clinic, Teri-Lynn stays highly active by spending quality time in nature with her children, hiking, biking, and hitting the gym. Clinical Focus & Techniques: Advanced Deep Tissue Massage & Myofascial Release Therapeutic Relaxation & Stress Management RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Integration Conditioning & Active Lifestyle Recovery
Administration & Staff
Mel Chowanetz
Clinic manager
Mel was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, and brings over 20 years of dedicated office administration and clinic coordination experience to our team. Known for her warm, charismatic personality and exceptional problem-solving skills, Mel ensures that the day-to-day operations at Balance Physiotherapy & Massage run flawlessly. She understands that managing a household's health care schedule can be hectic. Mel is always ready to assist patients with insurance direct billing inquiries, booking adjustments, or any questions they have about their care plan setup. Her ultimate goal is to provide a welcoming, efficient environment where every patient feels supported from the moment they walk through the door until the moment they leave.
Kallie Mort
Administration
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Sophie Stevenson
Administration
Sophie is the friendly face behind our front desk, dedicated to ensuring every patient feels welcomed and supported from the moment they contact our clinic. With a professional background spanning sales, marketing, and photography, she brings exceptional communication skills, sharp attention to detail, and a genuine passion for connecting with people to her role. Sophie specializes in making the booking and administrative process entirely seamless and stress-free for busy Okotoks families. Whether she is helping you navigate the clinic's schedules, answering questions about your care plan, or managing direct billing for your insurance provider, her goal is to make managing your household's wellness effortless. Outside of the clinic, Sophie loves spending time immersed in nature, traveling, and building meaningful connections within the local community.