Hello, I’m Melissa

For over 30 years, I have dedicated my life to the art of wellness, healing, and body-centred practices. Every unique experience I’ve encountered has shaped the healer I am today, guiding me to this moment where I am honoured to support you on your journey to vitality.

Hello, I’m Melissa

For over 30 years, I have dedicated my life to the art of wellness, healing, and body-centred practices. Every unique experience I’ve encountered has shaped the healer I am today, guiding me to this moment where I am honoured to support you on your journey to vitality.

My practice is rooted in a deep understanding of the body, mind, and spirit, and I am here to walk beside you, offering guidance, compassion, and powerful tools to help you reclaim your wellness and thrive. Together, we will uncover the layers of your being, allowing you to step into the most authentic and vibrant version of yourself.

My Purpose

My life’s work is dedicated to guiding others in awakening to their deepest truth, reclaiming their inner power, and finding the freedom to live authentically. I am here to witness and hold space for you on this transformative journey of self-discovery, supporting you as you align with your true self.

Together, we will dive deeply into your inner world, uncovering the innate wisdom that lies within. My role is to support you in cultivating strength, vitality, and alignment, helping you to fully embody your birthright – a life marked by well-being, resilience, and balance. Through our collaborative work, you will develop the clarity and empowerment needed to reach your highest potential, living in a state of harmony and authenticity.

I am also a

Certified Hellerwork Structural Integration Practitioner

Lead Hellerwork Structural Integration Trainer

Relational Somatic Psychotherapist

Psychedelic Assisted Therapist

Safe and Sound Provider

Craniosacral Therapy Provider

Spiritual Mentor

Course Creator

Functional Medicine Practitioner

I have been in private practice for 20 years on Vancouver Island BC

My work in this life…

Is to help others discover their own truth and to empower and find freedom within!

More about Melissa

My life’s journey has been one of deep exploration and curiosity—constantly seeking to understand the body, mind, and spirit in their fullness. From an early age, I became captivated by the mystery of “being in a body,” which led me on a path of self-discovery and healing. I’ve always seen myself as an explorer and adventurer, not just in the physical world, but in the landscapes of inner healing, alignment, and emotional understanding.

As a teenager, I began to explore the connection between body alignment and emotional patterns. My curiosity guided me to study Iyengar yoga and African dance—practices that I embraced for over 30 years, enriching my life through the wisdom of embodiment and rhythm. These foundational explorations allowed me to not only understand my own body but also to connect deeply with the movement and healing practices of other cultures.

Driven by a desire to learn more about diverse healing traditions, I pursued a degree in Cultural Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, focusing on Medical Anthropology. This field allowed me to delve into the intersection of culture, belief, and healing. While at UCSC, I designed a program that allowed me to travel to Zimbabwe to study traditional music, dance, and healing. My time in Zimbabwe not only transformed my understanding of healing practices but also deepened my appreciation for resilience, community, and the wisdom embedded in cultural traditions.

After graduating in 1999, I trained at Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts, where I immersed myself in modalities such as Shiatsu, Chi Gong, Craniosacral Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Acupressure, and Lymphatic Drainage. This training broadened my skills, but my heart continued to call me back to Zimbabwe to deepen my studies in music, dance, and the country’s rich healing traditions.

In 2002, I became a mother for the first time and began teaching and performing Zimbabwean music and dance while continuing to offer massage and healing work to my clients. Five years later, while raising my son as a single mother, I felt drawn to study Hellerwork Structural Integration.

This work profoundly shifted both my body and spirit, opening doors to a deeper understanding of the nervous system and the generational patterns that were shaping my life. This newfound awareness sparked a passion for understanding trauma on a deeper level, leading me to study Somatic Transformation with Dr. Sharon Stanley. Her two-year program was a pivotal turning point in my healing journey, allowing me to integrate body, mind, and spirit in new ways.

Throughout the years, I’ve invested in hundreds of hours of continuing education, deepening my knowledge in Advanced Rolfing, Advanced Hellerwork, Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Meditation, Breathwork, and Functional Medicine. These diverse practices have allowed me to work holistically, helping my clients achieve deeper healing by addressing the root causes of their imbalances.

In 2014, my second son was born, and shortly after, he developed PANS, an autoimmune condition that challenged me in unimaginable ways. This experience led me to dive deep into Functional Medicine through the Institute of Functional Medicine, where I focused on understanding the gut-brain connection, immune system dysfunction, and detoxification. My son’s journey to recovery not only strengthened my resolve but also expanded my empathy, compassion, and commitment to helping others find the root causes of their suffering.

By 2015, I began training to become a Hellerwork Trainer, and as of 2023, I am honoured to serve as one of the Lead Trainers of Hellerwork Structural Integration at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska. Teaching and sharing this work has become one of my greatest passions, alongside developing online courses to make these healing modalities more accessible to all.

In 2024, I proudly earned my Master’s Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy from Vancouver Island University. My journey with psychedelics began in my early years, and it is with deep honor that I now incorporate these transformative medicines into my practice, guiding others through their healing process. These profound tools allow us to access deep layers of consciousness, offering a unique path to emotional and psychological healing. I am grateful to hold space for such powerful work, helping individuals explore and integrate these experiences as part of their journey toward wholeness.

Melissa M Brown | Island Hellerwork

In addition to my professional work, I am a devoted spiritual seeker, nature lover, and lifelong student of the mysteries of life. My family, which includes my two boys, my partner, three cats, a dog, and chickens, resides on the unceded traditional territory of the Quw’utsun Peoples on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where I maintain a thriving private practice.

My mission is clear: to help people reconnect with their vitality, uncover their purpose, and return to the essence of who they truly are. Through my deep commitment to education, connection, and healing, I am here to support you on your journey toward wholeness.

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Since attending sessions with Melissa, my mobility has increased, my confidence in my own emotional stability is solid and I feel a peace and ease that wasn’t present before. Working trauma out of my body was exactly what I needed and Melissa is excellent at facilitating this. I have been able to let go, both physically and emotionally, of things that I previously held so tightly and debilitatingly in my body. Melissa’s compassion and non-judgment, along with her deep understanding of the muscular and nervous systems creates a space for true and lasting healing. She has been an amazing listener, a skilled Hellerwork practitioner and a gentle and kind guide for my healing journey. I really cannot speak highly enough of her knowledgeable approach to healing.

~ Georgia Collins