About Us
Setting a Precedence
As moves are being made to regulate Massage Therapy practices in Alberta, Balanced Health + Wellness has decided to take a step ahead of the game to make sure we are offering the best Therapy options for our clientele. Insurance companies have already made it clear. They want to make sure clients who are accessing insurance coverage for massage are seeing a Therapist who has taken the most in depth education offered in our province. In Alberta, a 2200 hour Registered Massage Therapist is billable to ALL insurance companies and has access to Direct Billing to many insurance companies. As of now, Balanced Health + Wellness only employs Registered Massage Therapists who have completed their 2200 hour designation so we can be sure to offer the best coverage and treatment for all of our clients. Balanced Health + Wellness was one of the first clinics in Lacombe to offer Direct Billing to multiple insurance companies and can now offer that with all the Therapists practicing in our clinic. All Therapists in our clinic are carefully vetted and must complete a personal face to face AND practical hands on interview prior to being hired. We want to make sure all of our Therapists have the skills you need to feel better. Balanced Health + Wellness Therapists are required to be registered in good standing with an approved massage therapist’s association and must follow up on all of their continuing education credits. We are always looking for new modalities and treatments to make sure our clients are getting the best treatment possible. We are working hard to make sure our clinic is setting a precedence in quality massage therapy treatment in Lacombe. Only under special circumstances will we take a Student RMT on staff while they complete their second year of training. All Student RMT's must have completed at least their 1100 hour Massage Certificate.
Sincerely,
Nicole Fauria - Owner-Operator
Nicole Fauria, Dip. KNSS, BPE, RMT
My name is Nicole Fauria and I am the Owner and President of Balanced Health + Wellness. I am a Registered Massage Therapist with the Massage Therapists Association of Alberta (MTAA) as a 2200 hour Therapist and a Professional Kinesiologist registered with the Alberta Kinesiology Association. I earned my Diploma of Massage Therapy from the Alberta Institute of Massage in Red Deer where I also have been privileged to be a part time Anatomy and Physiology Instructor there. I specialize in Therapeutic Massage Therapy (deep tissue and treating conditions and/or injuries), RAPID NeuroFascial Reset Upper and Lower body Practitioner, Prenatal Massage, Sports Massage, Myofascial Massage Cupping, Jade Stone Therapeutic Massage and Reflexology treatment. I was born and raised in Lacombe and married my High School Sweetheart, Ryan, in August of 2006. We have 4 beautiful children, 2 boys and 2 girls, who keep us on our toes at all times.
Previous to attending massage school I received a Diploma of Kinesiology from Red Deer College and a Bachelors Degree of Physical Education from the University of Alberta with a specialty in Physical Activity and Sports Performance. I worked for 5 years as an Exercise Rehabilitation Therapist at a prestigious Sports Medicine Clinic in Red Deer. For 10 years I worked alongside many elite sports teams including the Red Deer College Queen’s hockey team, Grant MacEwan Griffin's Women's hockey team, Red Deer Midget AAA Rebels, Central Alberta Buccaneers Senior Men’s Football team, and Red Deer Major Junior Lacrosse, to name a few. I’ve also had the opportunities to work at some amazing short term competition events such as the U16 Alberta Cup, Alberta Winter Games, and the World Master Games.
I feel what sets me apart from other Therapist’s is all of the experience I’ve had treating many different conditions. My extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and how the body heals as well as the use of exercise rehab and dynamic strength and conditioning training helps me use a holistic approach to my treatments and gives me a deeper understanding of what my clients need.
Sarah Fergusson, RMT
Hello! I'm Sarah, a licensed massage therapist with 9 years of experience dedicated to providing a safe, relaxing, and rejuvenating experience for my clients. With training in various massage modalities, I tailor each session to meet your unique needs and promote overall well-being.
Whether you're seeking relief from stress, pain, or simply looking to unwind, I'm here to help you achieve balance and tranquility in body, mind, and spirit. My expertise includes:
- Swedish massage for relaxation and stress relief
- Deep tissue massage for pain management and injury recovery
- Sports massage for athletes and fitness enthusiasts
- Prenatal massage for expectant mothers
- Myofascial release for chronic pain and tension
I'm passionate about creating a warm and welcoming environment, where you feel comfortable and supported throughout your massage journey. My goal is to empower you with the tools and techniques necessary to maintain optimal health and wellness.
When I'm not working with clients, you can find me walking my dog or enjoying live music at local concerts. I'm grateful to be a part of this wonderful community and look forward to helping you!
Dana MacKinnon, RMT
Dana Mackinnon has been with the clinic for over six years. She started her massage therapy career by first enrolling in nursing and psychiatric nursing education but soon transitioned to a more manual approach to healing. Her training is heavily backed by western medicine and she has a logical and therapeutic approach in her practice although she still finds alternative therapy to be a benefit that can not be ignored. Dana enjoys working closely with the nervous system just as abundantly as the muscular and circulatory systems in her treatments.
She prefers to work deep areas of tissue, finding they give better results and the aim of every session with every client is to elicit a change toward healing. Dana studied her Remedial Massage Therapy course in Regina, Saskatchewan between 2000-2002. Upon graduation, she was honored to receive the prinicpals' award of excellence for her overall performance and dedication to the two years of full time study. Through the span of 23 years Dana has added certifications to bolster her education and therapy with RAPID (upper and lower body), Jade Stone Therapy, Tuning Forks level1, aromatherapy, and Paul St. John Neuromuscular therapies to name a few.
She is at heart a small town Saskatchewan girl, but she's been laying down roots in Lacombe for more than 10 years and quickly calls this her home.
Dana is a wife and the mother of 3 super kids, 3 crazy dogs and the co-owner of the local boxing club. With so much on the go at all times she finds a sense of humour and a few really good quotes, are essential tools to keep in your pocket through your life journey.
Rick Schmidt, RMT
I’m a registered massage therapist specializing in Rapid NeuroFascial Reset (RNFR), deep tissue, trigger point therapy, and myofascial cupping. My practice is results-driven, focusing on addressing chronic pain, limited mobility, and postural imbalances by targeting both the nervous system and soft tissue restrictions. I combine advanced techniques to release tension, improve function, and restore proper movement patterns. Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing repetitive strain, or dealing with long-standing discomfort, each treatment is tailored to support faster recovery, enhanced mobility, and long-term relief.
Derek Gabriel, Student RMT
Derek is currently finishing up his second year of massage training and looking for more practical experience and building his clientele!
Derek had a recent career change after 13 years in the mechanic industry. He is a family oriented individual with an athletics background. Derek’s passion for health and wellness led him to his education in massage therapy.
As a Student Therapist we are not able to direct bill to insurance, but many insurance companies will cover treatments when you pay and submit on your own. Derek is offering a discounted rate until he’s finished second year and can direct bill for insurance.
Admin Staff
Jocelyn Etson, Candice Kikstra, Patrina Routley, and Emerson Fauria are our amazing admin relief. They help us out with laundry, cleaning, bookings, billing, checking clients in and so many more odds and ends! We are so lucky to have these awesome people with us.