Treatment for Women with Disabilities

I have many years of experience working with people of all ages living with a wide range of disabilities and individual support needs. My experience includes working directly with people with disabilities, as well as working with carers and disability support staff.

I have also provided training and education to care staff and disability professionals, including Registered Nurses, in Work Health and Safety (WHS), safe work practices, and appropriate workplace procedures.

My qualifications include:

• Certificate IV in Disability Work

• Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (WHS/OHS)

• Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, including exercise-based support

• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

• Diploma of Remedial Massage & more....

I understand that every person is different, and I take the time to consider an individual's mobility, physical abilities, communication needs, comfort, and personal circumstances when providing treatment or support.

I welcome women with disabilities and recognise that every body can present with its own unique challenges, including differences in mobility, posture, muscle use, balance, and movement.

This includes women who use wheelchairs and women living with missing limb/s. The absence of a limb does not mean the surrounding body should be overlooked. Changes in biomechanics, muscle tension, posture, movement patterns, and the way the body compensates can all be relevant when considering someone's individual presentation.

If you use a wheelchair, yes, I can treat you, provided your wheelchair is a manual wheelchair that can fit through a standard door opening, and the treatment space is suitable for your needs. I have two rooms; one is a training room, and that can be adjusted if going into the smaller massage room is too difficult for you.

Your treatments are just as important as those of someone without a disability. I may have to adjust a few things, but that's ok.

Before your appointment, I am happy to discuss your individual circumstances, mobility requirements, positioning, transfers, and any areas that may require particular consideration. I aim to make the treatment experience as comfortable, respectful, and straightforward as possible.

Individualised and Respectful Care

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every person deserves to be treated as an individual, with their circumstances, anatomy, mobility, comfort, and treatment goals in mind.

My approach is to look beyond the obvious area of pain and consider the body as a whole. This may mean exploring areas that are not usually associated with someone's symptoms, but any treatment will always have a clear therapeutic rationale and will be discussed with you beforehand.

Experience evidence-informed bodywork tailored to the unique biomechanics and individual needs of the female body. Led by Ray Flaherty, with more than 20 years of clinical experience, my private Evatt studio provides a calm, safe, professional, and deeply respectful environment for women seeking support with performance, recovery, persistent pain, and stress.

Above all, I want every person I treat to feel respected, informed, comfortable, and heard. I commit to approaching every session with honesty, integrity, appropriate professional boundaries, informed consent, and a genuine focus on the individual's well-being.

I believe honesty, transparency, trust, and respect are fundamental to the way I treat every person. Every client deserves to understand what I am doing, why I am doing it, and how the treatment may relate to their individual needs. I am completely open about my treatment methods and how I conduct each session, and I encourage questions and open communication throughout the treatment process.

I do not rely on outdated information, unsupported claims, or practices simply because they have always been done that way. I continually strive to keep my knowledge current and to work within the best available scientific evidence and evidence-informed principles. I will always be honest about what I know, what I don't know, and the reasoning behind the approach I take.

Looking Beyond the Obvious Source of Pain

Pain is not always felt where it originates, and the underlying contributors to someone's symptoms may not always be found in the areas that are traditionally treated. This is why I take a whole-body approach and consider the relationship between different muscles, connective tissues, movement patterns, and areas of the body that may otherwise be overlooked.

Where there is a reasonable therapeutic basis, I may consider treating areas that are less commonly addressed or that some practitioners may be reluctant to work with. This can include sensitive areas, such as the pubic mound and surrounding soft tissues, when I believe they may be relevant to the individual's symptoms or pain pattern.

Treatment of any sensitive area is never assumed or taken for granted. I will explain what I am proposing, why I believe it may be relevant, and obtain clear, informed consent before proceeding. You remain in control of your treatment at all times and can decline any technique or area of treatment, or ask me to stop, at any point.

Working With Vulnerable People (ACT) Registered (WWVP)

Contacts 0435-626-343