Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the common questions asked about bodywork and muscular therapy. Every body is different, and it is completely normal to have questions before starting treatment.
Bookings
How do I book?
You can book online through the Cliniko booking system on this site. If you’d like to talk it through first, text or email Dan. Dan replies between clients and during business hours, so it may take a little while to hear back. Either way, you will get a confirmation with everything you need before your appointment.
Do I need a referral to book?
No, you don’t need a referral to book. If you’re already seeing a doctor, physiotherapist or exercise physiologist, Dan works from their plan.
Do I need an injury or issue to book?
No. Many people seek treatment because something does not feel quite right, they feel restricted in their movement, or they want to maintain their body as part of an active lifestyle.
You do not need to wait until something becomes a problem. Treatment can also support people who want to improve body awareness, mobility and movement confidence.
How will I be reminded of my appointment?
You’ll get a text two days before your appointment and an email the day before, each with a link to cancel if you need to. Not sure when your next appointment is? Text Dan to check.
What is your cancellation policy?
What happens if I miss my appointment?
If you miss an appointment without any notice, you’ll be invoiced the full cost of the session, and new bookings are paused until it’s paid.
What if I’m running late?
Text to let Dan know. Your session may need to finish on time for the next client, and the full session fee still applies.
What if I’m unwell on the day?
If you have cold or flu symptoms, such as a runny nose, fever, cough, headache, sore throat or loss of smell or taste, please wait until you’ve fully recovered before booking. If symptoms start on the day of your appointment, text as soon as you can to cancel and reschedule.
Your visit
Where is the clinic located?
The clinic is a private, home-based space at 10 Troop St, Jamboree Heights QLD 4074, in Brisbane’s western suburbs. It is an easy drive for clients coming from Mt Ommaney, Middle Park, Westlake, Sumner, Sinnamon Park and the surrounding area, and there is free parking at the door.
When should I arrive?
The clinic is by appointment only, with one client in at a time, so there’s no waiting room. There’s a comfortable spot out the front if you’re a little early, but please arrive as close to your appointment time as you can.
What should I wear or bring to my appointment?
Wear or bring comfortable, loose clothing you can move in. For most treatment areas the work is done directly on skin using appropriate draping, so you will not need to undress fully, and what to expect is explained at the start of your session. If you have relevant imaging (scans or X-rays) or an injury history, bring it along. It helps with the assessment.
What happens in a session?
Every visit starts with a short consultation, so your session can be planned around you and your goals. Dan may test your strength, how freely your muscles move, and where you feel tight or sore. He checks again during or after treatment to see what’s changed. The plan is talked through with you first, and treatment goes ahead once you’re comfortable with it.
How do you handle draping?
Draping is always managed to your comfort using towels, consistent with ANTA standards. Only the region being treated is uncovered, and it is re-covered before moving on. You undress only to the level you are comfortable with. This is non-negotiable in every session.
Is it normal to feel sore after remedial massage?
How many sessions will I need?
It depends entirely on what you are coming in for. A new problem, like a recent strain, often improves in one to three sessions. Pain you’ve had for months or years usually takes longer, and often involves movement work between sessions. You get an honest assessment after the first appointment, about how many sessions you may need.
How often should I get a remedial massage?
It depends on what you’re coming in for. When you’re working through pain or an injury, sessions usually start closer together, often weekly or fortnightly, then spread out as things settle. Once you’re moving well, many people come back every four to six weeks to stay on top of tension and pick up small problems early. After your first session, Dan suggests a rhythm that suits your goals, your training and your budget.
Payment and health funds
Can I claim remedial massage on my private health insurance?
Most private health funds with extras cover include remedial massage. Claims are processed on the day using HICAPS, so you only pay the gap (the part your health fund doesn’t cover) at the time of your appointment. The amount you get back depends on your fund and your level of cover. If you are unsure, check with your fund before your appointment.
How do I pay?
You can pay on the day by EFTPOS, by bank transfer, or online by card at the time of booking. Afterpay is available if you’d like to spread the cost. If you are claiming through a health fund, bring your card and your HICAPS rebate is processed on the spot, so you only pay the gap. If you pay the full amount online, you’ll get an invoice to claim from your fund yourself.
Do you see NDIS patients?
Yes, you’re welcome here. Dan enjoys working with NDIS clients. The clinic is not an NDIS-registered service provider, so an NDIA-managed plan cannot claim sessions here. If you are unsure how your plan is managed, check with your plan manager before booking.
Treatment
What is bodywork and muscular therapy?
It’s hands-on treatment combined with movement. Dan looks at where you feel pain, then at the bigger picture: how you move, where you’re tight, your posture, your daily routine and what you ask of your body.
Each session is tailored to your individual needs, with the goal of helping you move with greater awareness and confidence.
Is bodywork and muscular therapy the same as a remedial massage?
Remedial massage therapist is Dan’s qualification. He combines it with other continuous learning of hands-on techniques and movement therapy, and explains how your body is responding, so the results last longer.
What is the difference between remedial massage and a relaxation massage?
A relaxation massage aims to reduce general tension and improve wellbeing.
Remedial massage is a clinical, goal-directed treatment aimed at the cause of pain or restricted movement. Remedial massage targets the specific muscles, tendons and connective tissue contributing to pain, restricted movement or injury. Every session starts with an assessment, so the treatment has a clear purpose.
Remedial massage can include:
- deep tissue massage to put pressure into deeper layers of muscle
- myofascial release to ease tight connective tissue with slow, sustained pressure
- trigger point therapy to target tight spots in a muscle that can cause pain elsewhere
- joint mobilisation to help a stiff joint move more freely with gentle, rhythmic movements
- dry needling to release tight muscle and trigger points with fine needles
What’s the difference between remedial and deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue massage is one technique: slow, firm pressure into the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. Remedial massage is the wider treatment it sits within. It starts with an assessment of where you’re sore and how you move, then uses the techniques that suit you, which may include deep tissue work, myofascial release, trigger point therapy or dry needling. The pressure is always adjusted to what feels right for you.
Do you do sports massage?
Yes. Dan works with people who play sport, train in the gym, or are getting ready for an event like a fun run or triathlon. Before an event, sessions focus on making sure your body is ready to go. After training or a game, they ease soreness, restore your range and pick up small problems before they become injuries. As a qualified personal trainer, Dan can also give you exercises to build the range, strength and control your sport needs.
Can massage and movement therapy happen in the same session?
Yes. Most sessions already combine the two: manual therapy releases tension and restores range, then movement therapy reinforces that range with strength, in the one appointment. If you would rather focus a whole session on one or the other, that is fine too. Just mention it when you book.
I have never done movement therapy. Will I feel out of my depth?
No. Movement therapy is built around where your body is today. You don’t need any fitness background or prior training experience to start. The exercises you are given will be simple, explained clearly, and chosen for your specific needs.
What is dry needling, and does it hurt?
Dry needling uses very fine, sterile needles to release trigger points in muscle tissue. Most people feel very little from the needle going in. When it reaches a trigger point you may feel a brief twitch or cramping sensation, which usually releases quickly. The process is explained before every session, it only happens with your consent, and the pace is always yours.
Is massage painful? Can I ask for lighter pressure?
It shouldn’t be. Working on a tight or restricted area can feel firm, sometimes uncomfortable, but more pain doesn’t mean better results. As a general guide, if pressure during a session goes above an 8 out of 10, that is too much. Say so at any point and it changes straight away.
Who is treatment suitable for?
Treatment is suitable for a wide range of people, including those who:
- Experience ongoing muscle tension or movement restrictions
- Want support alongside exercise or training
- Are returning to activity after time away
- Spend long periods sitting, standing or doing the same movements over and over
- Want a better understanding of how their body moves
Every person is different, so treatment is adapted to suit your needs, comfort level and goals.
Are you qualified? What credentials do you have?
Yes. Dan holds a Diploma of Remedial Massage, a Certificate IV in Fitness, dry needling and functional cupping certifications, and current First Aid and CPR certification. Dan also completes ongoing clinical education. See the full list on Meet Dan.
Safety, comfort and privacy
Is this safe for me if I have an injury or medical condition?
In most cases, yes. Mention any recent surgery, ongoing medical condition, medication or injury history when you book or on your intake form, so the session can be planned around it properly. Dan treats muscles, joints and movement, and works alongside your medical team. Diagnosis and medical rehab stay with your doctor or physiotherapist. If something needs a clinical opinion first, you will be told plainly and pointed in the right direction.
Are you a physiotherapist?
No. Dan is a qualified remedial therapist, bodyworker, dry needling practitioner and personal trainer. His work covers muscles and soft tissue, joint mobilisation, fascia (the connective tissue around muscles), pelvic health, and support before and after surgery. When something is outside what he does, you will be told plainly and pointed to the right practitioner.
What if I am already seeing a physiotherapist?
That works well. Dan works from their plan. He avoids anything they’ve told you not to do, and his hands-on work supports the exercises movements they’ve given you.
Is the clinic clean and hygienic?
Yes. Each client has fresh linen, with clean equipment and surfaces between sessions, and standard hygiene practice throughout. It is a private, purpose-built treatment space, used only for treatment.
Can I wear a mask?
Yes. Masks are optional, so wear one if you feel more comfortable. Dan follows current health directions, and always wears a mask when treating clients at higher risk.
Is the clinic LGBTQIA+ friendly?
Is the clinic disability and neurodivergent friendly?
Yes. Appointments run one-in, one-out in a private home clinic, so there is no waiting room full of strangers and no being rushed between clients. If it helps to sit outside and settle first before your session, there is space for that too. Mention any sensory preferences or communication needs when you book, so the session can be set up around what actually works for you.
How is my personal information kept private?
Your personal information is confidential. It is used only for the purpose it was collected for. Your data will not be shared without your consent, unless the law requires it.
Your bookings and records are kept in Cliniko, on servers in Australia. Only I can see your clinical notes, and your health information is never used for marketing or sold.
The privacy policy explains what I collect, who I share it with, how long I keep it, and how to ask for a copy of your records.
Want me to talk to your doctor or physiotherapist? Read how permission works.
Move better every day
Regular hands-on treatment and movement therapy, built around you.
Open Monday to Saturday, by appointment only.
Are you a new client or have questions?