You don't have to explain your past to feel safe during a treatment

And you never have to accept touch that doesn't feel right.

For some people, receiving hands-on treatment feels natural. For others, being touched, examined or asked to move in a certain way can bring discomfort, anxiety or a sense of vulnerability. You might know exactly why. Or you might not have a clear explanation at all.
At Bonjour Osteopathy in Downtown Vancouver, I believe good care starts with listening, not touching. My trauma-informed approach to osteopathy puts your comfort, consent and autonomy at the centre of every session. We decide together what you want to work on, which techniques feel appropriate and how we can adapt the treatment to your needs. You are not expected to share personal experiences, accept every technique or push through discomfort.

What Is Trauma-Informed Care in Osteopathy?

Trauma-informed care is an approach to healthcare...

Trauma-informed care is an approach to healthcare that recognizes how past experiences can influence a person's relationship with their body, physical contact, movement and sense of safety. Trauma does not affect everyone in the same way. For some people, it can influence how they experience physical touch, certain positions, pain or medical examinations. Others may simply feel uncomfortable without knowing why. In my osteopathic practice in Vancouver, this translates into five essential principles:

  • Choice: You decide which techniques you are comfortable with and whether you want hands-on treatment.
  • Consent: I explain what I intend to do and ask for your permission before proceeding. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
  • Collaboration: We establish your goals together rather than following a predetermined treatment plan.
  • Safety: We create an environment where you can ask questions, express discomfort and take breaks.
  • Respect: You never need to disclose a traumatic experience to receive appropriate care. Trauma-informed osteopathy is not simply about being gentle or avoiding physical contact. It is about making sure that touch, movement and treatment decisions remain collaborative.

 

You can also check what to expect during a first osteopathic session

What Does a Trauma-Informed Osteopathy Session Look Like?

There is no single treatment protocol

  1. We talk before we touch: 

    we discuss your symptoms, your goals and any preferences you have regarding physical contact. You can let me know if there are areas you would rather not have touched, positions you find uncomfortable or techniques you do not wish to receive. You do not have to tell me about your trauma or personal history.

  2. We decide together what to explore: 

    we agree on what we want to assess and how to approach it. I explain the techniques I am considering, why they might be relevant and what they involve. You can ask questions, decline a technique or change your mind at any point.

  3. We adapt the treatment to you 

    depending on your needs, we may use hands-on techniques, movement assessment or simple exercises. We can also begin without physical contact. A consultation does not automatically mean a manual treatment. If something feels uncomfortable, we stop and discuss another option.

  4. You remain involved throughout

    I regularly check how you are experiencing the session. Your feedback matters more than any assumption I might make about what your body needs. The objective is not to achieve a particular physical response or provoke an emotional release. It is to provide appropriate osteopathic care while respecting your experience. Discover my approach to osteopathic treatment.

Who Can Benefit from Trauma-Informed Osteopathy?

You do not need a diagnosed trauma to book an apptmt

I work with different people and situations, including:

  • People who are aware of past trauma: some patients explicitly ask for trauma-informed care. We discuss their boundaries, preferences and expectations before beginning any physical assessment or treatment. You remain in control of what you share and what happens during the appointment.
  • People who feel uncomfortable with physical touch: you might feel anxious during medical examinations, massage or manual therapy. You might prefer to understand every step before someone touches you. That is enough reason to adapt the consultation. You do not need to justify your preferences.
  • People interested in somatic work and body awareness: some patients want to explore their relationship with bodily sensations and movement. We can work on noticing physical sensations and improving movement awareness without trying to provoke emotions or force a particular experience.
  • People who feel disconnected from certain areas of their body: some patients describe certain regions as stiff, restricted, frozen or difficult to connect with, even after previous physical or psychological work. I have also explored concepts from approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) to better understand how a person's internal experience can influence their relationship with movement. However, I am an osteopathic practitioner, not a psychologist or psychotherapist. I do not provide psychotherapy or trauma processing. My role is to support physical assessment, mobility and movement within my professional scope.
  • People who are not aware of any trauma: sometimes physical contact or movement can bring up unexpected sensations or emotions. This is one reason why consent, communication and the ability to stop are important in every consultation, regardless of a person's history. If a situation requires psychological or specialized trauma support, I can recommend seeking help from an appropriately qualified professional.

 

We also offer pelvic floor treatment, sports injuries, cranial osteopathy and many other conditions

Why I Choose a Trauma-Informed Approach

Practitioner's interpretation could take precedence over the patient's own experience

 Over the years, I have become increasingly aware of how important it is to distinguish between what I perceive as a practitioner and what a patient actually experiences. In some somato-emotional approaches to osteopathy, practitioners may interpret physical sensations or tissue responses as having a particular emotional meaning. I believe this can undermine something healthcare should always protect: a person's autonomy over their own body. I don't want to tell you what your body is feeling, what a particular sensation means or which emotion you should be experiencing. I want to listen to what you notice, understand what matters to you and work with you rather than impose an interpretation. For me, trauma-informed care is not a special technique. It is a way of practising. It means respecting individual boundaries, knowing the limits of my professional role and remembering that you are the person who knows your own experience best.
Says Lucile Delorme, CEO of Bonjour Osteopathy

Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma-Informed Osteopathy

This is your sub-headline

Can I see an osteopathic practitioner if I have experienced trauma?

Yes. You can seek osteopathic care without disclosing your personal history. You can discuss your preferences, establish boundaries and decide together which aspects of the assessment or treatment feel appropriate.

Do I have to be touched during an osteopathy session?

No. You can request a consultation without hands-on treatment. You can also decline individual techniques, ask for alternatives or stop physical contact at any time.

Is trauma-informed osteopathy the same as somatic therapy?

No. Trauma-informed care is a framework for providing healthcare that prioritizes safety, consent and patient autonomy. Somatic therapy generally refers to therapeutic approaches that explore the relationship between bodily sensations and emotional experiences. Osteopathic care may include movement awareness and attention to bodily sensations, but it is not psychotherapy.

Can osteopathy release stored trauma from the body?

There is no established clinical basis for claiming that osteopathic techniques can release stored psychological trauma from tissues. Some people notice physical or emotional responses during treatment, but these should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of trauma release. Your experience and interpretation remain your own.

What if I become uncomfortable or emotional during a session?

We can stop, pause or adapt the session. You do not need to continue with a technique that feels uncomfortable. We can take time to discuss what you need and, if appropriate, consider whether another healthcare professional could provide additional support.

Where can I find trauma-informed osteopathy in Vancouver?

Bonjour Osteopathy offers individualized, consent-based osteopathic care with Lucile Delorme in Downtown Vancouver.

Quick answer: Trauma-informed osteopathy in Vancouver

Bonjour Osteopathy offers trauma-informed, consent-based osteopathic care in Downtown Vancouver with Lucile Delorme.

The approach prioritizes patient autonomy, comfort, communication and choice throughout the consultation. Patients do not need to disclose traumatic experiences or agree to hands-on treatment.

Location:

700 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC.

Practitioner:

Lucile Delorme, Osteopathic Practitioner.

 

Author Box:

Lucile graduated from the Institut Toulousain d'Ostéopathie in 2009 and has been practising in Vancouver since 2020. Her approach combines individualized osteopathic care, movement awareness and a strong commitment to patient autonomy and consent.