I do not like leaving negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share my experience, because I…read morebelieve other patients, particularly neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, and people experiencing mental health difficulties, should be made aware of these issues before coming to this clinic.
Front Desk and Intake
The clinic requires extensive intake paperwork. I have both autism and ADHD and found the amount of information difficult to complete quickly, despite arriving early. This reduced the time available for my appointment. I was told the forms had been emailed to me in advance, but I never received them (I checked when I got home).
I was also disappointed by the intake forms' lack of inclusivity. There were no fields for preferred name or pronouns, and the sex/gender options did not appear to accommodate transgender or non-binary patients. This did not match my expectation of a clinic advertised as LGBTQ-friendly.
RMT and Osteopath, Natalia Staneva
I came to this clinic because I wanted to try out an Osteopath. I wanted to see how it differed from a Chiropractor. My previous Chiropractor had detailed medical knowledge about the workings of the entire body, due to constant education. I mentioned to Natalia that I had previously undergone radiofrequency ablation to my lower spine (a standard treatment). Strangely, she was completely unfamiliar with the procedure.
During the massage, she noticed scars from my history of self-harm and asked whether I had ever attempted suicide. I answered honestly that I had, unfortunately, numerous times. I thought she was going to say something kind, caring, and sympathetic, like "You've suffered a very harsh life, I hope things get better for you," or "I hope I can help you on your path to healing." Instead, she took a far darker path that shocked me.
Whilst I lay on the treatment table, naked and vulnerable, Natalia repeatedly told me that I was emotionally blackmailing my loved ones through self-harm and suicide attempts. At one point, she repeated in rapid succession: "Blackmail, blackmail, blackmail, blackmail, blackmail." I felt as if she was massaging this message into my body and into my mind. Most disturbingly, at a later point, she looked straight into my eyes, and told me very firmly: "If you're going to jump, jump." She said that it would be better to put my family out of their misery permanently, rather than continue to torture them with half-hearted attempts. She followed that with, "I hope you don't." But it was too late. The damage had been done.
Natalia's comments were profoundly distressing and inappropriate. I felt so vulnerable and defenseless, and so shocked and overwhelmed, I did not feel capable of ending the appointment or confronting her at the time it was happening. I mean, I did try to explain that I wouldn't be there for therapeutic treatment if I wasn't trying to turn my life around and make myself better. But she refused to listen to me, and kept on judging me.
I pushed this incident out of my head over the subsequent months, telling myself she was just doling out some tough love advice, and meant well. But unfortunately, the next time I became suicidal again, Natalia's message suddenly reared its ugly head. I said to my family: "That massage lady was right. I should just jump. If you're going to jump, jump." Over and over. My family was so upset, they threatened to sue her.
I believe patients with mental health vulnerabilities should be warned about my frightful experience before considering choosing this practitioner.
It should be noted that, although Natalia Staneva is registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) as an RMT, "Osteopathy" itself is not a regulated profession in Ontario, and she is not registered with any of the known Osteopathy organizations.
If you have concerns about an Ontario RMT, please know that the CMTO provides a formal complaints process. Members of the public can submit complaints about an RMT's behaviour, conduct, or practice for investigation. There is no statute of limitations for filing a complaint.
