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Bowen Pain Management

About Carol Roddy

A gentler way to work with the body.

Carol Roddy is a Certified Bowenwork Practitioner based in Petrolia, Ontario, serving Lambton County and the surrounding region.

Meet Carol

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

For many years, my career was in the corporate world. Born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario, I graduated from Lambton College in Secretarial Arts and advanced to Purchasing Manager, earning my Supply Chain Management Professional designation while working for companies like Tricil (Clean Harbours), Fibrex Insulations, General Dynamics, and Mac-Weld Machining, from which I retired in March 2026.

But life has a beautiful way of guiding us toward our true purpose.

My Journey to Bowen Therapy

I always thought I should follow my mother's path into nursing, but life originally took me elsewhere. When I later discovered Bowen therapy, I was amazed by its profound impact on the body and immediately hooked. I began my formal training in 2016, became a Certified Bowenwork Practitioner, and have been actively practicing since 2017.

I practice Bowen because it honors the body's innate capability to heal itself without forceful manipulation. It is incredibly rewarding to see clients return to their normal, active lives after long struggles with pain. I truly believe Mr. Bowen's work is a "gift from God" that can make the world a happier, healthier place.

What You Can Expect Working With Me

When you choose to work with me, you get a practitioner who listens deeply and treats your body as a whole, rather than just chasing a single symptom.

  • The Session: We start your first visit with a comprehensive intake discussion. Because Bowen therapy is completely non-invasive and uses gentle, precise rolling movements over muscles and connective tissue, your session is performed entirely through light, loose clothing. There is no cracking or forceful alignment.
  • The Pauses: A signature element of Bowenwork is the intentional, quiet pauses I take between sets of movements, where I briefly step out of the room. This gives your nervous system the crucial, undisturbed time it needs to drop out of a stressful "fight-or-flight" state and initiate real physical healing.
  • The Results: Because Bowen has a cascading effect, your body will continue to process and respond to the treatment for several days after you leave. My goal is to help you achieve lasting relief and restored mobility in as few sessions as possible.

A Peaceful, Healing Environment

My husband, Rory, and I live in Petrolia, which is also home to my home-based practice. The beautiful, serene surroundings of this property play a vital role in the healing experience. In the summer, when the clinic doors and windows are open, you can watch the stress drain away with the chirping of the birds. I warmly encourage you to arrive a little early to wander through the gardens, smell the flowers, and even help yourself to a fresh, organic cherry tomato.

I look forward to welcoming you into this peaceful space and helping you on your journey to a pain-free life.

The back deck and garden at Carol's home practice in Petrolia, where clients are welcome to wander before sessions

Carol's qualifications

Competency and Specialized Training.

Bowen Therapy is a discipline you keep growing into. Carol has continued to study with leading instructors in Canada, the US, and Australia since her initial certification in 2017.

What is Bowen Therapy?

Bowen Therapy was developed in Australia in the 1950s–70s by Tom Bowen, an osteopath who noticed that very small, precise movements over specific points of the body could produce profound relief from pain and chronic conditions. The technique was refined over decades of clinical work and is now practiced worldwide.

A Bowen session looks unlike most hands-on therapies. Carol uses light, rolling movements over muscles and connective tissue — not massage strokes, not chiropractic manipulation, not deep tissue pressure. Between sets of movements, she will leave the room for a few minutes. These "rest periods" are essential. They give your nervous system time to absorb the work and begin to rebalance.

Because the work asks the body to do most of the healing itself, most appointments are scheduled about a week apart — long enough for changes to settle in before the next session builds on them.

After your session

The Three W's

Three small things you can do that make a meaningful difference in how much you get out of each Bowen session.

W

Water

Drink 4–5 glasses of water each day for the four days following your session.

W

Walk

If you sit for long periods, get up every 45 minutes for a short two-minute walk.

W

Wait

Avoid other manipulative therapy (massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, physio, reflexology, energy work) for 5 days before and after Bowen. Carol will help you schedule.

What we ask of you

  • Communicate about symptoms, concerns, and reactions during treatment.
  • Do any exercises you're given, as prescribed.
  • Allow yourself time to heal — don't over-exert as you start feeling better.
  • As you improve, discuss medication adjustments with your physician.

Ready to feel better?

Most clients notice a difference in just one to three sessions. Book a time that works for you.

Book an appointment or call 519-381-1227