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Michelle Hughes • Melanie Csotonyi • Jennie Bridgman • Clare Blanchflower Michelle Hughes Michelle was raised in the Comox Valley and returned with her family in 2004 to open her clinic and enjoy the wonderful lifestyle that the Comox Valley has to offer. Michelle attended the University of British Columbia where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology. Michelle then chose to study Chinese medicine and graduated in 2000 from the acclaimed International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Vancouver, British Columbia as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After graduation Michelle interned at the Anhui Acupuncture hospital in Hefei, China where she gained valuable experience in acupuncture and herbal medicine from the hundreds of patients that she treated. Michelle is a Registered Acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of British Columbia. She is also a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Michelle has trained with some of North America’s foremost women’s health experts in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine. Michelle has traveled to Houston, Texas to train with Dr. Randine Lewis author of the” Infertility Cure”, Vancouver to train with Bob Flaws author of” Fulfilling the Essence Chinese Treatments for Female Infertility”, and New York City to train with Mike Berkley founder of the Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness and Women’s Health. She has also taken birth coaching and is a doula in training. Michelle believes in a complimentary approach to health care combining the many benefits of western medicine with Traditional Chinese medicine. Michelle has a large referral base of practitioners in modalities such as clinical counseling, massage therapy, hypnotherapy and hypnobirthing, chiropractic care, and physiotherapy to compliment Traditional Chinese medicine and help you to reach your goals. Melanie Csotonyi
Melanie was trained by Dr. Warren Fischer, the Dean and head founder of the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences. Prior to this Melanie attended the Universal College of Reflexology where she became a registered Foot Refloxologist and Reiki Master. Melanie also has her Business Management Diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Upon graduating Melanie was invited by one of her teachers to join their personal practice, in Castlegar, BC where she quickly established a dedicated clientele. She has experience in treating a wide variety of pathologies from trauma injuries, diabetes, chron’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and more. She is very empathetic and is truly dedicated to making people feel better mentally, physically and spiritually. Melanie has moved to the Comox Valley to pursue her interest in reproductive wellness and woman’s health. With training in traditional Chinese medicine, Foot Reflexology and Reiki, she is a caring and extremely talented healer. Melanie is a passionate practitioner and believes in healing the body as a unified whole. She also strongly believes in the synthesis of Chinese medicine with Western medicine. Jennie Bridgman
Jennie graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology. Jennie then went on to become a Reiki Master and Doula and became specifically focussed on working with women. For the last 3 years Jennie has run Women’s self awareness retreat weekends facilitating self-exploration and growth. In September of 2008, Jennie received a Diploma of Professional Counselling from the Vancouver College of Counsellor Training. During this time she completed a practicum and spent many volunteer hours facilitating groups and working with clients one on one. Her approach is solution focused, aimed at clarifying issues, identifying and resolving limiting core beliefs and creating a holistic approach to wellness, growth and transformation. In a counseling session with Jennie, the client is encouraged to express her goals for the counseling process which Jennie will help facilitate through the discovery of solutions and strategies to encourage you to create balance and wellness, feel more empowered by discovering coping mechanisms for navigating important life experiences and transitions. Clare Blanchflower
Through her own search for physical and spiritual health she has come to understand the importance of empowerment in the healing process and her intention is to encourage women to know and express their power through caring for themselves to maintain health and vitality. She addresses individual needs with an holistic approach to balance the emotions, physical body and spirit and encourage personal growth and health awareness. An expansive spiritual training has equipped Clare with knowledge and experience of indigenous, shamanic traditions, yoga, meditation and spiritual healing that enhance her practice and deepen her understanding of holistic health and sacred balance in life. Clare graduated from the University of the Arts, London, UK in Interior and Spatial Design and was then an Associate Lecturer at the University of the Arts for 7 years. She transitioned into her current work via an apprenticeship in Tibetan Medicine and an ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage Therapy. Coming from a background in architecture and fine art Clare has many creative interests including photography, painting, dance and film. She has a passion and reverence for Mother Earth, wilderness, environment, natural health, indigenous medicine and native wisdom. Clare teaches workshops on women’s health issues and awareness, creative ritual dance and sacred balance and is passionate about sharing ancient and modern wisdom with women of all ages. After her first visit to Vancouver Island in 2004 Clare knew she had found her ‘home’ in BC and moved here in 2007, with a deep, heartfelt desire to create a life close to the land she moved to the Comox Valley in May 2008 where she is living her Canadian dream! Back to top
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Dr. Michelle Hughes is the founder of Comox Valley Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, which opened in 2004 in Courtenay, B.C. Michelle has a special interest in treating infertility and women’s health.
Melanie Csotonyi is a Registered Acupuncturist and Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Melanie graduated in April, 2008 from the Academy of Classical Oriental Sciences in Nelson, BC. She completed her practicum in Kunming, China where she had the opportunity to work with some very famous traditional Chinese medicine doctors. Melanie worked in two different hospitals while in China and had the opportunity to experience the synthesis of Chinese medicine with Western medicine. 
Professional Counsellor Jennie Bridgman joined Comox Valley Acupuncture in January 2009 in Courtenay BC. Jennie has a unique interest in working with women who are encountering difficulties that may compromise optimum fertility, stresses that affect relationships, grief, anxiety and depression associated with miscarriage and reproductive health concerns. 
Clare has trained with Dr Rosita Arvigo in Maya Medicine, the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage and Women’s Health and also completed the Complete Natural Pregnancy Care Program with Oeuf, London. Her practice focuses on Women’s Health and Wellness through all cycles of life using Maya Abdominal Massage and Integrated Healing Therapies. 