Rosehips Midwifery’s

Allied Healthcare Professionals

Alex Thompson, MScPT, BFA

REGISTERED PHYSIOTHERAPIST (she/her)

SEEING CLIENTS AT ROSEHIPS MIDWIFERY FROM SEPTEMBER 2025

Alex is a pelvic health-focused physiotherapist with advanced training in perinatal pelvic health care, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain. Her treatment approach includes education, exercise, and manual therapy and she is passionate about helping people feel strong, capable, and confident in their bodies.

Alex grew up in a dance studio, and that early love of movement led her first to a Bachelor's degree in dance and then to a career in Physiotherapy. After completing her MScPT at the University of Alberta, she gained experience in acute care, post-surgical rehab, and Clinical Pilates before settling into private practice.

Book an appointment with Alex

  • Alex blends evidence-based care with real-life practicality. Her approach is grounded in the belief that the human body is incredibly adaptable—and that rehabilitation should be tailored to your life, not the other way around. As a toddler mom herself, she brings humour, honesty, and realistic expectations to the challenges of moving through parenthood.

    When she’s not in the clinic, Alex is likely chasing her daughter, trying out a new recipe, or exploring the universe with her telescope.

    Learn more at www.tidalmotionphysio.ca

Leah Gold, RM, CFNC, MA

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER (she/her)

SEEING CLIENTS AT ROSEHIPS MIDWIFERY FROM APRIL 2026

Leah is a full-scope registered midwife in the Nanaimo area that also offers functional medicine consultation. She trained in Ontario, immediately moved to beautiful Vancouver Island and has practiced in Nanaimo since. After applying Functional Medicine to her own health complications with great results, Leah decided to train in Functional Medicine and Functional Nutrition and learn how to apply it to maternity care. She feels constantly amazed and privileged to be on this life-path and looks forward to working with you.

  • Prior to becoming a midwife, Leah conducted her Masters research in the Peruvian Andes, examining traditional medicine and women’s health. This ultimately led her to become interested in midwifery. Shortly after the birth of her first son at home with midwives, she recognized connections between her previous research on traditional medicine in South America and birth culture in North America. Since then she has been passionate about accompanying parents through the rite of passage that birth is. 

    Leah offers functional medicine support to pregnant people throughout British Columbia. Functional medicine recognizes the intricate interplay between nutrition, lifestyle, genetics and environmental factors to help you reduce risks for common pregnancy complications and to foster a healthy, empowering and vibrant pregnancy journey. During a consultation, blood work will be analyzed using a different set of reference ranges that considers the unique condition of being pregnant, and focuses on preventing common pregnancy complications. Your medical history and experiences will also inform recommendations for nutrition and lifestyle. 

    When not at work, Leah can be found playing on her mountain bike, hanging out with her family, hiking the beautiful trails of Vancouver Island with her dog, and finding creativity through cooking.

Jeevan Atwal, MACP, CCC

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR (she/her)

Jeevan is a compassionate therapist specializing in perinatal mental health, supporting parents through the emotional and mental health challenges that arise during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. As a mother who has personally navigated the overwhelming experience of becoming a new parent, she deeply understands the complexities of this transformative time.

  • After the birth of her own child, Jeevan found herself facing unexpected challenges—her birth didn’t go as planned, and she experienced both postpartum anxiety and depression. This personal journey of navigating uncertainty, fear, and emotional pain has fueled her passion for helping others who feel alone in their struggles. 

    With warmth and empathy, Jeevan creates a safe space for parents to feel heard, supported, and empowered as they work through their own challenges. She believes that no parent should have to go through this journey by themselves and that understanding the emotional landscape of parenthood is key to healing. 

    Through her own experience, Jeevan knows that knowledge is power. She helps her clients gain practical insights and coping strategies, guiding them toward clarity and confidence during what can often feel like an overwhelming and isolating time. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, or the emotional rollercoaster of new parenthood, Jeevan is here to walk with you through it all, offering support, understanding, and the tools you need to thrive.

    Learn more at www.jeevanatwalcounselling.ca.

Amy O’Dea, MSW

REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER (she/her)

SEEING PERINATAL CLIENTS TUESDAYS AT ROSEHIPS MIDWIFERY

I am Amy, a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with a Master of Social Work (MSW) and over 20 years of experience walking alongside individuals and families through times of change, challenge, and growth.

In recent years, my practice has centered around supporting parents and families during the perinatal period — a time that can hold so much joy, but also grief, worry, identity shifts, and overwhelm. I am passionate about creating gentle, compassionate spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported as they navigate the complexities of pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, and loss.

  • I believe that perinatal mental health is about so much more than managing symptoms — it’s about connection, care, and making room for all the parts of your story. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed, relational practice, and shaped by a deep respect for people’s lived experiences and inner wisdom.

    I draw from therapeutic approaches like narrative therapy, mindfulness, EMDR, and attachment-based work, while always centering each person’s unique needs, strengths, and values. My practice is also guided by principles of cultural humility, curiosity, and a commitment to holding space for conversations about how systems, identity, and community shape our experiences of mental health and parenting.

    More than anything, I believe that no one should have to navigate these tender seasons alone — we heal in connection.