OUR TEAM
Helen Ries
BscKin, BscPT, CGIMS, CAFCI
Clinic Owner, Physiotherapist
She/Her
Helen is a graduate of the University of Alberta, holding both a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She has worked as a physiotherapist in private practice clinics in the Edmonton area, and prior to moving to Vancouver, spent 18 months working in a busy outpatient physiotherapy department in a private hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Helen has a ‘patients come first’ philosophy. She believes that optimal function relies not only on overcoming the physical limitation of a particular injury, but also in considering all aspects of a person’s life. She attempts to match treatments with her clients’ personal schedules, their prior experience with exercise, and their goals for future activity. Assessments and treatments are based on the whole-body approach of The Discover Physio Series Integrated Approach for Facilitating Change. Treatments incorporate specific exercise prescription with manual therapy, acupuncture/IMS and soft tissue techniques. Core stability exercises are key to any treatment program prescribed; as such, pilates, yoga and foam roller techniques are integrated where appropriate.
Helen has a keen interest in athletics. While in Aberdeen, she provided physiotherapy expertise for a sports medicine clinic run in association with the Grampian Institute of Sport, treating both nationally and internationally competitive athletes. Since moving to Vancouver she has been involved with the Sun Run InTraining Program as a Clinic Coordinator and Clinic Leader and continues to present as a Guest Speaker to various running clinics across the Lower Mainland. In addition, she has previously worked with varsity and club level soccer, rugby, and wrestling teams, as both an athletic therapist and conditioning coach.
Helen participates in numerous team and individual sports, having previously competed nationally in soccer and duathlon. Other personal athletic highlights include the Victoria Marathon, the Canadian Death Race and the Edmonton, Vancouver First Half and Vancouver Scotiabank Half Marathons.
What are your top skills as a physiotherapist?
I’m a great listener and I love helping people understand how their bodies work. I think of myself as a personal “tour guide”—helping you figure out what’s going on, how to tune in to it, and how to make things better. My secret sauce is definitely how I adapt my style and communication to fit exactly who I’m talking to!
What kind of approach do you take with clients?
I’m all about a hands-on, specific approach to care. My focus is on digging deep to find the root cause of tissue damage, looking at the whole picture of your life to build a treatment plan that actually fits. Clients tell me they love my empathy and bedside manner, but they also appreciate that I truly walk the walk and live the healthy lifestyle I recommend.
How would a friend describe you?
My friends know me as the person who always shows up when it matters most. I pride myself on being thoughtful and acting with integrity in everything I do. I’m also deeply driven; I pour my heart into my work and am constantly pushing myself to grow—even if my friends have to occasionally remind me to take a breather!
What drew you to this profession?
My journey into physiotherapy began with a five-year mystery. After breaking my ankle at age six, I spent every soccer season dealing with what we thought were repetitive sprains, only to discover at age eleven that it had been a misdiagnosis all along.
Going through surgery and the intensive rehab that followed didn’t just address my ankle—it sparked a lifelong calling. Throughout my athletic career, even as I navigated my own injuries, I became the go-to teammate for taping ankles and offering support. Those experiences cemented my passion for the field. Today, I’m driven by that same curiosity: I love the challenge of uncovering the root cause of a symptom and the reward of helping someone truly feel like themselves again.
What lights you up about the work you do?
I live for the “post-treatment glow”—that moment when you can see a patient’s nervous system shift from stress to calm; their eyes just look brighter! It’s incredibly rewarding to watch someone walk out the door feeling physically better and mentally ready for their day.
What motivates you in patient care?
I truly believe in the power of my calling – teaching people about their bodies and how to move well, feel well, and be well. So many illnesses and ailments could be improved if not eliminated if everyone had access to this knowledge and guidance. It is my goal to share my offerings to the world one person at a time.
Can you share some highlights in your background or training?
Over a 7-year period, I completed a Bachelor of Science, in Kinesiology and then another in Physical Therapy, both at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Over the next 2 and a bit decades I have taken an array of post-graduate courses in Holistic Assessment, Specific Manual Therapy and Needling Techniques, Running Analysis and Pilates training. My background crosses Maitland-type techniques with Osteopathic, Craniosacral and Crafta approaches, as well as Medical Acupuncture and Intramuscular Stimulation. Some of my mentors have been world renowned Physiotherapists. I have also learned a lot from my own experience with injury. But I have learned the most from the tens of thousands of patients I have treated over the past 25 years.
What's something people might not expect about you?
I love watching hockey, be it my son’s minor hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers or Team Canada. What many won’t expect is that despite my complexion, I love the sun! I joke with one of my friends that I photosynthesize … and sometimes, if you listen really close, you can actually here a new freckle “pop” 😉
Where can we find you when you're not at the clinic?
I love being outside, moving my body in nature with my friends and my family, and reading a book in a quiet space. I also really love coffee and sleep.
What are your non-negotiable heath/wellness practices or rituals?
I bike commute most days unless it’s too windy or too icy. This is my quiet time to myself, between the hustle of home and the bustle of work. I try to practice what I preach with regular body rolling sessions, core strengthening, resistance training, running, swimming, hiking, SUP. I love all sports! I don’t often have a lot of time to do all of these things consistently, but I try to fit bits and pieces in where I can.
Additional Credentials
Integrated Systems Model of Assessment and Treatment
Medical Acupuncture
Intramuscular Stimulation
Mat Pilates
Running Analysis
Manual Therapy of the Myofascial System
Manual Therapy of the Cranium