Noreen Wallace
Witnessing the shift in healthcare delivery as a newly graduated occupational therapist in the early 1980s, Noreen quickly recognized that the growing focus on productivity and billable units was overshadowing the art and science of hands-on care. After more than 15 years working across acute care, rehabilitation, hand therapy, early intervention, and home care, she found herself asking a pivotal question: How can therapy be practiced differently?
That question was answered in 1997 at her first Myofascial Release (MFR) weekend conference, where she was profoundly struck by the effectiveness of the work—particularly when she observed measurable improvements in joint mobility in elderly, institutionalized patients, with techniques successfully carried out by trained CNAs. Both fascinated and humbled by what she realized she had never been taught, she began to explore the work deeply, first as a recipient and then as a clinician. Her own treatment experiences at CenterIMT revealed the power of three-planar fulcrums and reinforced the importance of embodied learning—understanding the work from the inside out.
After the closure of her 30-year clinical practice during the COVID pandemic, she felt called to help renew and pass on this approach to a new generation of practitioners and curious learners alike. Teaching alongside everyday life—including moments of hands-on exploration with her grandchildren—has reinforced her belief that this work is intuitive, accessible, and profoundly effective for all ages, abilities, and species. Her teaching emphasizes simplicity, presence, and curiosity, offering powerful manual therapy tools for clinicians, bodyworkers, and laypeople interested in learning hands-on care for others—and for themselves.
Contact Noreen for appointment!