More than a program. A methodology.

The 3 Treatment
Challenge.

Time to understand you.
Feedback that shapes your care.
A clear conversation about progress.

Developed by Mellissa Stone, RMT · The StoneRMT approach

Explore the methodology ↓Find your starting point ↗
Your care stays individual. The first three visits offer a useful point to review the plan when ongoing treatment is appropriate. You choose whether to continue at every stage. The number, spacing, and approach depend on your needs; outcomes and timelines vary.
Where it began

A request from Mellissa.
A relationship built together.

Mellissa Stone, RMT and founder of StoneRMT
Mellissa Stone, RMT

The practitioner behind the 3 Treatment Challenge.

Meet our founder ↗

The 3 Treatment Challenge began in Mellissa Stone’s own practice with a simple request: when a course of care is appropriate, give her the opportunity over three visits to understand your body, learn from your response, and show you how she works.

A first visit provides important information. What happens afterwards adds another part of the picture. How did you feel that evening? Could you move more comfortably? Did something feel worse, or leave you unsure about returning?

Mellissa developed this methodology to make that conversation part of the care itself. Your feedback helps her explain, reassess, and modify the plan. Progress takes cooperation, clear communication, and the willingness to change direction when needed.

It is the relationship behind the work: listening, learning, and following through together. That same commitment guides what Mellissa asks of the practitioners at StoneRMT, each working within their own scope and approach.

The methodology in practice

Three opportunities
to learn what helps.

These are stages of conversation and review, rather than a fixed treatment sequence. Assessment and consent guide every visit. Some people need fewer appointments, others need a different or longer plan.

01
Visit one · Understand & begin

Get to know the person.
Learn how their body responds.

Mellissa starts with your history, concerns, movement, comfort, and goals. She discusses what the assessment suggests, explains the proposed care, and begins treatment where appropriate and with your consent.

When an area is newly painful, swollen, or very sensitive, the first decision is whether hands-on treatment is appropriate. The initial plan may focus on comfort and tolerable movement; some presentations call for medical assessment or another provider first.

  • Agree on a practical goal, such as a more comfortable workday or an easier movement.
  • Discuss pressure, positioning, possible effects after treatment, and when to contact the clinic.
  • Notice what changes during the appointment and in the hours and days afterwards.
02
Visit two · Listen & adapt

Your feedback becomes
part of the treatment.

The follow-up begins with what happened after the first visit. Mellissa listens, answers questions about possible reasons for your response, and reassesses anything that needs a closer look. If the first explanation or approach did not fit your experience, this is an opportunity to clarify and change it.

With more information, the plan can explore contributing factors alongside the painful area: how you move, which activities matter, and how surrounding areas may be involved. Soft-tissue work, movement, or homecare may be adjusted to suit the findings and your comfort.

  • Modify pressure, techniques, positioning, treatment areas, or appointment spacing as needed.
  • Explore restricted movement, muscle tension, and the questions your assessment raises.
  • Discuss appropriate mobility or strengthening work you can manage between visits.
03
Visit three · Reassess & choose

Look for meaningful progress.
Be honest about the next step.

Mellissa reviews your original goals and what has changed: pain, mobility, everyday function, confidence, and how you tolerate care. Where appropriate, the plan may address the affected area, related or compensating areas, posture, and strengthening.

The intention is to build toward changes you can use in daily life, with a clearer understanding of what helps and how to support it. Lasting improvement is a goal we work toward; it does not have a guaranteed start date or a three-visit deadline.

  • Compare your experience with the starting point and the goals you agreed on.
  • Discuss whether continuing, modifying, spacing out, or concluding treatment makes sense.
  • Consider another practitioner or service if the current approach is not helping.

We do not wait for visit three to change direction.

If symptoms worsen, the response is unexpected, or another assessment is needed, Mellissa reassesses sooner and discusses changing or pausing treatment and referring when appropriate. If progress is limited, she will explain that honestly and help you explore another practitioner within StoneRMT or outside the clinic.

This is rapport

Patience. Trust.
Room to speak honestly.

A working relationship gives both of you room to ask questions, learn from what happens, and adjust. Your practitioner’s responsibility is to listen and respond. Your comfort and choices stay part of every decision.

Tell us what happened

Feedback is part of care.

Some patients feel hesitant to return after an uncomfortable or confusing experience. Tell us about soreness, a flare-up, what you might call “kick-back pain,” or something you did not understand. You do not have to work out the explanation yourself.

Ask for the explanation

Understanding makes room for choice.

Mellissa wants you to understand what she is considering, why the plan may change, and what alternatives you have. A question or concern is useful information; it deserves a clear response.

Keep learning together

Clinical reasoning can change.

A practitioner’s first understanding may need revision as new information emerges. Mellissa’s commitment is to acknowledge when the approach needs to change, take your feedback seriously, and help you find a suitable next step.

If you are worried after treatment, contact us promptly. New or worsening symptoms should be assessed rather than treated as proof that the treatment is working. Severe or urgent symptoms need prompt medical care; please do not wait for your next massage appointment.
Mellissa’s methodology. A shared commitment.

A plan with purpose.
A team willing to listen.

The 3 Treatment Challenge grew from Mellissa’s conversations with her own patients. Her hope for every StoneRMT practitioner is the same: take time to understand the person, use their feedback, review progress, and be honest about what comes next.

Different services use different assessments and approaches. Your practitioner recommends a plan within their own scope, guided by your needs. A referral is a constructive next step when another provider’s skills are a better fit.

Unsure who to begin with? Jacqueline, our Clinic Coordinator and Care Specialist, can talk through your options in a phone consultation and help you find a starting point.

Talk with Jacqueline ↗Meet our team ↗
Massage therapy ↗Physiotherapy ↗Athletic therapy ↗
Before you begin

A clear plan.
Your choice throughout.

Do I have to commit to three appointments?

No. Three visits are Mellissa’s suggested opportunity for feedback and review when further treatment is indicated. Each appointment is your choice. You can ask for a change, decline care, stop treatment, or choose another practitioner at any time.

Does everyone need three visits—or improve by the third?

No. Some people notice changes sooner, some need a different timeframe, and some need another approach. Your practitioner discusses the reason for any follow-up and reviews whether it remains appropriate. Three visits do not guarantee pain relief, posture changes, or lasting results.

What if my first treatment did not feel right?

Please contact us and explain what happened. If you feel comfortable continuing, a follow-up can provide an opportunity to clarify the experience and revise the plan. You are also free to request another practitioner or seek another opinion. Symptoms that are new, worsening, or concerning deserve reassessment rather than an automatic repeat treatment.

Will each appointment use deeper pressure?

No. Pressure and technique are chosen for your needs, comfort, consent, and response. Progress may involve gentler care, a different area, movement, education, or referral. “Deeper” does not automatically mean more effective.

How far apart should the visits be?

Your practitioner recommends spacing after the assessment, considering your presentation, response, goals, and circumstances. We explain why a follow-up is suggested and adjust when appropriate.

Can returning patients use this approach too?

Yes. A new concern, a changed goal, or a plan that needs reviewing can be a reason to revisit assessment, feedback, and progress together. Your practitioner will discuss how much care is appropriate for your situation.

How do I start, and what does it cost?

New massage patients can explore the 75-minute initial appointment, which includes conversation, assessment, and treatment as appropriate. Follow-up lengths and timing are recommended individually. View our current rates or speak with Jacqueline if you are unsure which service to choose. Appointments are booked individually; there is no special three-visit package advertised here.

View current rates ↗ · Explore a consultation ↗

The StoneRMT 3 Treatment Challenge

Give the conversation
room to grow.

Start with an assessment, bring your questions, and help shape a plan that makes sense for you.

Explore appointments ↗Talk with Jacqueline ↗

Mellissa is not accepting new patients for the remainder of 2026. Her 2027 schedule is coming soon. Our team can help you explore other options.

The 3 Treatment Challenge methodology was developed by Mellissa Stone, RMT, through her practice at StoneRMT. This page describes her approach to assessment, treatment, feedback, and review. Care is tailored to each patient. Read Mellissa’s story ↗

The 3 Treatment Massage Therapy Challenge is to ensure that you are receiving the best care possible!

 That you are challenging yourself to book in advance at least 2 more visits after your initial consultation visit (based off of your Therapists Treatment Plan) and follow through! Commit! 

We assess your health history, posture, imbalances, malalignments etc., and therefore, we attack not only your current symptoms, but also the causes (the root of your symptoms), and therefore, require more than one treatment to ensure that we not only decrease or eliminate your current symptoms, but also ensure they do not cause you any more discomfort in the future.

It's A Personalized Plan for Greatly Decreasing Discomfort and Pain

How to Book...

1. Book your 75 min Initial Consult [includes 15 min FREE Assessment]

2. At your initial visit, mention the 3 Treatment Challenge and your RMT will recommend which treatments to book for the following 2 Sessions + time frame, once the initial Assessments are complete.

 

Yes! I want to try the 3 Treatment Challenge

You can begin a 3 Treatment Challenge at any time

Whether you are a new patient or a returning patient

Whether you have a new injury, or simply wish to better improve your body overall. These are YOUR treatments and YOUR time, and we put YOU first. Patient-centered care is our mission.

One-On-One Coaching Can Help You With The Following:

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Target And Decrease Tension

During your FIRST SESSION we will be able to Target and manually reduce your tension, locked in the layers of your tissue.
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Reduce Adhesion

FIRST --> SECOND SESSION, you will see a drastic reduction of that "stickiness" or "stiffness" that inhibits your movement and weighs you down.
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Release Triggers

FIRST --> SECOND SESSION we will locate and release Active and Latent Trigger Points in your muscles. Targeting referred pain, headaches, numbness + tingling.
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Balance Your Body

SECOND --> THIRD SESSION we begin to even out the tone in your body. Balancing which muscles are tugging + pulling with which ones are weak + being pulled on. Providing Strengthening/Lengthening Self-Care.
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Increase Mobility

SECOND --> THIRD SESSION we are improving your Mobility through the reduction of blocking/sticking tension, adhesion, and fascial restrictions in the muscles and surrounding tissues.
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Correct Your Posture

By the THIRD SESSION we are beginning to see improvements with your Posture overall. We begin to discuss how your Posture being corrected is VITAL to your overall health and body function.