Marissa is determined to give you the tools in the clinic, to get you back to work, life, and play outside of it. Simple or complex, her knowledge in manual therapies and passion for exercise as an art and science will get you where you need to be!
Marissa is a Physiotherapist
and Clinical Director at By
Design Physiotherapy, known
for helping people move
beyond recurring pain and
into
long-term strength,
confidence, and control.
While many people seek quick fixes, Marissa works with those ready to do things differently. She specialises in pain that keeps coming back, lingers despite treatment, or shows up when life, stress, or training loads increase. If you’ve tried other things before, or even physio before, but haven’t achieved lasting change, this is where her work is different.
With a background shaped by hands-on training at James Cook University, as well as years of coaching, strength training, and business leadership, Marissa takes a whole-person approach - combining physiotherapy, strength training, and behaviour change - helping you understand what’s going on, and guiding you to follow through with what actually drives results.
Her focus is not just to reduce pain, but to build a body that is resilient, capable, and prepared for real life.
At By Design, this means bridging the gap between rehab and training - helping clients transition from injury and limitation into structured, progressive strength.
Fun Facts:
Marissa has competed in bodybuilding, CrossFit, powerlifting, track & field and running - and grew up playing soccer & basketball.
She has built multiple businesses, including coffee shops, a CrossFit gym, an award-winning fine dining restaurant, and a cocktail bar.
She trains most days and deeply understands the role movement plays in both physical and mental health.
She is relentlessly focused on her clients - expect her to be more interested in your goals than talking about her own achievements.
Marissa works best with people who are:
tired of short-term fixes
ready to take ownership of their health
open to strength training as a long-term solution
committed to changing habits, not just symptoms
If your goal is simply to “get out of pain,” there are many great physios who can help.
If your goal is to become stronger, more capable, and no longer limited by your body, Marissa will guide you every step of the way.
Qualifications:
Bachelor Physiotherapy, James Cook University (2017)
CrossFit Trainer (CCFT/CF-L3)
Personal Training Cert 3&4 (2012)
ASCA Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach
Dry Needling & Western Acupuncture (Advanced)