When Melinda first met the team at Advanced Physical Therapy & Wellness, she wasn’t looking for a new career - she was simply looking for relief. What she found, though, was life-changing: not only did she discover a path to healing, but also a community that would one day become her professional home.
“I went to a gym called Stride,” Melinda recalls. “One of the Saturdays that I was there, Owen was there, and did some cupping. I was pretty excited about it because it was something new that I’d never tried before. And I like trying new things.”
At the time, Melinda was struggling with significant neck pain. “I was having some major difficulties with my neck, and I thought maybe this might be the answer to help me,” she says.
That first encounter sparked something - curiosity, hope, and ultimately, healing.
Melinda decided to come in for an initial visit, and it immediately stood out. “It was interesting. It made me feel really good,” she says. “I really liked the fact that not only did they work on my neck, but they looked at all other parts of my body and found areas that hurt that I didn’t even realize hurt.”
She could tell it was going to be something different. “It was going to be something really good for me, not only just for the areas of pain that I had, but just to keep my body in good shape for the gym work that I was trying to accomplish.”
From there, Melinda purchased a treatment package — and then another. “It really helped me with my mobility,” she says. “It helped me feel stronger at the gym, helped me feel like I could accomplish more… I was sitting at a desk for 10 to 12 hours a day and needed to move more. This helped me recover and keep going.”
After one year as a patient, Melinda joined the Advanced Physical Therapy & Wellness team - something she never expected.
“I really appreciate the owners here,” she says. “I was able to have very frank conversations during my treatments. Everybody was very loving and caring and respectful of different opinions. I could tell that it would be a really great place to work.”
Then one day, Dr. Owen made her an offer she hadn’t anticipated. “He just said, ‘Hey, why don’t you come work for me instead of doing the job you’re doing?’” she recalls with a smile. “I didn’t think that was an option… but yeah, I’d love to consider that.”
A year later, Melinda is not just part of the team - she’s a vital part of the patient experience.
“It’s been an interesting journey,” Melinda says. “At first, it was very challenging for me because this is an area that I didn’t have a lot of expertise in, except for my own personal journey. But I enjoy being able to encourage people as they come in.”
She takes pride in helping patients feel comfortable from the moment they walk through the door. “You can always kind of tell - some people are a little timid when they first come in, don’t really know what they’re up for. But I love being able to talk to them, share my story, and make them feel at ease. It brings me a lot of pleasure to have that interaction.”
Having tried “three or four other physical therapists,” “three different chiropractors,” “acupuncture,” and “lots of massages,” Melinda knows firsthand how unique our approach is.
“You’re concerned about the entire body,” she says. “You all know what you’re doing - very educated about muscle groups and how they interact. You’re very, very good at helping the body feel better, and you don’t get that everywhere.”
Even compared to other cash-based clinics, she says, there’s a difference. “You really want to help me feel better, whereas the other people just wanted to take my money and get me out. You care past the sale transaction.”
And when it comes to the investment, she says it’s more than worth it. “The time savings is huge - I wasted a lot of time going to other physical therapists where I didn’t get progress. But it’s more than just time. My body feels better coming here.”
Melinda finishes with a simple sentiment that says it all: “I love you guys.”
And we love her, too - for her warmth, her heart, and her inspiring reminder of what happens when healing turns into purpose.