Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Bush
Stephanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I first moved to St. Augustine Florida from Louisiana in 2004 to begin graduate school at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and graduated in 2006 with my clinical doctorate in physical therapy. I worked the clinical and professional ladder over the past 19 years of practice starting out as a new physical therapist at a small outpatient PT-owned company in the very beginning and then transitioned after a couple of years to a phenomenal all-encompassing rehabilitation system where my climb really began. I continued to gain experience in the PT world as a float physical therapist working in a variety of hospital and non-hospital-based outpatient clinics. After five years of patient care, I applied to and was accepted into the first Women’s Health Residency Program class with Brooks Rehabilitation Institute for Higher Learning. As one of two Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residents, I spent a full year taking a deep post-professional dive into all things women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy, with successful completion of my board certification in Women’s Health Physical Therapy in 2014 with the American Physical Therapy Association.
I continued my professional growth post residency and board certification with stepping into management of two outpatient clinics in the greater Jacksonville area with Brooks Rehabilitation over the course of six years with development and growth of women’s health and pelvic floor programs at each respective clinic. In 2016, I assumed the role of Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency Program Coordinator with Brooks Rehabilitation Institute for Higher Learning, and over the course of eight years, I educated, led, mentored and taught physical therapists who desired to specialize and treat within the specialty of women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy. During this time, my passion for women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy deepened exponentially as I trained others in this specialty and worked with countless patients making a difference in their everyday lives being able to resume normal and healthy bladder, bowel, pelvic, and sexual health and wellness!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This question opens real transparency! I am a single parent to my almost 13-year-old nephew whom I adopted 2.5 years ago and got custody of in February 2020 right before the COVID pandemic! At that time in my professional career, I was full-time between clinical and educational positions with Brooks Rehabilitation with the thoughts of future private practice in mind. Managing a 7-year-old child, world-wide pandemic, working full-time as a healthcare professional, and a professional goal of transitioning into private practice seemed mountainous. It began and moved at a snail’s pace in its infancy, but with support of a few, SB Physical Therapy and Wellness, LLC was birthed in January 2021!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have been a Doctor of Physical Therapy for 19 years and a Board-Certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) for 10 years specializing in orthopedic dysfunctions, women’s health, and pelvic floor physical therapy. I treat an array of orthopedic and women’s health-related conditions including neck/back/hip/sacroiliac/tailbone pain, myofascial pain/fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, breast/urogenital cancer physical rehabilitation, and the female athlete to name a few, with a subspecialty in pelvic floor physical therapy. Pelvic floor-related diagnoses I treat and specialize in include pregnancy and postpartum recovery, diastasis rectus abdominis, abdominal/core/pelvic floor muscle weakness, urinary leakage, constipation, chronic pelvic pain, painful sex and sexual dysfunction, pelvic/vaginal/rectal pain, hormonal-related changes due to peri- and post-menopause, and male-related pelvic floor issues. Yes, men suffer from pelvic floor issues too! Most common pelvic floor conditions I treat in men include groin/penile/testicular pain, diastasis rectus abdominis, urinary leakage, erectile dysfunction, constipation, fecal leakage and more.
For expectant mothers-to-be, I offer a Prenatal Labor and Delivery and Childbirth Preparation Package. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn exercises for pelvic and hip mobility and pelvic floor muscle relaxation to promote pelvic girdle flexibility needed for baby transitioning through the birth canal, how to manage pain during labor and delivery, strategies to decrease perineal tearing, determine optimal and comfortable childbirth position, breathing strategies during the pushing phase, and tips and tricks for early postpartum recovery.
In addition to physical therapy, I have my pilates rehabilitation certification and 200-hour yoga teacher training. I offer wellness-based pilates, yoga and movement-based exercise to women and men of all ages. I am a huge advocate of treating the whole body and person so these additional services compliment beautifully what I work on with my clients within their physical therapy sessions, post-discharge and beyond!
I am most proud of my determination, drive, and resilience to get to where I am today, as both the personal and professional journey has been challenging, joyous, overwhelming, rewarding, tough and triumphant, all along the way. At its inception in January 2021, SB Physical Therapy and Wellness, LLC was created with a vision to provide specialized women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy services and fitness/wellness-based care to women throughout the lifespan, with the underlying mission to help prioritize their physical health, promote self-care, love their bodies, and enjoy a lifestyle not controlled by their symptoms or insecurities.
What sets me apart from others? That is a great question—one that made me pause and consider how others might see me. So, I asked a trusted friend and colleague, Marie Merritt, founder of Momentum Fit Incorporated. Here is what she had to say:
“Your exceptional care and compassion, combined with your expertise and ability to educate, truly sets you apart. You’re a rare blend of kindness, skill, and communication—what I’d call a ‘triple threat.’ Not only do you bring deep empathy to your work, but you also have a unique ability to break down complex concepts in a way that makes people feel seen, understood, and empowered. You meet individuals where they are, normalize their experiences, and provide practical tools so they never feel helpless. Most importantly, your approach is always tailored to the individual, never a one-size-fits-all solution.”
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
The opportunities that I have been blessed with in my professional career including advancements in clinical practice, roles in leadership and higher education, and the personal mentorship that I have received from some amazing people, all positioned me to take the leap of faith into private practice and to serve, teach and treat all the amazing clients that walk through my door!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sbphysicaltherapyandwellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_pelvicpt_yogi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thePelvicPTyogi
