Laren graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland Baltimore in 2008, and has been refining her manual therapy skills ever since, especially since discovering fascial counterstrain. She works in Gaithersburg in her own private practice, allowing 1:1 focus on her patients. In addition to treating patients with manual therapy, she is a Certified Nutrition Specialist, helping maximize her patient’s total body health.
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Laura Mathias has been a physical therapist since January 2007 when she graduated from Saint Louis University with her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Saint Louis University as well. She has been passionate about learning and treating her patients with Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) since she was a physical therapist intern in 2006, when the physical therapist who was mentoring her tried every traditional physical therapy approach to help Laura with her severe chronic sciatica pain to no avail. He finally tried Counterstrain on Laura, and she had immediate relief. Laura immediately knew she wanted to learn Counterstrain due to the significant difference in pain she experienced, unlike any of the traditional approaches she had learned in PT school which had not helped her pain.
In April 2008, Laura began practicing Strain/Counterstrain, the original Counterstrain technique developed by Dr. Lawrence Jones, DO, JSCCI. She now uses primarily Fascial Counterstrain in her treatments, developed by Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI. Fascial Counterstrain is a cutting-edge, extremely effective manual technique that gently unlocks the body’s healing potential. This allows Laura to help patients that have been seeking answers (but still struggling) with their pain, stiffness, weakness, organ dysfunction, numbness, tingling, etc.
Laura enjoys educating her patients and incorporates nutrition and holistic wellness (as needed/requested) to help individuals get back to their best selves. She loves tango dancing, spending time with friends and family, and her new husband and goldendoodle. She enjoys volunteering, trying new restaurants and recipes, and traveling in the USA and abroad.
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Karen Messersmith, MPT, owner of Athletes Aligned, has been a physical therapist for 35 years. She attended the US Army-Baylor University Physical Therapy program and graduated in March 1990 with a Masters in Physical Therapy. Karen took her first Strain Counterstrain class in 1997. After that first class, she knew she had been introduced to something really unique and special. After using this technique for years and getting results with her patients, she was eager to take the new Fascial Counterstrain classes to advance her skills! Karen uses this whole body approach to help align the body to maximize its performance and feel better. With 35 years of outpatient orthopedic experience, Karen has lots of tricks and tools to use to help you. She prides herself in not only treating her clients but teaching them how to use home tools to maximize their performance too. She has worked with athletes before major competitions or races and post events to facilitate recovery. She can also help you stay “Aligned” where you perform better every day!
Karen has a true passion for helping others maximize their health and through her hands on treatments, wellness products, and teaching, and she is achieving this! Let her know how she can help you and people you know.
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Occupational therapist and certified hand therapist in Corvallis, Oregon. Active Wellness LLC provides access to treatment via health insurance and wellness care for cash based care. Referral requested.
I have a mission in life: To help you live a joyous and pain-free life.
I started this path in the strength and conditioning field as I wanted you to experience the freedom, energy, confidence, and joy that only a fit body and mind make possible.
But there was a problem.
Amid the success stories there were those whose progress came to an abrupt halt by unexplainable injuries. Eventually, my own injuries made me understand how hopeless conventional medicine was at providing healthy long-term relief, and motivated me to look for my own answers. When my search brought me to the world of Manual Therapy medicine and I finally experienced relief, I knew I’d make it part of my life.
Of all the forms of Manual Therapy I studied, Counterstrain became my choice because of its uncanny ability to resolve the most stubborn issues through highly precise, deep, but gentle techniques.
I’ve had the pleasure of completing every Counterstrain course offered by the Jones institute, and to be part of the first official graduating class of the Counterstrain Mastery Program—now the Counterstrain Academy—under the guidance of Timothy Hodges. As of August 12th, 2023, I’m also part of the first official class of Certified Fascial Counterstrain Therapists (CSC I) and 2024 saw me debut as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in the regular Jones Institute courses.
Counterstrain has made a profound difference in both my personal and professional lives. I feel blessed for having developed this amazing set of skills that help people understand that there’s a rational answer to their pain, and that if they do their part, they, too, will find healing. My immense gratitude transcends words and motivates me every day to keep learning and improving as a therapist and as a human.
I look forward to welcoming you to my practice.
Coach Izzy
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