Archives: Practitioners

I have been excited about Counterstrain since I first met Lawrence Jones, D.O. at a course in Portland in 1991.
He fixed a problem for me that I had suffered with for 18 months prior to meeting him, and I had seen all the “best” Physical Therapists, Osteopaths, Acupuncturists, Naprapaths, and Orthopedic physicians in Chicago, with no relief.
I have been hooked ever since. Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI has taken Counterstrain to a whole new level with the development of Fascial Counterstrain.
Fascial Counterstrain is, by far, the most significant evaluation and treatment discovery for painful conditions that the physical therapy profession has ever known. In the future, it will revolutionize not only the practice of physical therapy, but the entire health care industry as well. Counterstrain is already the most effective non-invasive approach for relieving chronic intractable pain, period. When Counterstrain is more widely used, it will play a key role in preventing many of the chronic conditions that currently plague aging individuals, such as stooped posture and premature joint degeneration. Perhaps the greatest benefit, however, is the potential that Counterstrain has for improving brain health through improved arterial flow and lymphatic/venous drainage. The applications for Counterstrain seem endless. The future is here, and it is both bright and exciting!
Kevin M. Cronin, PT, ATC, JSCC

My interest in Physical Therapy developed from my own personal experience. I injured my lower back at the age of 18 while doing a squat lift during college track and field practice. After 2 years of misdiagnosis followed by traditional physical therapy that made no change, an MRI showed that I had a ruptured L5-S1 disc with a loose disc fragment. My surgery was “successful” but I continued to have the same severe back and left leg pain. Injections, chiropractic treatment, and further traditional physical therapy all made no change.

During this time, since I could no longer compete as an athlete, I coached track & field at a local high school and college. My love for working one on one with athletes and my frustration with my continued problems led me to go back to school to become a Physical Therapist. Approximately a year after graduation I attended a Strain and Counterstrain course and was the beneficiary of treatment by the instructor as a demonstration (over 10 years after the initial injury). After 15 minutes of treatment my pain and mobility improved dramatically. I sought further treatment after that which resolved my leg pain and reduced my back pain by 95%.

This led me on my journey to be a “Counterstrainer” which I have found to be extremely rewarding since I am able to help people avoid the chronic pain life I was living.

In addition, over that time I have utilized an innovative exercise concept known as “Total Motion Release.” This has been a tremendous addition to my treatment approach since I find it consistently correlates with what I find with the Counterstrain assessment and can allow the patient to assist in self-treatment

My philosophy of treatment is to correct as much dysfunction as possible and provide exercise training to help prevent or self-treat future dysfunction.

I look forward to working with you!

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I became a Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) therapist because it changed my life. It eliminated my hay fever allergies and hip dysplasia symptoms without any medication or surgical intervention required. It is the fastest and most gentle technique I have seen yet in the medical field. It gives us as practitioners, the ability to treat causes and not just symptoms anymore. So many of us live with dysfunction daily, and this technique allows us to eliminate that from our lives without financially limiting us.

I opened the first cash based physical therapy clinic, Peak Rehab LLC, in Anchorage in January of 2018 in order to care for my patients one on one without insurance red tape or interference. It has allowed for appropriate use of direct access, longer visit times, and fewer sessions needed to return people to their active and preferred lifestyles. My patients vary, including ultra-athletes, chronic pain clients, and even failed cases from the Mayo-Clinic.

After completing my Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (DPT) from the University of North Dakota, I continued to expand my education. I have completed hundreds of hours of continuing education. I am a COMT (Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist) and have a 2 level Dry Needling certification through IAMT. I have completed training in Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Imaging and Postural Restoration Techniques. I have chosen to specialize in Fascial Counterstrain and continue to take courses yearly to be up to date with the best information to help my patients.

Fascial Counterstrain is an area of medicine that is constantly updating its techniques with new research. Despite how far away we may live from each other, FCS therapists are always working together to evolve and improve our knowledge in order to change our patients’ lives for the better. We are a community fighting to put our patients back in charge of their care, and we are doing it for the right reason, to truly help others.

I received my Bachelor’s of Science from Mundelein College in Chicago, IL. and then went on to receive my Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. I have been a Physical Therapist for 30 years and began practicing SCS after taking SCS 1 and SCS 2, over 17 years ago. I have since taken all available Fascial Counterstrain classes and Academy Classes, modules 1 and 3. I was part of the 2019, 2020 & 2021 Counterstrain Conventions which has allowed me to fine tune my skill set in an advanced environment. I am the owner of Body Basics Physical Therapy and I am committed to continue the learning process, allowing me to provide my patients the most updated treatment techniques to help them achieve their health care goals.

Ray has always been interested in the field of manual therapy going back to the start of his athletic career. After sustaining an injury that took him to numerous therapists and doctors, Ray found Counterstrain. The treatment that he received made him a believer of the technique so much so that he decided to switch careers from software engineer to manual therapy, specializing in Counterstrain. After completing his LMT training, Ray worked under the supervision of Dr. Edward Goering, DO (son-in-law of Strain Counterstrain originator Dr. Lawrence Jones, DO) for 12 years. Ray began training in FCS in 2014, and has made a full transition from Jones SCS to the newer more comprehensive version known as Fascial Counterstrain. He has completed all of the FCS courses developed by Brian Tuckey. Ray, seeking constant improvement has successfully completed all of the Counterstrain Academy Mastery Program courses.

Kellie Barnes MOMT, MPT, CSC I, is the founder of Core Physical Therapy LLC.

Kellie has been practicing physical therapy since 1993. She recognized that physical therapy was her calling at age 12, while volunteering at a local hospital. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology (1991) and a master’s degree in physical therapy (1993) at the University of Delaware. In 1997 she completed her post-graduate residency training in orthopedic manual therapy through the Ola Grimsby Institute. She received her master’s degree in orthopedic manual therapy in 1999 and passed her clinical and written exams for a doctorate degree in orthopedic manual therapy in 2005. In 2022 Kellie passed the certification for Fascial Counterstrain level I. Kellie was honored to be part of the first group of instructors in training taking this examination which included written, oral, and practical examination.

Kellie’s introduction to Counterstrain began under Dr. Lawrence Jones DO in 1994. However, it was the development of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) by Brian Tuckey PT, OCS, JSCCI and the education received through the Counterstrain Academy that most influenced her practice. In 2019 Kellie was honored to be invited to be part of the instructor training program for the Counterstrain Academy. Kellie is committed to sharing this work with clients and healthcare practitioners.

Kellie has a wide range of clinical experience including specializing in rehabilitation of the spine, shoulder, and lower extremities. However, she has a strong interest in how various systems of the body may be interacting together to perpetuate complex health conditions.

Viewing the body as a whole, she recognizes the complex relationships between mechanical and systemic sources of tissue injury and inflammation. She has extensive experience treating individuals with complex health conditions including post-concussive syndrome, traumatic brain injury, whiplash, craniocervcial instability, tethered cord, POTS/Dysautonomia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, co-infections, mast cell activation syndrome, mycotoxin/mold toxicity, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, and ME/CFS.

Kellie’s training enables her to understand the relationship between hormones, metabolic changes, and the immune system, and how these systems can affect inflammation, drainage, and the health of collagen. Due to her interest in systemic inflammation and fascia she treats many clients with complex health conditions.

Kellie finds joy in helping clients and uses FCS to navigate and treat complex clinical presentations. She believes each client’s health condition is unique. Kellie is grateful for FCS, and its gentle but effective results that allow clients to achieve wellness each day.

Carol A. Montgomery is the founder and owner of Montgomery Somatics, private physical therapy, and somatic education center. In addition to a master’s degree in Physical Therapy, she is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. As an adjunct professor in Physical Therapy for several years, she taught classes such as Gross Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Introduction to Manual Therapy. A natural attraction to the principles of Manual Medicine, Montgomery found herself at home within the curriculums at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, focusing her post-graduate studies at Michigan State University and later at the Jones Institute. Dedicated to initiating paradigm shifts in healthcare, wellness, and movement, she attends the Counterstrain Academy to master the profound life-changing Fascial Counterstain techniques. Montgomery has over 20 years of teaching experience with the public, professional healthcare providers, and physical therapy students and over 30 years of clinical experience in integrative healing.

Her published works include Alternative Movement Program in Geriatric Rehabilitation. Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics 2018: Vol 7. No. 2, pp. 47-61 and Refining the Self-Image: Feldenkrais and Integral Human Gait Theory. The Feldenkrais Journal 2015: No. 28, pp. 30-43.

Debra is a Physical Therapist with over 40 years of experience whose numerous initials represent advanced training and certifications as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, a Certified McKenzie Practitioner, and as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. Graduate of Ithaca College (BS in PT) and Long Island University (MS in Exercise Physiology), she is a lifelong learner and major fan of Counterstrain since meeting Dr. Jones in the 1980’s. Debra works as an independent practitioner, having formed Stay Put Strategies, LLC in 2012. Her emphasis is on promoting healing from injury and trauma, being able to age gracefully to “stay put” wherever you call home, and to support wellness and health in one’s life. Sessions are available in the client’s home or at clinic locations in Connecticut by appointment only.