Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McCarthy-Moya.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve experienced pelvic pain since I was a teenager, but I never imagined it would shape my career path. After graduating from college, I started working in PR and marketing. While it was engaging in some ways, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was meant to be doing something more meaningful—something that truly lit me up.
Since I had studied health inequities as an undergrad, I started exploring career paths in healthcare. I was especially drawn to supporting women through the childbirth experience, which led me to train as a doula. During my doula training, I was introduced to pelvic floor physical therapy—and it was a lightbulb moment. I realized what an incredible resource it could be, not only for new and expecting mothers but for anyone experiencing pelvic pain or other pelvic-related conditions.
Curious to learn more, I began shadowing pelvic floor physical therapists and was immediately inspired. I loved the deep trust and collaboration between PTs and their patients, and I saw firsthand how life-changing these interventions could be. I even began applying some of what I was learning to my own life and saw transformative improvements in my pain.
With a clear sense of purpose, I pursued physical therapy school knowing I wanted to specialize in pelvic health. I completed my postdoctoral training in pelvic health—right after having my baby (a wild time!). I then took a position at a pelvic floor-focused PT clinic, treating a wide range of conditions related to pregnancy, postpartum recovery, sexual dysfunction, menopause, endometriosis, and more. I loved the work, but balancing a full-time clinical schedule, a long commute, the needs of my family, and my own well-being proved to be a real challenge.
That’s when I teamed up with a former colleague, Dr. Johanna Hanley, PT, DPT, and we decided to start our own clinic. As working moms, we were committed to building a practice that offered the flexibility we needed while still delivering high-quality, personalized care. Today, we see patients one-on-one, offer educational workshops, and are working on developing online programming to further support our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been many struggles along the way – it’s never easy to change your career path, but getting into healthcare is not for the faint of heart. Starting a business has been super rewarding, but also incredibly difficult, especially in the aftermath of the LA fires. Finding a space, finding patients, creating a framework that aligns with your ethos and outside of the traditional insurance based model? It’s all been a struggle. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t doubted myself many times along the way. But when I’m in my office and it feels so inviting, so charged with caring, and I get to see patients for an hour without feeling rushed and I have space for myself, I know I’ve made the right decision.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Welcome, we specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy. Because we don’t operate within the constraints of a traditional insurance based model, we provide unparalleled one-on-one care. Your personalized treatment begins with a detailed discussion of your health history and goals for physical therapy. Together, we’ll create a roadmap for healing designed to meet your unique needs. You will leave each session feeling empowered with the knowledge and tools to improve your health and quality of life including a tailored exercise plan and recommendations for lifestyle adjustments.
How do you define success?
Beyond traditional business metrics, I ask myself the following questions: Do I feel energized? Am I flexing my creativity? Am I able to be present with the person in front of me? If I’m answering yes to these questions, I feel successful.
Pricing:
- In-person Initial Evaluation $200
- In-person Follow-up $185
- Telehealth Evaluation: $150
- Telehealth Follow-up: $90
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.welcomept.com
- Instagram: @welcomephysicaltherapy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/welcome-physical-therapy-south-pasadena
Image Credits
Henry Loevner
