Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Workman.
Hi Jessica, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From 2014 to 2021, I worked in a clinic specializing in vestibular disorders and outpatient neurorehabilitation. Every day required critical and creative thinking to solve complex, multi-system cases that didn’t always fit neatly into diagnostic categories. Over time, I learned that true rehabilitation isn’t about treating a diagnosis—it’s about restoring a person’s ability to function. This mindset shaped how I approached each patient and laid the foundation for how I view the art and science of therapy today. The autonomy I was given early in my career allowed me to develop my own treatment philosophy—one grounded in problem-solving through movement efficiency and integration. That journey ultimately led to becoming a Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) in 2021, and later, a Fellow of Functional Manual Therapy and the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists in 2025. These milestones represent years of deliberate practice, trial and error, and a deep commitment to understanding the body as a unified system.
Along the way, life unfolded in unexpected ways. I welcomed my child into the world in 2023—an event that deepened my appreciation for balance, resilience, and the interconnectedness of life and movement. And in October 2025, a long-held dream came to fruition: partnering with IPA Physio to open a clinic serving the Long Beach and Los Angeles County communities.
This partnership represents both a return and a renewal. My path began at the University of St. Augustine, where I first met Gregg and Vicky Johnson during advanced techniques coursework in 2012. Their teaching inspired in me a lifelong goal—to become a practitioner who could see the body as a dynamic, interrelated whole. Their example showed me that each therapist’s growth is as much about personal transformation as it is about clinical expertise.
That truth crystallized during one of the darkest chapters of my life. In 2016, my father passed away unexpectedly. Just three weeks later, I attended a course taught by Gregg Johnson. Before class began, I shared my loss with him, uncertain whether I had the emotional capacity to continue. His compassion—and the quiet space he offered for healing—helped me take my first steps forward. It took a year and a half before I could return to coursework, but that period taught me that emotional resilience is as vital to healing as physical recovery.
Those experiences reshaped how I understand both trauma and rehabilitation. My father’s passing left me with PTSD and chronic stress, compounded by a history of concussions from my years as a soccer player. Through therapy, endurance training, and eventually treatment focusing on vagus nerve regulation, I began to recover balance—physically and emotionally. Restoring mobility and efficiency within that neural pathway allowed me to experience calm, sleep better, and connect more authentically with others. For the first time in years, I felt my energy return, my communication ease, and my purpose clarify.
This personal transformation mirrors the philosophy at the heart of IPA Physio: that human function is inseparable from the integration of physical, emotional, and neurological systems. Our mission is to help people not only move better but live better—finding equilibrium within their own lives. I now approach every patient interaction with renewed empathy and awareness, recognizing that restoring movement often begins with restoring regulation and connection.
More broadly, we as physical therapists have a unique opportunity in this moment. Society continues to feel the aftershocks of collective stress, grief, and disconnection. Through Functional Manual Therapy, guided by the principles established by the Johnsons and the IPA community, we have a framework for helping people heal not just from injury, but from the lived experiences that shape their nervous systems.
Since 2013, Gregg, Vicky, and the IPA network have become like family—fostering a culture of compassion, shared wisdom, and relentless pursuit of potential. For me, this journey has continued with cultivating a wonderful partnership with Ryan Johnson and Pete Rumford my partners. It continues to be an adventure; one of growth forged through challenge, guided by community, and anchored in purpose. It is the embodiment of what the IPA Physio brand stands for: resilience, integration, and the continual pursuit of mastery in service to others. Everyone has untapped existing potential.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Motherhood has thrown me for a loop:
The most transformative contribution to my kiddo’s development isn’t sacrificing everything at the altar of motherhood—it’s demonstrating that pursuing my passion and purpose is a fundamental part of living an authentic, fulfilled life. By building a physical therapy business while actively parenting, I’m providing my kiddo with something far more valuable than a hovering presence: I’m giving them a blueprint for integrating professional ambition, personal fulfillment, and family commitment in a sustainable way.
Research from Harvard Business School studying 24 countries found that daughters raised by employed mothers experience significantly better career outcomes, including higher employment rates, more supervisory responsibilities, increased working hours, and higher wages compared to daughters of stay-at-home mothers[1][2][3]. The study’s authors concluded: “There are very few things that we know of that have such a clear effect on gender inequality as being raised by a working mother”[3]. This intergenerational transmission effect is particularly pronounced—when mothers experience greater job autonomy and professional fulfillment, they model behaviors and values that children, especially daughters, emulate throughout their lives[4][5][6].
The mechanism behind this influence operates through what researchers call the role-model channel[4]. Children don’t just observe what parents tell them; they internalize what parents do. When my kiddo watches me navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, manage setbacks, celebrate victories, and persist through difficult periods, they’re learning that women can and should pursue meaningful work alongside family responsibilities. This observational learning proves more powerful than any verbal instruction[7][8].
Contemporary society perpetuates what researchers term “intensive mothering ideology”—the belief that good mothers must sacrifice all personal ambitions and dedicate themselves entirely to their children[9][10]. This cultural narrative creates what scholars describe as a “straightjacket” of maternal guilt that constrains working mothers’ behavior, reduces job satisfaction, and negatively impacts overall well-being[10]. Yet this ideology is not only psychologically damaging to mothers; it’s also limiting for children.
Studies reveal that maternal guilt stems largely from internalized gender stereotypes rather than actual negative impacts on children[9][11]. Mothers who strongly internalize stereotypes linking women to caregiving experience more guilt when work interferes with family, even when their children are thriving[9]. Importantly, research shows that maternal employment has neutral to positive effects on children’s cognitive and behavioral development when mothers experience work-family balance and job satisfaction[12][13][14].
The trade-offs of attending a school field trip instead of giving a lecture, or occasionally missing a soccer game for professional development—aren’t failures of motherhood. They’re demonstrations of intentional decision-making and priority-balancing that teach my kiddo essential life skills. Research indicates that working mothers don’t reduce time spent in educational and structured activities with children (the activities most beneficial for development); instead, they reduce time in unstructured activities that have minimal developmental impact[13][15].
I am helping to build a growth mindset and resilience: When children see parents pursuing challenging goals, facing setbacks, and persisting, they develop what psychologists call a growth mindset—the understanding that abilities develop through effort and learning[16][17]. My kiddo observes that challenges are temporary, that failure offers growth opportunities, and that meaningful work requires dedication and problem-solving[18][19].
I am fostering authenticity and self-discovery: By modeling authenticity—showing that adults have passions, interests, and professional identities beyond parenting—I give my kiddo permission to develop their own authentic self[20][21][22]. Research confirms that children benefit from seeing parents as “well-rounded individuals with varied interests and passions,” creating a family environment that values growth, learning, and mutual support[18]. This modeling helps children develop stronger self-awareness, confidence, and the ability to make choices aligned with their values[20][23].
I am teaching work-life integration: Rather than presenting work and family as competing priorities, I’m demonstrating work-life integration—the understanding that both professional fulfillment and family connection contribute to overall well-being[15][24]. Studies show that when mothers achieve work-family balance, they experience greater need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), which translates to better mental health, more vitality, and more positive parenting[24]. My kiddo learns that pursuing purpose doesn’t require abandoning family; it requires making thoughtful choices and sometimes accepting imperfection.
I am promoting gender equity: Sons of working mothers spend more time on caregiving and household responsibilities as adults, while daughters pursue more ambitious career paths[1][2][3]. By modeling non-traditional gender roles, I’m preparing my kiddo to expect partnership, equality, and shared responsibility in their future relationships while also showing that women’s professional contributions hold value[25][3].
My commitment to passion and purpose exemplifies what developmental psychologists call “purposeful parenting”—intentionally creating environments where children discover their unique strengths while learning that life offers meaning through pursuit of goals that matter[26][27][28]. Research emphasizes that children don’t find purpose; they create it through engagement with activities that light them up[29]. By pursuing my passion for physical therapy practice development, I model this process of purpose-creation in real time.
The reality is that my business may grow slower because I prioritize certain family moments, or that I may miss events for professional commitments—reflects a healthy boundary-setting. Research on work-family balance confirms that perfect equilibrium doesn’t exist; instead, parents must make continuous micro-decisions about allocation of limited time and energy[15][32][33].
What matters most isn’t attending every event but rather being intentionally present during the time we spend together[27][15][32]. Studies show that quality of interaction—characterized by attentiveness, emotional availability, and meaningful engagement—predicts child outcomes more strongly than quantity of time[13][27]. When I’m present with my kiddo, I bring my whole self: a person with professional expertise, personal interests, challenges overcome, and lessons learned from pursuing meaningful work.
The trade-offs also teach them valuable lessons about decision-making, opportunity costs, and values clarification[18][19]. They learn that all choices involve letting go of alternatives, that sometimes important commitments conflict, and that making values-aligned decisions requires thoughtful consideration rather than attempting to do everything perfectly.
The most important thing I’ve done as a parent isn’t found in any single moment of perfect attendance or sacrifice. It’s in the cumulative demonstration that women can pursue passion, build businesses, care for their health, and love their children—all while making imperfect but intentional choices. I’m showing my kiddo that having a purpose beyond motherhood doesn’t make someone selfish; it makes them whole. I’m teaching them that following dreams requires dedication, that meaningful work involves trade-offs, and that authentic living means honoring all aspects of your identity rather than diminishing yourself to fit a narrow cultural script.
The business you’re building isn’t just a professional achievement—it’s a living curriculum in resilience, autonomy, authenticity, and integrated living. My kiddo is learning these lessons not through lectures but through daily observation of a mother who refuses to choose between professional fulfillment and family love, who demonstrates that both matter, and who models the courage to build a life of purpose despite societal pressure to sacrifice everything for an outdated ideal of motherhood. This is the most profound gift you can give: permission to pursue a life that matters, in all its messy, imperfect, passionate complexity.
Sources
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[2] Science: Working Moms Have More Successful Daughters – Lifehack https://www.lifehack.org/344245/science-says-working-moms-have-more-successful-daughters
[3] Working Mothers : Great Role Models for Success – foundit https://www.foundit.in/career-advice/6-reasons-why-working-mothers-are-great-role-models/
[4] The Intergenerational Correlation of Employment: Mothers as … https://www.david-koll.com/files/IntGen_Oct2019_submitted.pdf
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[30] Helping Children To Discover Their Passion And Their Purpose https://noteworthyparenting.com/blog/2022/8/24/helping-children-to-discover-their-passion-and-their-purpose
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[38] How does work during pregnancy affect maternal and infant … https://academic.oup.com/cdpers/article/19/1/45/8222153
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[42] The interactive effect of maternity leaves and child care … https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0313592624002236
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Thanks – so what else should our readers know about IPA Physio Long Beach ?
Our mission is to help people not only move better but live better—to find equilibrium within their own lives. Every interaction begins with understanding that restoring movement is often secondary to restoring a person’s sense of regulation and connection. When the nervous system is balanced, the body reclaims its capacity to move with intention, ease, and resilience. This integrated approach reflects what we at IPA Physio believe: that true healing is not simply about eliminating pain, but restoring function—helping each individual rediscover what their body and mind are capable of achieving when harmony is reestablished. At its core, Functional Manual Therapy is built on the conviction that every person holds untapped potential. Pain, immobility, and dysfunction often mask this latent capability. By revealing and refining these capacities, we help patients move from mere recovery to full expression of potential—whether that means walking without fatigue, returning to their sport, or simply feeling more at home in their own body. This mirrors our practice motto: Discover Your Potential® .
Developed by Gregg and Vicky Johnson through decades of clinical practice, FMT recognizes that all tissues and systems of the body are interconnected and interdependent—mechanical, neuromuscular, and motor control systems must function together to achieve efficient movement and balance. In practice, this means treating not just the site of pain, but understanding how and why inefficiency develops. The process requires both tactile precision and perceptive awareness: listening to tissue through touch, guiding the nervous system toward more efficient pathways, and fostering automatic control through movement retraining. It is equal parts science, craftsmanship, and empathy.
In today’s world, the mission of physical therapy extends well beyond musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Society continues to navigate the aftermath of collective stress, grief, and disconnection—residual effects of a world that has endured rapid change and widespread uncertainty. These experiences manifest not only emotionally but physiologically, impacting the autonomic nervous system, posture, breath, and sensory processing. As physical therapists, we stand at a meaningful intersection of movement science and human resilience. Our work offers a tangible path toward reintegration—the reintegration of body to mind, of regulation to vitality, and of individuals back into community.
Guided by the philosophy of the Johnsons and the shared values of the IPA network, we see our role not just as clinicians, but as facilitators of hope. Through Functional Manual Therapy, we are uniquely positioned to help people heal from more than injury—to help them reconcile with the lived experiences that have shaped their nervous system and, ultimately, their identity. At IPA Physio, every session is an invitation to rebuild from the inside out, so our patients can step back into the world with efficiency, confidence, and joy in motion.
What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, is not defined by pain relief alone—it’s when my patients transform and begin living the life they truly desire. It’s when movement becomes effortless again, when confidence returns, and when they rediscover the freedom to participate fully in the activities, relationships, and passions that give their life meaning. This transformation is the essence of Functional Manual Therapy. It’s about more than mechanical correction; it’s about restoring efficiency across every system—mechanical, neuromuscular, and motor control—so that movement once again serves life rather than limits it . True success happens when patients move from dependence to self-sufficiency, when they develop the awareness and tools to maintain their own well-being, and when they leave the clinic not just healed, but empowered .
At IPA Physio, we measure success through human potential realized. Every improved stride, deeper breath, or pain-free moment reflects a renewed harmony between body and mind. This alignment allows patients to engage with life more fully—to chase goals, savor stillness, and live with balance and resilience. Our role as therapists is to guide this process—to listen deeply, move with intention, and help our patients uncover capacities they may have forgotten they possessed.
Ultimately, the greatest reward is witnessing this shift—the moment a patient not only moves better, but carries themselves differently, grounded in vitality and purpose. That is transformation, and that is success. Success is sharing that with as many people as I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ipa.physio/lbc/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ipaphysio/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jessica-workman-ipaphysio-longbeach/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IPAPhysio
