Meet Erin Carr of Beyond Integrative PT

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Carr.

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?
My story probably started long before I knew what my story would become. I love being active, helping others and have always been intrigued with the human body. I was a competitive swimmer most of my life and became a young entrepreneur at the age of 14 teaching private swim lessons from babies to adults. I taught for a decade, and only stopped because I started my pursuit toward getting my Doctorate in Physical Therapy which was a full-time program. I got the taste at an early age of what it was like being an entrepreneur while getting to do something I absolutely loved. Being in the water, helping others learn an essential survival skill while making it a lot of fun.

I completed my Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Mount St Mary’s University right here in Los Angeles. I am a native and knew I wanted to stay to start my private practice, some day. That day started only 2 years after I finished graduate school. I was lucky in that I got a lot of experience with amazing mentors. And opportunities came that I did not let pass me by.

While in graduate school, I too started on my own health journey. As unexpected health events occurred that couldn’t be ignored. Understanding the body in ways I didn’t even realize. My personal health journey has helped shape my practice and how I show up to treat my patients. As we are so much more complex than a skeleton with muscles attached. Addressing our internal environment as well as the external, and how both impact our health, was and still is profound. Incorporating these aspects into my practice became essential for longer term healing. I also believe healing needs to occur on multiple levels. Physical, mental and spiritual. We get so stuck in the physical aspect of pain, weakness, functional limitation, etc. That it can affect our emotional state (or vice versa) and may interfere with our life’s purpose. My personal experiences have taught me more lessons than any text book.

In 2012 I opened Dr. Carr Integrative Physical Therapy which has evolved into Beyond Integrative PT today. During this time, I also got the opportunity to be the primary Physical Therapist for musicians at The Colburn School in downtown LA. Treating students and faculty for 9 years. Understanding and learning the intricacy of injury that can occur during very intensive practice and performing. This experience has created a niche in my practice, in which I still get to treat musicians whether in the early stage of their career to high performing musicians traveling the globe.

Throughout this time, I have maintained a small concierge practice while having plans to expand services in other ways in order to reach more people in need. I am able to provide a high quality of care allowing me to impact patients and their families during their complex healing journeys. The smaller volume has allowed me to take on more complex cases that often require more physical and emotional support. Which is not as easy to do in traditional high volume clinics. I personally did not want to run a large busy practice as I thrive better in small settings.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, I would like to say fairly smooth. Without some twists and turns I wouldn’t still be here practicing with the same passion. In 2012 when I started my practice, I worked 3 other part time jobs. One as a clinician in an out patient clinic, at The Colburn School of Music and professor at my alma mater. In order to make ends meet. At that time, growing my practice organically was essential as I was already in considerable student loan debt. I also was lucky in that I had very supportive mentors and colleagues who wanted to see me succeed. It took about 13 months of labor and love before I could focus 100% of my time into my clinic’s growth. I chose to create a small private practice without the constraints of taking insurance. Meaning my clinic is an out of network provider for physical therapy. Patients pay upfront and are then provided super bills to submit to insurance for possible reimbursement. This was and still isn’t necessarily common practice as many physical therapy clinics are in network with most insurances. This was a newer practice model. I did not want to continue treating 2-3 patients per hour to meet the demands of insurance companies. As cost and inflation have only risen, insurance companies have sadly reimbursed less and less. Our profession is highly skilled and medically necessary. I was determined to provide a higher standard of care as patients really need it. As many people prioritize their health, including myself. Without your health, day to day life can change in an instant.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Beyond Integrative PT is a boutique physical therapy space that offers individual curated treatments. Sessions are available in the Santa Monica clinic or in a patient’s private home. Patients are only seen by a Doctor of Physical Therapy. And are treated like family. We walk the healing journey right by your side.

The clinic is known for treating patients with more complex cases. Who may have multiple areas of injury, autoimmune conditions or both. We also treat the more sensitive patient. The focus is getting to the root cause treating the whole person. As the patient needs more time, attention and a different treatment approach.

One example of a patient population includes those with autoimmune conditions such as hypermobility/EDS (Ehler’s Danlos) and Mast Cell Activation. As these patients may get over looked or do not always respond to traditional physical therapy. If they have already received treatment elsewhere, I make sure to create a different type of plan of care.

Most of the patients who come to Beyond Integrative PT choose us because we really focus on you as a whole. Body, mind and spirit. As we believe healing is not just a physical experience. Often times there is underlying stress, trauma and emotion that can affect healing positively or negatively.

The physical therapy specialty we are also known for and what sets us apart is gentle yet has deep affects. Various techniques that have been learned and modified to suit each patient. Hands on treatment is a corner stone of my practice. We incorporate techniques that specifically treat the nervous system, viscera, blood vessels, cranium, fascia, and even emotional centers. These other complex systems can also affect posture, muscle activation, structural imbalance, pain, etc. We also focus on function empowering the patient that they can repeat what they do in the clinic, anywhere they go. No fancy equipment needed.

Some of our other offerings and services include in home sessions. These are for patients who may not get treatment otherwise. Complex cases in which driving to a clinic is not an option. Although the radius of how far we travel is limited within a 30-minute drive from the Santa Monica clinic. This is a thriving aspect of the clinic’s offerings.

We also offer telehealth. For patients who travel and want to maintain continuity of care. Or for those out of the area who want to receive our level of expertise.

Lastly, we are firm believers the body has the ability to heal. Anti-inflammatory foods, supplements, and lifestyle changes can play a very positive role in longer term healing. Branding the clinic as Beyond Integrative PT incorporates these wider aspects of treatment that we believe may be essential for full recovery. We will be expanding on these offerings in the future.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Follow your heart and intuition. While I have had many supporters along my journey there were also critics. Both perspectives are important as they provide insight while also testing my own determination and will power. It is important to decipher between someone else’s beliefs, fears and anxiety. And your own.
What I wish I knew then that I know now. Protect yourself and your spirit on your path. As you may have to dig deeper than you thought, so you do not comprise your goals. While still staying open for new opportunities, guidance, mentorship and experiences along the way.
I am also a firm believer in Manifestation. It is a powerful tool that moves energy between time and space. What you manifest may not look exactly like the thing you originally sought out. If anything, it is even better than you could have ever imagined.

Pricing:

• Initial Evaluation: $350
• Follow Up: $300
• In home: Based on location

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beyondintegrativept.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondIntegrativePT
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erincarrbipt/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/beyond-integrative-pt-santa-monica-2