Welcome to the Thrive for Life blog

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Cody joined Thrive Physical Therapy in 2018. Cody is an Ohio native and grew up on a small farm outside of a small town in the country. He played a multitude of sports including baseball, golf, cross country, basketball, and football. He completed his undergraduate degree in Human Life Sciences in 2015 while working at a nearby hospital as a Patient Transporter. He received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Ohio University in 2018. There he played many different forms of intramural sports and volunteered in the community to preserve the cleanliness of the local parks. This is his first move outside of the state of Ohio and he is excited to make Richmond his home. He looks forward to spending time with his two dogs (Jameson and Ellie), hiking, fishing, golfing and getting involved in this fun and unique community.

Cody is excited to practice in Richmond, and to work hard to provide the best care possible to his patients. He enjoys treating a diverse patient population and being involved in return to high level activity, as well as encouraging and promoting all forms of wellness. He focuses on analyzing movement patterns and recognizing movement impairments to guide his treatment. He treats primarily through the use of manual based therapy to restore ROM, creating individualized exercise programs to match the patient’s specific needs, and returning each patient to his or her desired activity level while condoning further implementation of wellness habits. He is excited to give back to the city and continue to volunteer for the betterment of the community he is proud to be a part of.

Credentials

• Doctor of Physical Therapy: Ohio University at Athens, OH
• Bachelor of Science: Human Life Sciences, Indiana University East at Richmond, IN
• Certified: Lee Silverman Voice Trained (LSVT BIG), ODNS training, Mckenzie part A training
• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, Virginia Physical Therapy Association

PT, DPT, CMTPT, AIB-VRT

Growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, Chad has backgrounds primarily in basketball, cycling, boxing, and theater. In 2006 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from North Carolina State University where he also studied Spanish and theatre arts. After marrying his wife, Meisha, the two moved to Richmond, Virginia where Chad graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia in 2015. He has been certified in myofascial pain and trigger point dry needling through Myopain Seminars since 2016 and was previously certified by the American Institute of Balance for vestibular and concussion rehab. He also has interests and experience with treatment of TMJ pain and postural restoration (PRI). Chad and Meisha have a full home and full hearts with two boys, Silas and Everett, and a husky named Harley Quinn.

After spending his academic years wishing to pursue medical school, Chad decided to change career paths towards physical therapy for improved opportunities to utilize manual skills, patient education, and movement training to restore function and quality of life in ways outside of a physician’s office. His passion and treatment strategies involve manual techniques to decrease pain, utilizing/teaching movement as medicine, enhancing patient movement in effort to improve quality of life.

Credentials

• Doctor of Physical Therapy: Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia
• Bachelor of Science: North Carolina State University
• Certified:Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist
• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, Virginia Physical Therapy Association

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Valerie joined Thrive Physical Therapy in 2022. She grew up in Newport News, Virginia where her love of physical therapy started back in high school. For undergraduate education she attended The College of William and Mary where she received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at The University of Lynchburg. Valerie has decided to remain in Virginia and currently calls Richmond her home. She is elated to begin her career and treat patients with well-rounded care. Currently she is interested in using movement and exercise to allow patients to achieve an independent, healthy lifestyle. She utilizes manual therapy techniques, exercise program building, proper biomechanics, and education to build the most appropriate care for the patient. When she is not in the clinic she enjoys exercising, mountain biking, traveling, trying new experiences, and hanging out with her cat Susie.

Credentials

• Doctor of Physical Therapy: University of Lynchburg, 2022
• Bachelor of Science: The College of William and Mary, 2019
• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, Virginia Physical Therapy Association

CMT

“Working with people to facilitate wellness has always been my passion. I strive to exceed the expectations of my clients in every session, whether they are rehabilitating an injury, are post surgery, or simply wanting to receive a relaxing massage. It is an honor to meet people wherever they are on their healing journey.” Libbie is a nationally certified massage therapist licensed to practice massage in Virginia. She is a professional member of the ABMP. Libbie uses her unique gifts as a practitioner to assist those who wish to find wholeness, balance, and a sense of well-being in their body, and in their life. She brings 13 years of working with the public into her compassionate practice of Intuitive Bodywork and Energy Work. Libbie’s multi-faceted healing approach to your session integrates Myofascial Release Therapy, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral Therapy, and Reiki. Her intuitive nature and engaging communication style allows her to work with a wide range of individuals from all walks of life, and levels of ability.

NSCA-CPT

Celeste is a West Coast kid, born in California and raised in Seattle Washington.She received her Bachelors of Science from Western Washington University. Celeste participated in both basketball and track & field while receiving her degree in Exercise & Sport Science with an emphasis in Sport Psychology.

After college Celeste spent 4 years playing professional basketball in New Zealand, Switzerland, Portugal and Finland. While traveling the world she came to love and appreciate a more diverse and holistic approach to health and wellness.

Once her playing days were over, Celeste met and married her husband and moved to Virginia. She is a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She has worked in both for-profit and not-for-profit, spending the last decade leading, coaching, educating and motivating others. She is a certified group fitness instructor, lifestyle coach and continuing education instructor.

Celeste has married her love of sport, the human body and helping others unlock their own potential in a holistic approach to wellness. Her three children keep her busy with their active, athletic and adventurous lifestyle.

Celeste joined the Thrive team in 2020 as our Wellness Director. Celeste’s role will be to help connect the products and services we offer to our clients to help move them towards the best versions of themselves.

Credentials

• Bachelors of Science:Western Washington University
• Personal Training Certification: National Strength and Conditioning Association
• Group Fitness Instructor: American Council on Exercise
• Continuing Education Provider: American Council on Exercise
• Lifestyle Coach: YMCA of the USA

MEd, NBC-HWC

Jackie has her graduate degree in exercise physiology and is a board-certified health and wellness coach, having trained at Duke Integrative Medicine. Jackie has acquired extensive expertise in the health and wellness arena over the past thirty-five years, with specialties in individual and group health coaching, weight loss, insomnia, behavior and habit change, and positive psychology. Jackie has developed and managed medium to large scale medically based health and wellness programs, presented innumerous health related talks at Fortune 500 companies and at the American College of Sports Medicine annual conference, and specializes in relationship building and partnerships that bring added mutual strength and value to all of her endeavors. Jackie is the principal and founder of Unified Health Coaching…coaching for a healthy balance. Most recently Jackie was the Director of Programs and Services at Partner, MD and prior to that the Director of Corporate Wellness and Special Projects at Zacharias Ganey Health Institute. Jackie herself is a fitness enthusiast and former competitor who now enjoys long distance biking, hiking, and time with her adult children and her dear friends and family.

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Maria joined the Thrive Physical Therapy team in 2018. She is a native to New York but grew up in Richmond, Virginia where she attended Clover Hill High School and played soccer for the high school as well as the F.C. Richmond Mystx. She later attended Virginia Tech, completing an undergraduate degree in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Food & Exercise. During her freshman and sophomore years at VT, she played for the woman’s club soccer team. She then obtained her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Duke University in 2013. After school, she moved to Roanoke, VA where she worked at an outpatient orthopedic/sports medicine for the past 5 years. Recently, Maria, her husband and 1/ ½ year Golden Retriever (Jameson) moved back to the Richmond area to be closer to family.

Maria enjoys treating a diverse patient population ranging from young athletes to elderly men and women eager to maintain a high quality of life. Her treatment philosophy focuses on manual therapy to restore pain-free mobility, exercise programs for strength and endurance with correct biomechanics, and patient independence to reach individual goals. She “Thrives” on learning through continuing education opportunities.

Outside the professional world, Maria enjoys spending time with family/friends, running trails with her Golden Retriever, lifting weights, snowboarding, golfing and traveling.

Credentials

• Doctor of Physical Therapy: Duke University, 2013
• Bachelor of Science: Human Nutrition, Food & Exercise – Virginia Tech, 2009
• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, Virginia Physical Therapy Association, Orthopedic section of APTA, Sports section of APTA

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“Physical therapy is the perfect blend of a scientific field and the opportunity to help people. Working with people in physical therapy has deepened my values and my appreciation for health, mobility and function.

“My goal is to deliver physical therapy that produces results for people in the most caring and educated way possible. I am devoted to helping people achieve their goals by restoring movement and function as well as empowering them with knowledge for self-maintenance, wellness and prevention.”
Credentials

• Doctor of Physical Therapy: State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY
• Master of Physical Therapy: State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY
• Bachelor of Science: Biology, Long Island University at Southampton, NY
• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, Virginia Physical Therapy Association
• Adjunct Professor: Physical Therapy Program, SUNY Stony Brook, 2000–2004

PT, MPT, COMT, ATC, CSCS, FMSC

“I have always enjoyed anatomy, physiology and how the human body works. I volunteered at an outpatient physical therapy clinic, loved the experience and realized that physical therapy was what I wanted to pursue as my career. The wide variety of problems we encounter and the diverse patient population makes this profession very interesting. I enjoy figuring out what is wrong and working to correct it.“I am fortunate to help patients feel better so they can return to the activities they enjoy. I am most proud of our outstanding clinical outcomes, high patient success rate and ability to treat even the most difficult problems effectively. Fitting our care to the patients’ needs is our trademark.”

Credentials

• Master of Physical Therapy (cum laude): Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Certified: (with distinction) Manual Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Specialist
• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, American Academy of Osteopathic Manual Manipulative Therapy, Mid-Atlantic Physical Therapy Associates, Virginia Physical Therapy Association