We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amelia May, Pt, Dpt. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amelia below.

Amelia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

The most important lesson I have learned in my career as a physical therapist was the defining moment(s) of when I realized what type of healthcare provider I wanted to be. Let me explain… My first job out of school was just that – a job. I needed to start making money ASAP after being in undergrad/grad school for 7 years and I was eager to use all of my skills and knowledge obtained during PT school and my internships, so I choose the my first job pretty quickly. It seemed like a good fit at first; mentorship hours promised to facilitate my learning and growth as a professional, getting to participate at a local high school on the sidelines for their sports teams, and a sign-on bonus to sweeten the deal. Well 9 months later, COVID hit, and I was furloughed from that job purely due to being the newest team member. I was, admittedly, very disappointed and angry that I was being “punished” for something that was completely out of my control. But I took that time off work to re-evaluate what I was doing with my career and how I wanted it to look moving forward. I was working in an outpatient orthopedic clinic that was high-volume, meaning. I saw 14-20 patients per day. That is a lot, for context. It meant I only got to really spend maybe 15-20 minutes with each patient and the rest of the time they were solo or with a tech/aide. That is not the type of quality healthcare I had in mind when I wanted to become a physical therapist. It left me little room to build rapport and relationships with my patients, along with feeling like I was really taking part in getting them better. I was also frankly burnt out and I was barely a year out of school. I had no energy at the end of the day. So amidst the stay-at-home orders was when I started taking more continuing education courses and building upon what I wanted to do, which eventually turned the tides for me taking control back on my career and led me to Genesis, and I have never looked back!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy as well as the Regional Director and partner in a holistic pelvic health therapy group, Genesis PT & Wellness. Genesis initially began in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in TX, and I have most recently expanded it into Denver, CO. I am passionate about empowering folks to feel their best at all stages of life, especially exercise lovers! Prior to being in the pelvic health world, I practiced in orthopedic physical therapy, when I decided to make the switch as my career interests shifted when I learned about the incredible approach at Genesis PT & Wellness.

During COVID when I was re-evaluating what type of PT I wanted to be, I created a professional instagram, as well as diving a bit more into the women’s health world. That led me to being social media friends, with my now Boss and Partner, Becky Allen, who eventually offered me an interview, and then a job! Our team when I started in January of 2021 was ~4 people and today Genesis has a team of 18 therapists + 6 admin staff with 8 locations between Texas and Colorado.

What makes Genesis so special is that our team prioritizes creating a fun, genuine, and supportive environment, fostering a positive atmosphere that enhances the healing process. We envision a future where the kind of life-changing therapy we provide at Genesis is available to everyone, everywhere.

Genesis exists to pioneer an innovative & comprehensive approach that redefines the standard of healthcare and to offer an unparalleled experience to make a lasting impact for our community. In adopting a whole-person perspective to pelvic health therapy, we see you as an individual rather than just your pain or dysfunction where the focus is only on one area of your body. Genesis works with all folks that have a pelvis, at any stage or age! Common issues we treat are for joint pain, such as hips, low back, tailbone, or pelvic pain, as well as incontinence, prolapse, pregnancy/postpartum concerns, labor & delivery prep, Diastasis Recti, painful intercourse, and much more.

Our commitment to personalized, one-on-one sessions ensures that every person we work with feels validated and supported as they collaboratively work toward the patient’s goals. Genesis focuses not only on alleviating pain but also on empowering individuals to reclaim their active lives—whether it’s jumping without leakage, lifting weights without discomfort, or chasing your kids around sans worries!

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

We strongly believe at Genesis that relationships and building genuine rapport with your patients is the most healing part of our care. Yes, obviously the physical work and exercise prescription is very helpful, but if you don’t let the person in front of you tell their story and feel not only heard, but also validated, then the rest of it won’t matter that much. Aiding someone in believing they can get better and that their lives or function will be improved, does wonders for their actual progress. The nervous system is so incredibly important and connected to the musculoskeletal system, that without nurturing someone’s personhood, you will be missing pieces of the puzzle. We want every person to walk out of our doors knowing that their therapist treated them like a person and not just a diagnosis.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My biggest piece of advice that I have learned from not only being an employee at Genesis under my partners/bosses Becky Allen & Corrie Maguire, but also in leading my other team members as Regional Director, is to truly give your people work/life balance. I know a lot of companies might preach that, but then do not actually follow through. Genesis as a company is huge on valuing that our team members have personal conflicts, families, hobbies, and other things in life that are important to them and will affect their well-being at work. We want everyone to know that we genuinely care about them as humans and their personal needs can be cared for in the work place too. We want to do everything in our power to prevent burnout, because in therapists throughout the country with the typical healthcare system restraints put on them by insurance companies, burnout is high.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.genesisptwellness.com/colorado
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amelia_dpt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568108668258
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/genesisptwellness/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/genesisptwellness/?hl=en

Image Credits

Erin Stetson of Erin Beth Birth Photography