We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Helene Darmanin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Helene below.

Dr. Helene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

When Covid hit and the world shut down, I had been back at work for only 6 weeks since my maternity leave, and I was so grateful to have the extra time with my baby. I started seeing all my clients virtually through the practice I had been working at, and foudn they were still able to make excellent progress. I realized that this was because the most effective physical therapy interventions according to research were patient education and exercise. These tools put the power into the hands of my clients, without them feeling that they had to rely on me.

I also realized that it was a lot easier for new and expecting moms to make the time and energy to see a PT in the comfort of their own homes. I had needed PT when I was newly postpartum with my first child, and it was a struggle to figure out how to get to a clinic, and what to do with my baby while I was there.

As I was seeing clients for another practice, I realized that I wanted more control of the time for my family, how I practiced, and I wanted to specialize more specifically in obstetrics and women’s health. So I left my stable job (after signing a mortgage in New Jersey to move to a house from our 1.5 bedroom apartment in Queens) and started my own practice offering virtual PT to expecting and new birthing parents, and other vagina-owners. I brought with me the doula/nutritionist/childbirth educator and lactation counselor who had supported me in my pregnancy, to offer a full menu of services to my clients. As Covid waned and I built my community in North Jersey, I added home visits to my offerings.

I am now almost four years into owning my practice, and am grateful every day for the work that I am able to do and the community I can support. There are pros and cons to owning a business, as with everything, but I have time to spend with my now two children, I have supported many birthing parents through the start of their parenthood journeys, and I do it in the way I think is best based on my many years of experience in coaching movement, my doctoral education, and my experience as a mom of two. I wake up happy to work every day.

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

I began as a professional dancer, and after three surgeries as a teenager and young adult, I studied exercise science in college. I worked as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and as an exercise interventionist in medical research before returning to school for my doctorate in physical therapy.

I was also raised by a single mother, and attended Smith College for undergraduate, an all women’s school. I have always been interested in supporting women. My passion for the healing and empowering nature of movement wonderfully combined with my feminist ideals when I discovered pelvic floor physical therapy. And when I had a difficult pregnancy with my first child, I did even more continuing education to specialize in obstetrics (any and all musculoskeletal issues pertaining to the perinatal period).

As a mom, I practice physical therapy in the way that I would find accessible–I give folks manageable exercise programs that we customize to feel good and effective to them so that they want to spend the 5-10 minutes doing them. We discuss when they might fit the exercises into their days. We meet as frequently or infrequently as is necessary or they’re able to, keep in touch via text or email between sessions, and work in sessions during nap times or after bedtimes. Because I know that the reality is that as parents we need to feel our best to chase our kids, carry them, snuggle them, buckle them into their car seats–but we also need to have to mental and physical energy to do that, so it can’t all be taken up by PT.

Practicing physical therapy in this way helps my clients feel proud, knowledgeable, and stick with their work so that they can prevent or address future issues with what they know, and not get stuck in an all-or-nothing mentality when life gets in the way. Mama Bear PT also offers nutrition support, lactation support, and childbirth education so that when time and energy are at a premium, you have a trusted source for the support you need.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I continue to struggle with imposter syndrome, especially when I start thinking about making big moves for my business. However, I take it one day at a time, and focus on helping one person, one group of people at a time, offering my knowledge and carefully listening to feedback and the needs of my community and target clients. When I focus on the help I’m able to offer, it keeps me moving forward and shifts the focus away from my self and my doubts.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I started a networking group, the Perinatal Professionals of North Jersey, so that anyone and eveyrone who works wit this population (photographers to mental health therapists, doulas to s*x coaches) can meet and collaborate, commiserate, learn, and refer to each other. This group has been fulfilling in so many ways, and has helped me as a solo mompreneur, helped garner referrals, improve my practice with a more diverse knowledge base, and led to many fun collaborations!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Mamabearpt.com
• Instagram: @mamabear_pt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamabearpt/

Image Credits

Charissa H. Yong Photography