The Story Behind Retreat Wellness

The Beginnings

After my second c-section and the development of significant diastasis recti, I found myself facing a reality I didn’t expect: even as a physical therapist, I didn’t have the tools I needed to truly heal. In college, we had one three-hour lecture on pelvic floor physical therapy. I remembered learning that core strengthening was key to improving diastasis—but after following everything I had been taught and seeing no improvement, I knew there had to be more.

My research led me to a critical discovery: the pelvic floor plays a vital role in activating the deep core muscles, including the transverse abdominis (TA). This revelation changed everything. I dove headfirst into continuing education and shifted my entire professional development toward becoming a pelvic floor physical therapist.

What struck me most during this time was the realization that if I, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, was confused and frustrated about safely returning to fitness after childbirth, how much more overwhelmed must other women be—especially those without a background in exercise or rehab?

Alongside my studies, I began physical therapy myself to address my own diastasis. The care I received was excellent, but the experience opened my eyes. High-deductible insurance, limited appointment availability, and the lack of accessible options—especially mobile, concierge care—made consistent therapy nearly impossible. At the time, Lancaster had only a few pelvic floor therapy providers, and none offered the kind of flexible, personalized care I knew moms needed.

I eventually took a position at a hospital-based pelvic floor clinic and loved every moment of it. While my initial passion centered around helping postpartum women return to fitness, it quickly grew into a deeper calling: treating pelvic floor dysfunction across the lifespan—from pregnancy to perimenopause and beyond.

Opening my own practice had always been on my heart. But during COVID and while growing our family, I felt the Lord telling me, “Just wait.” That wait ended after the birth of my daughter in 2024. When returning to my PRN hospital position was no longer feasible, it was clear God was opening the door. And so, Retreat Wellness was born.

Why Retreat Wellness?

The name Retreat Wellness holds layered meaning.

First, it's a reminder to re-treat common orthopedic issues—this time through the lens of pelvic floor integration. Often, pelvic floor dysfunction is the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” hidden beneath years of compensation from poor posture, weak core engagement, and faulty pressure management. Many clients come in for pelvic floor symptoms—urinary incontinence, prolapse, tailbone pain, hernias, diastasis recti—and discover that as those symptoms improve, so do their long-standing back, hip, knee, or neck pain.

Second, retreat is what so many mothers need but rarely take. We're often so busy caring for everyone else that our own wellness falls to the bottom of the list. While most moms would love a spa day, the reality is that it’s rarely possible. At Retreat Wellness, I’ve created a spa-like experience in a calm, boutique environment that feels inviting, quiet, and peaceful—nothing like a typical clinic with crowded parking lots, long waits, and sterile rooms.

We also offer mobile visits, bringing therapy directly to your home—because childcare should never be a barrier to your health. As a mom of four young children (three of them boys!), I know firsthand how difficult it can be to make time for yourself. At Retreat Wellness, children are always welcome. If you feel you can still focus during sessions, we’ll embrace the distractions together.

Finally, the physical location of Retreat Wellness is intentionally unique. Our boutique office is nestled just off our family home, on over three serene acres in West Hempfield Township. It’s our personal retreat—and now, it’s yours too. As you drive up the lane, my hope is that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped away from the chaos of daily life and into a space where healing begins. A space to feel rebalanced, restored, and renewed.

Retreat Wellness offers specialized pelvic floor physical therapy, general physical therapy, and wellness services in a setting that’s tailored to your life—whether in our boutique clinic or in the comfort of your own home.

Here, you don’t have to choose between your family and your health. You can have both.