Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Hammond.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My physical therapy journey began with my own experience of pain.
Around the age of 18, I developed low back pain. There was no injury, no event, just a gradual onset of achiness right above my tailbone. I figured it would go away. But it didn’t.
I went off to college to study Kinesiology at Temple University followed by Physical Therapy school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. While there, I learned about anatomy and physiology, about rehabilitation science, about pain science, about different schools of thought and approaches, and more. I experimented with all that I learned in an attempt to rid myself of my pain. But there it remained.
After graduating with my doctorate in physical therapy, I sought the highest levels of post-doctoral training available to physical therapists in the United States. I learned a lot. I gained a lot. I was more capable of helping people. Yet still, there was something missing. I still hadn’t ‘fixed’ my pain.
Then I began to explore eastern philosophy as it relates to pain and suffering and began to see my experiences through a slightly different lens.
I started listening to my body, paying attention to my body, and heeding its wisdom. I learned to see the pain as information my body is giving me, rather than an enemy that I need to get rid of. I began to see it as a beacon to slow down, sleep, move, take breaks, have fun, laugh; to move toward a state of safety & balance in my life.
Through my experiences with my own pain and working with innumerable people suffering from pain, I have made it my mission in life to reduce human suffering.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Looking from one angle, the road has been pretty smooth, but along the way there have been many challenges.
The life demands that one goes through when undergoing such extensive training are significant.
The biggest challenge, though, has been one of identity. Throughout my entire career, I’ve struggled with the question of: “How can I help people in pain when I myself struggle with pain?” And “What does this say about my value as a physical therapist?”
But struggling through this question has unquestionably made me a better clinician and much better capable of helping my patients. And the reason is twofold.
First, the reality is that pain is an incredibly complex experience that is related to everything going on in our lives at the moment of pain. When pain has been going on for some time, the causes and contributing factors can be both overwhelming and elusive.
And while some people can find quick and easy solutions, others struggle with pain for a long, long time. We don’t fully understand why, and there is a tremendous amount of research aimed at answering that question, but that’s the reality of it. Many of these people have been desperately trying to get rid of the pain or ‘fix’ the pain, and many of these people have been told by numerous people that the pain can be fixed with the right treatment or the right technique, only to find that not to be the case.
That’s not to say that things cannot be improved, though. And there is much that can be done to help these people live happier, more fulfilling, more active lives. But sometimes the focus needs to shift from moving away from something (e.g., the pain) to moving toward something (e.g., safety, movement, joy, fulfillment). It’s a subtle shift, but it can make a huge difference.
That’s the difference that I’m making in my own life. Moving more and more toward what I do want rather than focusing so much on what I don’t want. I believe this is a tremendous strength, and one that will continue to lead me toward living a more happy and fulfilling life. And my pain has taught me that. So, for that, I am grateful.
Second, because pain is something that I have experienced and dealt with for a long time, I have some understanding of what the people that I work with are going through. I’ve experienced the frustration, the anger, the confusion, the guilt, and the hopelessness. This allows me, I believe, to connect with my patients on a deeper level because I’ve been there (and still go there at times).
I consider it a gift to be able to help people work through their struggles with the same thing that I struggle with. I’m constantly experimenting, learning, and growing through my own experiences with pain and through my experiences working with others in pain. And for that, I am grateful.
As you know, we’re big fans of Conscious Physical Therapy & Integrative Wellness. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Conscious Physical Therapy & Integrative Wellness is a practice in North County San Diego that I started in June of 2021 after moving to San Diego from Los Angeles.
In my 7 years of practice, I’ve participated in the highest levels of training possible for physical therapists in the U.S., received specialty certifications, gained hands-on experience in a variety of settings and populations, and taught and mentored dozens of other physical therapists.
I’d worked in ‘the big office’ with a packed schedule and not enough time to truly serve my patients.
When my wife and I decided to move down, I knew it was time to start my own practice. I wanted to build a practice that meets people where they’re at, treats them holistically, and helps them do more of what they love to do— without rush, without constraint, and without superfluous treatment methods. My approach is simple and relies on the natural healing capacity of the human body.
I offer in-home visits throughout North County and office visits in Solana Beach. All visits are 1-on-1 with me. The first visit is 90 minutes, and all follow-ups are 60 minutes so that we have ample time together and never have to rush.
I also offer free services most Fridays from 9:00 am-12:00 pm in Carlsbad at The Scenic Overlook, next to the Harbor Fish Cafe & The Offshore Surf Shop. Look for a blue tent right near the beginning of the beach walk!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Luck is ever present in life, I believe.
I was born a person of great privilege according to our cultural norms. I had a good upbringing with two loving parents and a safe home environment. I was given the opportunity to get a good education. I was lucky enough to meet and (smart enough to) marry the woman of my dreams, my wife, Alyssa, who has supported me, encouraged me, and been my biggest cheerleader throughout my entire schooling and career.
I feel lucky to have experienced everything in my life up to this point, both ‘good’ and ‘bad’, because it all has led me to exactly where I am right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ConsciousPhysicalTherapy.com
- Instagram: @AndrewHammondPT
- Facebook: @AndrewHammondPT
- Twitter: @AndrewHammondPT
Image Credits
Mario Covic
