Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin LaLonde.
Hi Justin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated in 2017 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in Oakland, CA. I moved to San Diego 3 years ago and began working at a local clinic. I started Pacific Standard Physical Therapy to see patients after work hours and on weekends for some extra income. When COVID hit in early 2020, the clinic I was working at furloughed all of the staff Physical Therapists, and I was out of work for about 2 months. During that time, I began to teach virtual fitness classes daily to friends and family. I was also seeing patients virtually for Physical Therapy sessions. When precautions were lifted, I went back to the clinic, but still kept the virtual classes going. I currently teach Balance Class on Wednesday mornings, and see patients in person out of my garage and virtually. I have the garage set up as a “mini-clinic” and gym area. I hope to grow Pacific Standard Physical Therapy into a larger business in the next few years and hope to run a clinic to help the people of San Diego move and feel better!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Things worked out very well when COVID hit because the business was already set up – it gave me more time to focus and draw out a plan for Pacific Standard Physical Therapy. I am still encountering struggles, but it is a huge learning process. I have designed my own website, learned how to integrate scheduling and documentation processes, and incorporated my business all myself. I don’t have a lot of funds to really throw into the business so it has been slow growing. All the money I make from the business goes right back into it to make it a better experience for patients and clients!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Physical Therapist by trade. I absolutely love what I do – I get to help people get out of pain, recover from injuries, and optimize their life. I provide hands-on manual therapy in combination with specific exercises to help people reach their goals, whether that is reducing pain or increasing sports performance. I mostly treat sports and orthopedic issues that involve the musculoskeletal system. I utilize cupping, IASTM (Graston), and myofascial release to help people move more efficiently along with very specific exercises that reinforce long-term outcomes. I also specialize in Vestibular Therapy, Concussion Management, and Balance Issues. I have been a physical therapist for 5 years and worked at multiple clinics. I have seen how the medical system has affected the industry in a negative way, which ultimately hurts patient care. So, I have set out to design a better system to help deliver optimal care the way it should be delivered. 1 on 1 sessions always with a Physical Therapist.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I don’t think I am a huge risk-taker currently. My circumstances haven’t allowed me to take a lot of risks business-wise. I have a lot of student debt from PT school which requires me to have a stable income so I work at a private clinic on top of running Pacific Standard. I do think risk-taking is super important and that it has a time and place. I think if you make the right decisions at the right time, then there can be a lot of benefit to be gained! I am a very calculated person in my decision-making and I think in this world we live in; you have to be cautious about the decisions we make and the consequences they might have in the future. Calculated risks are the risks worth taking. Impulsivity can be a major hindrance to that.
Pricing:
- Initial Assessment – $200
- Treatments range from $75-150
- Virtual Balance Class – $20
- Packages offered
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pacificstandardpt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacificstandardphysicaltherapy/?hl=en
