Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Mullins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nicole. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started in high school when I was determined to make the best possible career choice for myself. I took every high school elective that seemed interesting and ruled out a number of occupations before I was 17. I realized I love life science and excelled in this area. I knew I wanted to work with people, not be sedentary, have the flexibility to work anywhere (geographically) and be able to be autonomous. I found physical therapy met all of my criteria and set out on a path to become a P.T. It has been a fabulous choice and I’m still thrilled to be a physical therapist almost 25 years later.
I have always thought “outside of the box” and discovered early in my career that I didn’t fit in the traditional medical model for delivery of physical therapy services. I maneuvered my way into physical therapy practices with like-minded therapists and continued to study alternative therapies. I discovered yoga and its immense healing potential which inspired me to become a Certified Yoga Therapist. I incorporate my knowledge of therapeutic yoga into my daily practice with clients. I have a Yoga Wall in my clinic which allows patients to benefit from poses they may not be able to engage in without the assistance of the wall. The addition of therapeutic yoga techniques to my traditional physical therapy knowledge really enhances my ability to help my patients heal.
I believe strongly in continuing to grow as a practitioner and in the last 10 years, I have studied visceral manipulation and neural manipulation (longstanding osteopathic techniques) to provide a deeper layer of healing intervention. These techniques have had a profound impact on me personally, for my family and for my patients. My own story is the insidious onset of severe hip and ankle pain without any history of injury. This occurred about one year after an emergency abdominal surgery. I did yoga, I received physical therapy treatment for my hip and ankle and nothing helped until I went to a practitioner who released visceral restrictions that had resulted from surgical scarring. The results were immediate-I instantaneously had full mobility in my hip. My ankle was very swollen with tendonitis, but it began healing and the anti-inflammatory treatments I had been doing previously started working. My passion for this work is in my soul. I believe my ability to draw upon traditional physical therapy techniques, therapeutic yoga, and visceral/neural manipulation techniques allows me to help my patients on their healing journeys in unlimited ways. To further enhance my practice, I opened my own office a few years ago and now work in a beautiful, peaceful, healing environment.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think there are very many “smooth roads” in life in general. As my 11-year-old son said to me “Mama, we don’t grow when everything is easy, do we?” He is an old soul and I believe he is here to teach me. What I have learned from my journey is that every challenge is an opportunity: an opportunity for growth, for reflection, for a change of direction. I’ve learned following my gut feelings (what I believe to be Divine inspirations) is of utmost importance. Even if your belief system doesn’t involve the Divine, the gut is considered the second brain due to its extensive production of neurotransmitters, so listen to it! This is advice for all people and if you are just starting on your journey, hopefully, it gives you a head start. If you are well into your journey, know that growth happens over a lifetime and we can change our direction at any time.
We’d love to hear more about Mullins Physical Therapy and Yoga.
I specialize in physical therapy, yoga therapy, and visceral/neural manipulation. I am most proud of creating a practice in which I can work with my patient’s one-on-one for an hour every time they come for physical therapy. In a typical physical therapy practice, therapists have scheduled 2-4 patients every hour and need to utilize unlicensed aides and licensed physical therapy assistants to complete the care of their patients. I became a physical therapist to treat my patients, not to hand them off to other staff members. I believe the continuity care I provide is truly the gold standard of physical therapy practice and is, unfortunately, uncommon.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Absolutely! I grew up in a typical middle class, suburban neighborhood where most mom’s stayed at home to raise their children. I realized the value in having a parent at home and I wanted to be able to offer that to my children. I also realized some of these women didn’t have any other options and that scared me. I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mother, but I also wanted a career and higher education. I created a space for myself to do both. I have not worked 40 hours a week since I became a mother. I took three years off and went back to work when my child went to preschool. I have created a balance between raising a child who feels safe, secure, happy and loved and continue to grow in my profession and give my all to my patients. To me, this balance is the most important part of my life and I feel like I “have it all!”
Contact Info:
- Address: 2831 Camino Del Rio S.
Suite 111
San Diego, CA 92108 - Website: mullinspt.com
- Phone: 619-340-0400
- Email: nicole@mullinspt.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MullinsPT/
Image Credit:
Nicole Mullins
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