Physical therapists are rapidly expanding into mental and behavioral health care—and creating new models of practice that address the powerful connection between physical health, emotional wellbeing, and trauma. Dr. Gina Calderone, PT, DPT, shares how she built a cash-based physical therapy practice at the intersection of mind-body care and trauma-informed practice. We explore Gina's career path from fast-paced outpatient physical therapy to building a cash-based, integrative practice—and how that evolution ultimately led her to develop her own approach, Physioenergetic Therapy®.
Along the way, Gina explains why she has increasingly focused her work on adolescents and young adults, including her Gen Zen retreats designed to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of younger generations. We explore the impact of trauma, bullying, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and chronic stress, as well as the important role nervous system regulation can play in both physical and emotional health.
We also discuss what happens when emotional pain begins to show up in the body as physical symptoms—and why clinicians may need to look beyond a purely biomechanical model when symptoms cannot be fully explained by tissues, joints, muscles, or movement alone.
This conversation is especially relevant for physical therapists and other healthcare professionals interested in mental health, trauma-informed care, mind-body approaches, and developing innovative models of practice. It also offers an inside look at how one physical therapist moved beyond a traditional practice model, identified the population she most wanted to serve, and built a cash-based practice around an approach that reflects her clinical interests and values.
For physical therapists wondering what it can look like to build a career—and a practice—at the intersection of physical therapy, mental health, and trauma care, Gina's story offers an important example of where the profession is heading. To learn more about Dr. Gina Calderone and her work, visit: https://www.drginacalderone.com/
Visit integrativepainscienceinstitute.com for CEU training in integrative, psychologically informed care for physical therapists and other practitioners.
Thank you for listening,
Joe Tatta, PT, DPT
