Why I Became My Own Physical Rehabilitation Recovery Coach—and Why I’m Here to Help You Too

When I was going through my own recovery after becoming paralyzed from a spinal artery stroke, I worked with an incredible team of experts: physical therapists, occupational therapists, physiatrists, internal medicine doctors, nutritionists, nurses, and neuropsychologists. Their roles were all vital—and I’m grateful for each one. But something still felt missing.

 

Despite all this support, I sensed a gap in my care. Each specialist brought their agenda and protocols to the table, yet I longed for someone to help me integrate it all—to coach me through the whole experience. Not just the medical tasks, but the emotional processing, the mindset shifts, and the daily internal battles. I needed a guide. A mentor. A recovery coach.

 

As an occupational therapist myself, I knew what it would take physically to improve—intensive therapy, consistency, listening to my team. But deep down, I also knew that what I truly needed wasn’t listed in any rehabilitation treatment plan. So I searched for a physical rehabilitation recovery coach—and found nothing. The internet pointed me to life coaches, healing coaches, and business coaches. But no one for what I was going through. Then something incredible happened.

Two weeks after being completely paralyzed, I moved my right ankle. Just up and down—but it was enough to shift everything. In that moment of clarity, I realized: I’ve been my own coach all along.

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Every strategy I’d used, every visualization, every adjustment to my mindset—it was working. That small ankle movement was proof. I immediately began creating a structured recovery framework rooted in my experience as an OT, my clinical knowledge, and my intuition. Piece by piece, I regained movement—right ankle, left ankle, knees, core, hips—until eventually, I was walking again.

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Even the doctors and therapists were stunned by the speed of my recovery. “You’re not just walking—you’re recovering fast,” they said. But it wasn’t just the exercises. It was something more. I was applying the same patient-centered, goal-oriented techniques I’d used for years with my clients—and now, I was the client. I remembered how many of them once told me, "You’re the best teacher I’ve ever had." I knew this would work, and it did.

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Now, less than a year post-injury, I’m still on my journey—but walking, functioning, and most importantly, called to serve. I feel an urgent desire to support others recovering from spinal cord injury, stroke, neurological conditions, traumatic brain injury, or major musculoskeletal trauma. If you feel like you need more than just medical care—if you’re seeking someone who gets it, who can guide and coach you with empathy, strategy, and a proven recovery framework—I’m here for you.

Let’s rebuild together.