Empowering you to show up as the person you were put on this planet to be.

 Meet the Team

Hi, I’m Dr. Steph.

I’ve struggled with pain and injury just like you. Even though every person, experience, and injury is different, I see you.

It started with knee pain in high school that prevented me from running. Running was my thing. Aside from all the running for field hockey conditioning, running was a stress outlet for me. So when knee pain made running stressful and discouraging instead of joyful and invigorating, it really sucked.

Fast forward to the post-physical therapy school version of me. I finally figured out the underlying cause of my knee pain and literally haven’t felt it since. I’m still so amazed and grateful to run, lift, and play with a knee that feels strong and resilient. 

But then something else popped up. It started as some neck and shoulder tightness after hanging Christmas lights as a young adult and progressed to being stuck in bed one day with debilitating neck pain when my first baby was one. Would I be able to nurse him? Could I carry him? How was I going to work? Would I ever get back to exercising and tossing my kiddo up in the air for play time? I needed help.

Through my own course of physical therapy, this time as the patient, I got so much better. I learned where my deficits and compensations were, what I needed to do to optimize mobility and strength, how to care for myself, and embrace the fact that my body is strong and resilient. Life is a journey and I learned a ton through this experience. 

My mission is to make sure no one else experiences the fear that they will never do the activities they love again. Or the fear that they will never get better. We need hope and confidence in our body’s ability to move and support us through life.

Just as I felt confused and defeated when the pain was bad, I see other people in the same situation. All too often, people get bounced around in the healthcare system or undergo ineffective treatments. Time and money are too precious to waste, especially when a better solution is available.

As a busy mom, I understand that time is precious and is most efficiently spent getting to the real cause of the problem. That way you can have the confidence to do all the activities you want to do, plus have more time and energy to spend with the people you love, doing the things you love. Let’s show up as the people we were put on this planet to be.

I graduated from The Ohio State University in 2017. I worked in an outpatient orthopedic clinic for two years before starting Empower Physio and Wellness in 2019. I became certified in dry needling in 2018 and have completed extra training in neck pain, back pain, TMJ pain/TMD, and headaches. I have a special focus on optimizing breathing and biomechanics, identifying and treating compensations, emotional regulation, and strength training. I love treating problems like headaches, migraine, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, jaw dysfunction, and pains related to stress and trauma.

When I’m not in the clinic, you’ll find me playing with my two boys, soaking up some sun on our back patio, getting in a lift or run, doing a house project with my husband, sipping some coffee, experimenting in the kitchen, or going on a family adventure. 

Hi, I’m Dr. Lydia!

Thank you for your curiosity to learn more about who I am and what I do.

I am passionate about empowering my clients with knowledge to address their physical needs through a whole-person approach to physical therapy care.

As a former high school athlete, my peers and I often experienced minor sports injuries and received conflicting advice on rehabilitation. Even after our injuries had healed, many of us faced reinjury or setbacks in our skills, leading to frustration and disappointment.

This confusion ignited my interest in human anatomy and physiology to better understand how the body works and how to avoid re-injury. This passion sparked my journey to becoming a physical therapist, but I knew I didn’t want to be a provider who prescribes the same exercises for every person walking through the door.

I see each person as an individual with specific aspirations and goals, and I believe their plan of care should reflect that. I consider all aspects of what makes a person who they are, recognizing how both the brain and body function as integral parts of the healing process.

My goal is to bring clarity and understanding to restore people’s confidence in their bodies. I strive to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives physically, mentally, and spiritually, so they can build resilience against life’s challenges.

I am dedicated to creating a supportive and educational environment where my clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. By providing personalized care and equipping individuals with the tools they need, I hope to inspire lifelong strength, resilience, and confidence in every client who walks through my door.

I graduated from Mount St. Joseph University in 2022 with my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. In 2023, I earned my dry needling certification and joined Empower Physio and Wellness, where I specialize in treating individuals with headaches, migraine, neck pain, back pain, and jaw dysfunction. I incorporate a comprehensive approach to care, utilizing wellness education, strength training, core stabilization, breathing retraining, functional movement correction, dry needling, cupping, and more. Through my personalized treatments, my clients move better, feel stronger, and build resilience, allowing them to live and move freely.

In my free time, you’ll find me at the thrift store, making sourdough, doodling, trying a new recipe, taking walks at the park, or reading children’s books to my kids.

Hi, I’m Joanna! 

I am the first point of contact at Empower Physio and Wellness and answer questions about how to get started. I can help you schedule free phone chats, physical therapy visits, and specialty workshops with Dr. Steph and Dr. Lydia. 

As a life-long caregiver, I have learned to navigate the sometimes overwhelming health care system and have been an advocate for finding and receiving quality care for myself and others. Having been a physical therapy patient because of injuries and surgical recoveries, I was excited to find a group of physical therapists who understand that to treat a knee injury or rotator cuff surgical repair is not to treat that body part in isolation. For example, I learned that to treat a knee, the physical therapist and client must consider the cause-and-effect cycle regarding the hip, ankle, and foot as well. Furthermore, it was Dr. Steph who introduced to me the importance of all things body, mind, and spirit that have direct effects on recovery and general wellness.

I earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington and served as staff writer, assistant editor, and editor to various publications and employee communications. I have been primary caregiver to parents who had Alzheimer’s as well as to my adult daughter with intellectual and physical disabilities. This daughter also benefited from Dr. Steph’s and Dr. Lydia’s whole-person care. My husband, Kevin, and I are also parents to a son and a second daughter, their spouses, and six grandchildren. 

In our free time, we enjoy checking out new restaurants, exploring Franklin County’s wonderful Metro Park system, as well as traveling, playing with our goldendoodle, and celebrating life with our children and grandchildren.

I look forward to helping you get started on your journey to confidently moving your body with joy and peace!