Meet Alicia Poche | Holistic Physical Therapist and Reiki Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Poche and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been a Physical Therapist for 17 years. Over the years, I learned many modalities to help treat physical aspects of pain; however, I noticed the psychosocial aspects of pain were not being addressed by most providers. I began exploring other techniques to provide longer lasting results, including Minduflness, Neuro Emotional Technique, and Reiki.

This holistic approach to health is not usually covered by insurance, and not yet widely accepted, so I decided to build a practice where I can incorporate these modalities with my Mind-Body Approach. With my current model, I am able to treat clients on all levels: physical, mental, emotional, and energetic. This model provides faster healing with more permanent results to manage pain and dysfunction.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have a niche-practice. I am a sole provider, and I have a unique brand. I offer manual modalities, treatments to release trapped emotions, mindfulness-based techniques, and Reiki and Energy therapies. I have been certified in Integrative Dry Needling for 8+ years, and I do cupping and manual therapy, as well as traditional Physical Therapy. I trained in Neuro Emotional Technique and I am certified in The Emotion Code, which helps to release trapped emotions that are causing dysfunction in the body. I am also a certified Crystal Reiki Master, and I have trained in other energy healing modalities. Each treatment is unique to the individual, and I intuit the sessions to provide the best care.

When I decided to start my own business, I was very excited to be in a space where I could provide such extensive care, and I no longer had to look at one body part at a time as directed by insurance companies. This transition, although exciting, was not easy. I had meetings with other business owners, read books on how to start a cash-based practice, and listened to podcast after podcast. I have served in roles as a manager/director and dealt with numbers and budget, but it was overwhelming to take it all on myself.

It was also difficult leaving my stable, salaried job. The pandemic provided it’s own set of challenges. I managed to stay in business for the last three years, and I continue to grow. I also have support from friends and other practitioners as business continues to change and move.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Austin is a booming town. There is usually live music, and the restaurant scene leaves little to be desired. When I have visitors, I take them to hear local music at The Continental Club. We eat at Loro’s and drink at The Little Darlin’. I take them on hikes in the Barton Creek Greenbelt and sometimes travel to Greune to eat and shop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have had a great deal of support along the journey of building my practice. Many friends and colleagues donated time and energy into educating me on how to start a business, build clientele, and manage digital marketing and social media. I am lucky to know many other healthcare practitioners with common goals who believe in what I am trying to accomplish.

Website: beyond-the-physical.com

Instagram: @beyond_the_physical

Linkedin: Alicia Poche

Facebook: @beyondthephysicalpt

Yelp: Beyond the Physical

Image Credits
Katherine Lentz