Meet Dr. Michelle Stauffer | Physical Therapist & Health Wellness Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Michelle Stauffer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Michelle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a member of the queer community and a worker of the healthcare system in the US, I saw firsthand the unequal and discriminatory service the queer community received. I knew there was something I could do to help this. I had to really understand the trauma and disproportionate care my fellow queers were experiencing in the healthcare system. I realized it sometimes isn’t the provider, but the other consumers of the healthcare system in the same facility. I therefore decided against a brick-n-mortar business and created a fully mobile business. In order for an individual to receive superior health wellness services they need to be comfortable to fully participate. My business allows people to choose the location they feel most comfortable. Lastly, knowing the queer community is a part of the under-resourced communities in this country I dedicated my business to focusing my services on such community.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Coast 2 Coast Wellness is the name of my business. I am a fully mobile physical therapist and virtual health wellness coach. At the time of this interview, physical therapy services for anywhere in Colorado and health wellness coaching anywhere in the US.

What sets Coast 2 Coast Wellness apart from others is the mission, the purpose, the drive for this business. I am fully mobile WITHOUT any equipment. No equipment because the client has everything they need to succeed; some people with a full gym setup, others with not one piece of formal gym equipment. At Coast 2 Coast Wellness, I strive to instill self-empowerment in the rehabilitation process, and prevent money, time, or transportation from being barriers to health and wellness. Also, I focus on serving the LGBTQIA2S+ community, something no other PT business is built solely to do.

I am most excited about the growth of the business. The queer community is such a supportive community and if it weren’t for the word of mouth connections, I’d likely still be at square one. I love seeing my community take such pride in their health and wellness, and allow me to facilitate that journey.

Like any other business, there are challenges. I did not, and do not, have any start up capitol. Without any capitol, I have to really critically think on what investments I should or shouldn’t make for continued growth of the company. Let it be known, even after a brainstorming session, sometimes the investment decision still turns out as a flop. I’ve learned flops and wins are all a part of owning a business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I want to support other small businesses, and fortunately Denver is full of them in any market. In particular there are 3 breweries in Denver area that stand apart from the rest, being that they are queer and/or female owned. Holidaily, Goldspot, and Lady Justice Brewery are therefore places I always recommend people stop into. Next I advice stopping into each city town square, and depending upon the time of year there may be a free evening event occurring. Lastly, if they have transportation, taking a drive into the mountains.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I could I would do a shoutout to every person I talked to about my business and told me how necessary and beneficial of a service it is. However, I like to talk, so that would be a lot of people to name. My core group of friends would be my most focal people I’d have to give a shoutout to. They are my cheerleaders, my sounding board, my editors, you name it they help me. Any idea I have for my business, I run it past them and they provide me their honest opinions. My other shoutout would be my family, who like my friends aide me in the many decisions I make for my company. My family provides input more into the technical aspects of the business, and for that I am so thankful.

Website: www.Coast2CoastWellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.stauffer.pt/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-stauffer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dr_Stauffer_PT

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coast2CoastWellness/