Meet Jessica Shatkin, PT, DPT | Pelvic Physical Therapist & Embodiment Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Shatkin, PT, DPT and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The path to starting Teshuvah Physical Therapy and Wellness was less of a thought process and more of a feeling process. I felt in my body that a traditional healthcare setting wasn’t right for me. Especially with pelvic health where we are talking about peoples’ most private parts and functions, I wanted to provide a more holistic experience for my clients. Through Teshuvah I am able to offer people a trauma-informed approach to pelvic healing that takes into account nervous system regulation as well as energetic holding patterns in the body.

From the length of the appointments to the decor of the office space, Teshuvah is a different kind of pelvic physical therapy experience. One that takes it slow in accordance with your nervous system. One that understands that there is more than organs in the pelvic bowl; but also lived experiences such as shame, embarrassment, trauma, and repression.

The big push to open my own business was wanting to create a space where people were really able to let their guard down on a physiological and energetic level.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Looking back I understand now that my career began with my own personal healing journey. I was diagnosed with clinical depression at age 17 and over the subsequent twelve years also battled chronic back pain, anxiety, disordered eating, and chronic constipation. At the core of healing from all of these difficulties was a call to come home to my body. A deep call to find healing within, find peace within. I can truthfully say that I understand what it means to be at odds with my body, and the suffering that creates.

Through the process of healing I became fascinated by the human body and specifically how to tap into the body’s natural ability to heal itself. I found that physical therapy was a beautiful entry point to empowering people in their relationship to their bodies. The fascination for pelvic health then came quite naturally as I’ve always enjoyed talking about the taboo and I realized that helping people overcome issues in the pelvic region is incredibly impactful and rewarding. For those that are unfamiliar, the pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, bowel, and sexual organs. They are involved in continence, sexual function, and postural control. If you’re having an issue in this area like pain with intimacy or incontinence and you’ve been cleared of medical issues like an infection, pelvic physical therapy may be the answer you’re looking for.

My mission in business and in life is to guide others to return home to their bodies. I named my business Teshuvah because it means return in Hebrew. And it refers to a spiritual return – to Self, to Oneness. My intention for my clients is more than just reducing pain or incontinence, it is to feel more at home within themselves, to feel more embodied.

What sets me apart is that I integrate my medical and physiological expertise with an intuitive approach to fostering safety and holding space for others. Along with typical pelvic physical therapy advice and exercises, I also provide my clients with guided meditations and journal prompts which help to dive deeper into embodiment practices and self exploration.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friends come in town we’re definitely going to the mountains! But for the time we spend in Denver, here are my favorite places:

Favorite food spots:
Vinh Xuong Bakery for banh mi
Good Bread Denver for pastries and some tasty bread
Safta for hummus and pita
Steam Espresso Bar for coffee and vibes
Sweet Cow for ice cream

Favorite shopping spots:
First Fridays on Santa Fe to oggle at and enjoy local art
Alchemy Ritual Goods for metaphysical fun things
Apothecary Tinctura for the best looseleaf tea I’ve ever tasted
Simply Pure Dispensary for goodies

Favorite movement activities:
Take them to a class at my gym CrossFit Wash Park (if they’re up for the challenge!)
Throw a frisbee at Cheesman Park or Sloan’s Lake (sounds cliche but I actually play competitive Ultimate and many of my friends do too)
Ecstatic Dance at Rhythm Sanctuary for immaculate vibes and getting outside comfort zones
Hit the slopes if it’s winter!
Hang out by Clear Creek if it’s Summer

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The book that completely shifted my perspective is “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD. It’s a beautiful, comprehensive book about what trauma actually is and how it affects the body. In physical therapy school we learn about movement, pain, exercise physiology, neuroscience, the list goes on. But we don’t really learn about how trauma ties into all these systems, how it can critically impact nervous system regulation.

Reading this book opened my eyes to a different framework of understanding pain and movement patterns. It inspired me to pursue further learning on how to be trauma-informed in my clinical practice.

Especially in the realm of pelvic bodywork and education, using a trauma-informed lens is absolutely essential for minimizing harm. It informs my language, my tone, how I approach touch, and how I educate my clients. I am beyond grateful for how this book has shaped my approach to pelvic care. I truly believe that it has allowed me to provide better care for my clients.

Website: https://www.teshuvahphysicaltherapy.com/

Instagram: @dr_shat_happens

Image Credits
Katya Nunez