About Us

Hi I am Tara, one of the experienced pelvic PT’s and owner of Desert Physical Therapy and Pelvic Health. Years ago, I was in your same spot. I was scared and worried! Well, let’s be honest and say freaked out about this pelvic pain I was having. Here I was weeks away from starting my career as a new pelvic PT and, BOOM pelvic pain, bladder pain, burning all over the pelvis! I learned so much from this.

I always said I wish I never had this pain, but I have to say it changed my life in such profound ways that I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t experience it. I had my own journey in the world of pelvic pain which might be different from yours, but with all the emotions, worry, pain and feelings, I feel like I can really be there for you.

I can’t wait to meet you and start this healing journey together.

Tara has years of clinical experience with both men’s and women’s pelvic floor dysfunction. She graduated from A.T Still University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She possesses an in-depth knowledge and empathy of the emotional and psychological stresses that can accompany any dysfunction. This comes from a personal journey and understanding through her own dealings with pelvic floor dysfunction. She comes from a family of physicians, nurses and clinicians in the field of women’s health, obstetrics, and gynecology. Her passion is to revolutionize the way that both women and men recover from low back, hip, and pelvic floor injuries. She pursues this through innovative education, evidence based rehabilitation, advanced manual therapy techniques, and return to fitness programs that promote diaphragm and pelvic floor integration into core strengthening and stability programs.

Tara is a registered yoga therapist, trained in myofascial release, intramuscular dry needling, cupping, advanced manual therapy techniques, visceral mobilizations, biofeedback, and therapeutic exercise.

Tara specializes in treating pelvic floor pain due to trauma, infections, post surgical, and dyspareunia (painful sex), as well as stress and urge incontinence, interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatitis and post prostatectomy dysfunction in men.

When Tara is not treating her patients at her office, she is focused on her other passions: spending time with family, enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, stand up paddle board and all forms of exercise.

Dr. Erika Townsend graduated from A.T. Still University where she received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Erika’s interest in health and wellness began while participating in track and field growing up and continued throughout her time at college where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Arizona State University. Erika deeply values whole person healthcare where she incorporates functional and dynamic activities with her treatment programs to help her patients meet and exceed their goals.

During her time in graduate school, she developed a great passion for pelvic health and providing high quality care to patients with evidence-based treatment techniques. Erika values individualized whole person care for patients to reach their goals and maximize their function. She is passionate about helping patients gain control of their pelvic floor dysfunction and strives to create an environment where patients feel comfortable discussing their symptoms and receiving appropriate and effective care. She emphasizes manual therapy treatment techniques in conjunction with therapeutic procedures and modalities.

Erika treats a variety of conditions that includes urinary incontinence, low back pain, thoracic back pain, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, hip pain and dysfunction, dyspareunia (pain with intercourse), prolapse, diastasis recti, endometriosis, and prenatal and postpartum conditions. She values providing a high level of care to all patients to optimize function and quality of life.

In her free time away from treating patients, Erika enjoys skating and spending time with family.

 

Cassidy earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ and her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Throughout graduate school, Cassidy developed a strong passion and level of empathy for those with pelvic pain due to her personal experience with pelvic pain & dysfunction. This led her to seek further education in pelvic rehabilitation through the Herman & Wallace Institute. Cassidy is also a certified yoga and Pilates instructor with over 7 years of teaching experience and additional trainings in trigger point modalities, yin yoga, and biomechanics of yoga.

Cassidy has an evidence-based and whole body approach when assessing the needs of each person including manual therapy techniques, myofascial release, cupping, exercise prescription, relaxation strategies, etc.

Cassidy specializes in treating those with pelvic conditions including incontinence, diastasis recti, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and low back/hip/pelvic pain due to pregnancy, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, interstitial cystitis, & gynecologic surgeries as well as those with orthopedic conditions such as joint dysfunction, strains/sprains and nerve issues (sciatica, carpal tunnel, etc.).

When Cassidy is not in the clinic, she enjoys group fitness classes, hiking, reading books, building her indoor greenhouse, and spending time with her husband and 2 cats.

 

 

Debbie, Office Manager of Desert PT, is available to meet your scheduling needs and answer any billing questions.
She may be reached at (602) 264-3369 or by email.