Hi. My name is Rhea Schmidt. I am a Pediatric Physical Therapist and mother of 2 daughters.
I earned my Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from University of Southern California in 2012. Prior to that I attended Cal State Northridge where I earned Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science.
Immediately after graduate school I obtained my board certified clinical specialty in Neurology, and focused on neuro rehab. I’ve worked in a mix of outpatient private practice clinics as well as providing physical therapy services for children within the LA school system. I transitioned to focus full time on pediatrics in 2016 and have loved every minute of it.
In 2020 I left the conventional setting to have my second daughter and create Grow Well PT, with a very strong mission to help young children and their families.
I focus on the following:
Identifying the need for help
Addressing movement or development issues early and vigorously
Empowering families with knowledge and tools they need to help their child “grow well”
Values and Vibes
Convenience
I come to you. Raising a baby is tough! Making it to consistent appointments shouldn’t be an added stressor.
Not into mobile? Inquire about meeting me in a clinic. We have options.
Empowerment
I want nothing more than for you to feel confident and equipped with the knowledge and tools you need to help your child and navigate their development. We take the time we need to make sure you are comfortable applying these tools & activities.
Accessibility
Choosing to work with a private therapist is a big decision!
Enjoy the benefit of having access to your health care provider throughout the week and when you need it most.
Warmth
At Grow Well you are not treated like a number. The fourth trimester is such a transition for you and your family. You and your baby deserve to be treated like family and therapy should be delivered at a pace that is approriate for you and you family.
Collaboration
You and I work together to establish meaningful goals and a plan to achieve them.
We determine what’s best for your child, not a 3rd party payer.
Transparency
Your baby’s plan of care shouldn’t be a mystery! I tend to treat out loud and explain the purpose of each intervention and how it can support your child. When something isn’t working, we reevaluate and trial new things, keeping you in “the know”.
Promptness
We do our best to get you started as quickly as possible.
With many conditions (like torticollis and plagiocephaly), the sooner the better.
Always Growing
Just like your baby, we are always growing. As a professional I strive to stay up to date on the latest evidence to support your child. I let you in on the research, and what’s worked in my clinical experience, and then we decide together what’s best.
A note from me…
Becoming a mom has been the most eye opening and transformative journey.
Postpartum care is not what it needs to be. Our healthcare system’s support for our recovering mothers and developing babies has some serious gaps in it. Identifying needs, finding the right providers, waiting for insurance authorizations…It seems like getting help for yourself or your baby is a series of constant hoops to jump through.
This is one big reason why I left a traditional healthcare setting to create Grow Well PT. I wanted to create a trusting, nonjudgmental, educational space to work with babies and their families in their home environment.
Parents need support now more than ever. Their concerns need to be heard, they need quick access to the right help, and they need a collaborative treatment approach not dictated by third party payers.
My hope is that Grow Well provides this support and helps to fill these gaps for my patients and their families. ♥️
