An Inspired Chat with Dr. Kim Bell PT, DPT of Encinitas

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Kim Bell PT, DPT. Check out our conversation below.

Kim, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Great question! Yes I had a moment recently that made me laugh and feel proud. This is how it went down.

One of my newer patients came in for her second appointment. She was feeling so much better after the initial treatment, so she was beaming with a huge smile when she arrived.

She told me that she had given out my name and contact information to a few of her friends with dizziness and vertigo. They had all seen everyone and tried everything, but were unable to find answers and relief from their chronic dizziness.

She said specifically that one of her friends asked her, “Are you seeing the Dizzy Doctor?” That is a catchy name for a world renowned otoneurologist in San Diego I’ve been working closely with for about 20 years. He is very famous and knowledgeable, so most locals know of him.

However, my patient had not seen him. Her concierge doctor had referred her directly to my private physical therapy practice for evaluation and treatment of dizziness and vertigo.

She told me that she replied, “No I am seeing the Vertigo Detective!”

That made me laugh out loud and feel very proud. She remembered my brand!

My husband originally coined the term “Vertigo Detective” many years ago when he witnessed me working through some of the most difficult cases of dizziness and vertigo with great success.

One of my past patients confirmed the name by calling me a sleuth. After that, I purchased the web domain VertigoDetective.com and started a second educational blog on that website. I also published a book with that branding in 2024.

In 2025, I just got the phrase Vertigo Detective® trademarked by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. That phrase is now my second trademark, for my business.

I also own the trademark for the phrase The Bell Method® which describes my comprehensive detailed methodology for discovering the root cause of dizziness and vertigo.

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and expert vertigo clinician with little to no business background, I have to say that was a humorous and proud moment. Thank you for asking!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As the Vertigo Detective® I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, book author, and clinical expert in dizziness and vertigo. I have been a licensed physical therapist since 2002, specializing in treating dizziness and vertigo since 2006.

In 2014, I opened a private physical therapy practice designed specifically for the unique health care needs of patients with dizziness and vertigo, Kim Bell Physical Therapy. After opening my private practice, I have helped patients from all over the world who have traveled to consult with me in San Diego County, California.

In 2023, I earned a Certification in Clinical Vestibular Competency from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine so my patients can rest assured that I am trained to the highest level available in the USA.

My unique approach includes a thorough screening process before scheduling a new patient. Since my specialty care is all private pay, it’s my due diligence to screen new patients and make sure my care is appropriate.

The initial consultation usually starts with a history-taking phone call. The call is usually about 30 minutes, but can go as long as an hour or even 90 minutes if the patient has a long story. I want to hear the whole story so I can start my vertigo detective work.

The initial in-person appointment with my new patients is up to four hours long. That includes a thorough hands-on exam and treatment. I have photo-enhanced educational handouts and an extensive referral network, which may be needed case by case depending on the exam results.

Most patients see me for an average of 4-8 appointments for their episode of care. I perform an assessment with infrared video oculography goggles at the initial appointment and at most follow up appointments.

Follow up visits are usually about 2 hours long. With that in mind, I can only see about 2-4 patients per day.

I keep a very small caseload so I can really get to know all of my patients and continually think through the assessment and results of their care to track their progress

Since many patients who need help with dizziness and vertigo do not live locally in San Diego and may be unable to travel here for my care, I have created many educational resources to help patients who are unable to work with me in person:

I publish one new free blog article per month at both VertigoDetective.com and BetterBalanceInLife.com. No ads!

I have a free monthly newsletter. You can sign up for my mailing list at BetterBalanceInLife.com.

I have a YouTube channel with free educational videos and educational lectures.

I post regularly on social media as Kim Bell, DPT The Vertigo Detective.

For patients who are willing to spend a few dollars to learn to become a vertigo detective for their own case, my book “Navigating the Health Care System as a Dizzy Patient” is available to purchase at Amazon.com.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child, I believed that I had to be perfect. I was raised by a military commander who pushed us hard.

As such, I was always striving for perfection in school and sports. That tendency served me well in college, since I received a full academic scholarship for my studies.

However, the tendency towards perfectionism caused me a lot of stress and headaches over the years. My drive towards perfectionism caused me to overwork after joining the work force. I experienced anxiety when work was left unfinished.

As a small business owner, I have learned that some amount of anxiety increases productivity. But I now believe that perfectionism is not healthy.

In 2010 or 2011, my integrative neurologist told me that the only way I could be healthy was to disappoint at least one person per day. Trust me that was a hard word to receive, but I think she was correct.

I was putting my work performance and perfectionism above my own health and daily self-care. It was having a detrimental effect on my health over time.

The reality is that I could never achieve perfection, no matter how much I tried.

On January 1, 2017, I became a born again Christian. Now I believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the only perfect person who ever lived.

Once I came to that realization, it changed my belief system and took the pressure off of me to try to be perfect.

Now I continue to strive for excellence in all that I do.

I do my part to the best of my ability and I leave the rest up to God to help me.

I pray for God to help me every day and He does. I may never be perfect but I no longer believe I have to be perfect.

I now believe in and worship a perfect God. That’s what matters to me the most. It gives me great sense of relief.

Now this Bible verse inspires my life and work day to day as I strive for excellence but not perfection:

“And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 (WEB)

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I have personally struggled with dizziness, vertigo, and headaches since I got a severe concussion in first grade. Yet I always tried to keep it to myself and minimize what I was going through.

My Mom would rush me off to the emergency room for care throughout my childhood and adolescence when symptoms got unbearable, but we never really told other people what was happening to me.

After I finally had a breakthrough in my own personal health through working with an integrative neurologist to improve my health, I decided to launch a private physical therapy practice to serve patients like me.

I figured that there must be other people suffering with dizziness, vertigo, and headaches who had no real answers despite continually seeking health care.

It turns out that I was right!

Now more than eleven years after I started my private practice for patients with dizziness and vertigo, my practice is booming. I attract patients from all over Southern California, the USA, and abroad.

Once I started talking about my own experience, my pain, confusion, discouragement, and my path forward to a better life, I realized a lot of people have a similar experience. Many of my patients appreciate that I can understand what they are going through because I have been there myself.

I have also written a book for people with dizziness or vertigo who are unable to work with me in person for whatever reason. In the book “Navigating the Health Care System as a Dizzy Patient,” I share some of my own health story for the first time to explain why I care to help this population.

I believe that the pain I experienced for more than 25 years due to my own “mystery” case of dizziness and vertigo tilled a fertile soil inside my heart for innovation, empathy, and compassion to blossom. Those qualities are what drives me to this day as I continue to press on towards the goal of helping people with dizziness and vertigo get their life back.

My Mom also shared a lot of that pain with me as my primary caregiver, so I dedicated my book to her.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that my personal relationship with Jesus Christ matters most to me. I went through a really dark period of my life and thought I might die towards the end of 2016.

In the middle of my health crisis, a woman prayed for me asking God to help me and save me after all health care had failed.

That night something happened to me I cannot explain. It was supernatural and beyond words.

The next day, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior without even thinking twice. I became a born again Christian, not even fully knowing what that means.

Since then I have learned that a life in submission to Jesus Christ becomes a transformed life. I had to let go of a lot of things I was doing for myself and for pleasure. I had to let go of selfish ambition and give my life fully to God.

Over time, God has changed me.

Ten years ago, I could have cared less about the Bible. Yet this fall, I am enrolled in two courses at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston Texas seeking an additional degree in Bible Studies.

My bank account and my schedule both testify that I have put God at the center of my life.

My husband and I now start our day and end our day together praying to God. We pray for others and for ourselves.

My consistent prayer is full of praise for God. I am always asking for His help and guidance in all I do.

When I moved recently to a new home, one of the first things I did was find a local church. I attend Sunday service, Bible study, prayer meeting, and mid-week service.

Not because I have to or because I am trying to earn favor with God, but because of what He has done for me. I want to spend time studying the Bible because I want to increase my knowledge of God.

I have composed about 50 songs of worship for God. I play guitar and sing original songs at home with husband regularly.

God is good. Our culture has twisted the meaning of His words in the Bible and misrepresented Him in many ways, so I look for opportunities to share with others what God has done in my life.

If you are not aware of what God has done for you, check out John 3:16. Your life may never be the same. May God bless you.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Something I understand deeply that most people don’t is that we are all going to die. Most people go through life without even thinking about that fact, until they are faced with a crisis.

My father passed away when I was 17 years old. That rocked my whole world as you can imagine.

He had been diagnosed with cancer and completed his chemotherapy, so I never thought he would die. When I got the call at 6am in my college dorm, I was in shock.

It took me a long time to recover and a full 17 years to finish grieving for his death.

When I approach life with that realization in mind, it makes me more bold in sharing my faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible says it is appointed to men to die once and then face judgement. (Hebrews 9:27)

I keep that at the forefront of my mind in my interactions with my friends, family, patients, and even strangers.

My prayer is that I would not shy away from sharing the reason for my faith and hope in Jesus Christ. When I feel a nudge to say something, I pray that I will boldly share my testimony about what God has done for me.

Because if I don’t say anything, how can others hear about what God did on their behalf through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Losing my father at such a young age was a wake-up call for me that this life does not last forever. I understand that more deeply and contemplate it more often than most people.

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