Meet Lindsay Brunner

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lindsay Brunner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Lindsay, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I think this is such an important discussion point, because more of us than you can imagine have dealt with imposter syndrome. There are larger questions of why it’s so pronounced in my generation (Millenial) and why it is so common in helping professions like physical therapy, but I’ll just speak to my own experience.

Despite being a physical therapist for almost 10 years and completing a residency/board certification in orthopedics, I feel I finally overcame imposter syndrome only recently. No level of professional accomplishment or success seemed to affect it, perhaps because that is external feedback and imposter syndrome stems from something more internal. What ended up making the most difference was finding where my personal approach and style as a physical therapist fit. As I started my own practice I was able to have a level of autonomy that allowed me to see my own strengths and grow into them. We all have weaknesses, and should always continue striving to improve, but I think being able to see your own strengths clearly and on your own terms can be so helpful in overcoming imposter syndrome. I realized I didn’t have to try to fit into a mold that kept me feeling like an imposter; I could find the way that was made for me.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Lindsay Brunner Physical Therapy provides physical therapy, fitness, and wellness services, with an emphasis on pelvic floor PT and prenatal/postpartum care. I offer office visits in Highland Park and Pasadena, as well as home visits.

I received my BA from Vassar College in 2008. I have been an orthopedic physical therapist since 2016 after receiving my Doctor of Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary’s University. I am a board-certified specialist in orthopedics following a residency at Kaiser Permanente. I have additionally been a pelvic floor physical therapist since 2018 after completing coursework with the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, with an emphasis on prenatal and postpartum care. I have experience as a yoga instructor and spent many years as a dancer and figure skater. My passion is helping people reach their optimal physical health and performance, particularly mothers and parents. Since becoming a parent in 2020 my love of helping people through pregnancy and postpartum has only grown.

I take an integrative and holistic approach to physical therapy and fitness, with assessment and treatment of the whole system. Every client is assessed individually, and rehab or training is planned based on your specific needs. I pride myself on providing compassionate treatment as well as education, so that my clients can feel cared for while also increasing self-efficacy. I have a particular passion for helping pregnant and postpartum individuals manage their physical transitions, and bring my knowledge as a physical therapist and mother to this cause.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

A wider range of knowledge/experience: I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a physical therapist, so I came to it slightly later in my career. Though I used to see this as a weakness, I now see it as a strength. I focused on liberal arts in my undergraduate degree instead of science, but this gave me experience in critical thinking and writing. My work as a yoga instructor helped me find my passion for helping people move and gave me practice at teaching. Even my work in restaurants and marketing provided skill sets that I use regularly.

Self-motivation: Given that I am a solo practitioner and handle all aspects of my business myself, this has been incredibly important. There’s nobody else that is going to manage things for me, so the ability to rely on myself to get things done has been incredible helpful.

A sense of community: Because I’m a solo practitioner, I’ve felt just how important community is. The connections that I have grown over the years is a big part of why I’ve been successful. Both of my offices came through community connections, as well as most of my client referrals. My connections to other practitioners also keep me learning new things and provide a sense of support. I wouldn’t be where I am without the community around me!

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

This year I read the book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World” by David Epstein. It essentially argues that narrow specialization breeds success in a few very specific circumstances, but that more often having a broader approach results in the best outcomes. We need a certain amount of knowledge to be successful in a given field, but an overly narrow focus can blind you from considering options or perspectives that might help you solve problems. The book details many examples in many different disciplines of when an outsider perspective or knowledge from an unrelated sphere prompted discoveries or solved previously unsolvable issues.

This book helped me stop seeing my winding path to my current profession as a weakness, and start seeing it as a strength. All of my prior experiences are what got me where I am, and they allow me to see things a little differently. It also drives me to keep developing connections with people outside of physical therapy, because having a diverse community to draw upon can be essential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lindsaybrunnerpt.com
• Instagram: @lindsaybrunnerpt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-brunner-pt-dpt-ocs-802501a/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lindsay-brunner-physical-therapy-pasadena

Image Credits

Joy Newell
Gina Pecho