We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Clayton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Sarah with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I have always had a strong work ethic and I have always had to work for the things I wanted in life, nothing was ever handed to me. I realized at a young age that I could make things happen for myself if I put my efforts into the right things. I carried that with me into my adult life. One thing I believe strongly is that we all have the power to change our situation-no matter what cards we were dealt. If you don’t like something about your life or your work, then make different decisions. We have so many opportunities to change things in this day and age. With all the information available to us via the internet, we can learn how to do anything. It’s really so exciting when you think about it that way! But you have to be willing to do the work!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I met my business partner Ashlyn about 10 years ago at a clinic we both worked at. We were an unlikely duo at first (or so it seemed). I am more introverted and come off as more intense because I am a gym rat and a rugby player. Ashlyn is basically a human golden retriever, a true extrovert, and a self proclaimed “bubbly blonde.” We didn’t see it at first, but we eventually realized we were each other’s Yin and Yang.
We realized we have more in common than meets the eye, especially when it comes to how we see healthcare and aging. After working alongside each other in multiple clinics it became obvious the current mainstream healthcare model was disempowering people, creating dependency on health care clinicians, and missing huge pieces of the puzzle because we were treating people through the lense of one body part versus as a whole person. This was leaving people with a bad taste in their mouth regarding what physical therapy can even do for them and people weren’t getting better for the long term, if at all. We knew something different was needed, so we decided we were the people to do it!
Boom. Clash was born! We take a holistic, lifestyle based treatment approach in order to give people long term solutions, not just temporary relief. We take time to educate people about how pain ACTUALLY works (spoiler alert, it’s not just a tissue issue). We use a biopsychosocial model to get to the root of the problem and help people get back in the driver’s seat when it comes to managing their pain and their health. This means exploring sleep hygiene, diet, and stress management as well as movement to resolve pain and improve function. We also work closely with other healthcare providers when it is necessary so that we are treating the whole person-some examples of this include a hormone replacement specialist, a nutritionist, and a mental health counselor. This means our clients leave us as an improved, healthier version of themselves, and are empowered with all the tools they need to stay pain free.
We specialize in chronic pain, foot and ankle function, and pelvic floor/women’s health. Chronic pain is any pain lasting longer than 3 months. It affects your nervous system and the longer someone is in pain the more they get wired to stay in pain. Your body can actually get “good at pain!” This is why pain science education and using the biopsychosocial model is so important. If you have long term pain you must work with someone who understands this if you really want to beat it.
At Clash we always look at people from the ground up, in our clinic we do things barefoot. Our feet are our foundation and a huge missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to pain and movement dysfunction. People don’t realize how much it matters until after being evaluated in our office. It’s a real game changer for people whether they are runners, Crossfit athletes, or just like taking their dog for walks. Whether it’s actual foot pain, knee pain, back pain, etc your feet play a role.
Pelvic floor/women’s health is something we have taken a deeper dive into the past few years after hearing countless conversations with friends and family surrounding pre and post partum issues or stress incontinence related to aging. Frankly, women are being dismissed and poorly educated around these issues. We are being led to believe it’s just something we will have to deal with due to pregnancy or aging, but there is so much we can do to address these issues and regain quality of life!
Moral of the story? You have more power than you think. We believe wholeheartedly that the human body is resilient and has great capacity for healing. It is our mission to help people realize this, feel less helpless when it comes to pain, and truly start to thrive!
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?
Three qualities that have impacted my journey are: Courage, Passion, and Resilience.
Courage is something you have to have in order to start a business or make any major life change. So many of us live in fear of the unknown and are willing to stay in a situation that doesn’t make us feel happy or fulfilled just because it’s comfortable. Listen, I get it. Change can be terrifying, but being stuck is also terrible. I think I have a certain appetite for risk and that allowed me to take the leap. I just asked myself “What do you have to lose?” The answer really was just money. I spent my life savings opening my business, which was a gamble sure. But if you won’t even bet on yourself why should anyone else? No risk no reward as they say! At the end of the day I know that I can still find work if it all crashes and burns. I’d rather roll the dice and pursue my passion than play it safe and just punch the clock.
That leads me the next quality. Passion! I felt strongly that there was a need that I could meet. I am passionate about health and wellness. The lack of confidence people have in their own bodies makes me sad. How many times do you hear people talking about themselves as if they are broken, doomed to a certain fate based on genes, or as though they should be limited based on their age? It’s all a lie! I have made it my mission to help people see how resilient they are. Most people just need the right coaching to get back on track and someone to help them regain confidence. I think having passion for what you do is important because it will keep you going when things get hard…and they will get hard.
Which is why resilience is up next! Resilience is a crucial quality not only for business, but for getting what you want out of life in general. Everyone has their own traumas and baggage. Life doesn’t really care about that and it will continue to throw you tests. I try to frame these trials and tribulations as opportunities to grow. I ask myself “What is this trying to teach me?” versus taking a victim mentality and focusing on how unfair a situation may be. Whether you are starting a business or trying to make a big life change you WILL mess up along the way. Things outside of your control WILL throw a wrench in your plan. You have to be able to problem solve and pivot.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My business partner Ashlyn has been one of the most influential people in my life. She is a supportive friend, but also the type of person that pushes you to realize your potential. Owning a business together has been challenging to say the least, many people warned us that it would ruin our friendship. That was never a worry for me though. She’s never been one to shy away from the hard conversations and as a result I got better at it. We have weekly meetings to discuss our business plans. We also have a monthly SWOT session where we discuss our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats both professionally and personally. I have learned the value of integrity and accountability through the commitment we make to our relationship.
We also challenge each other to continue to grow professionally and personally. Whether it’s taking continuing education related to the business or client care, or sharing books and podcasts we find valuable, we are constantly learning. This not only benefits us personally in our own health journeys, but we are able to better serve our clients because of this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clashpths.com
- Instagram: @clash_pths
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClashPTHS
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doctorclaytonpt/
- Other: TikTok: @clash_pths
Image Credits
Teresa Hnat
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