Good Neighbor Podcast for the Greater Chattanooga Region

Dr. Erin Westner on Transforming Lives Through Pelvic Health and Community Compassion

August 23, 2024 • Scott Howell

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Have you ever wondered how a shift in career focus could lead to discovering a true calling? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast as we feature Dr. Erin Westner from The Pelvic Method, a specialized physical therapy practice in Chattanooga. Originally set on a path in pediatrics, Dr. Westner’s journey took a transformative turn thanks to a professor's suggestion, leading her to specialize in pelvic health. She shares her compelling story of moving from Ohio to Tennessee and finding a profound sense of purpose in addressing pelvic floor issues. We delve into an especially touching success story of a 60-year-old patient whose life was significantly improved through Dr. Westner’s compassionate care.

This episode is not just about professional milestones; it’s also a deeply personal narrative of resilience. Dr. Westner opens up about overcoming family trauma and sexual abuse, and the support she received from her husband Chris in creating a welcoming, home-like environment for her patients at The Pelvic Method. She emphasizes the unparalleled importance of compassionate care in her practice. We also shine a spotlight on the significance of supporting local businesses in the greater Chattanooga area. Listen in and feel inspired to nominate your favorite local enterprises to be featured in our upcoming episodes, as we continue to celebrate the amazing people making our communities better every day.


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Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Scott Howell.

Speaker 2:

Hello, good neighbors, and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast brought to you by the Friends and Neighbors Group of the Greater Chattanooga Area, including Cleveland and Dalton and everywhere in between. Again, my name is Scott Howell and I'm your host. For all you first-time listeners out there that might be wondering, the purpose of the Good Neighbor podcast is designed to bring awareness to the residents of our communities regarding locally owned and or operated businesses and practices in, like I said, the entire Chattanooga area, from everywhere, from Cleveland to Dalton and all around. You know, small local businesses are the backbone of our communities and they really need our support. And joining me today is our good neighbor, dr Aaron Wessner of the Pelvic Method, a physical therapy practice right here in Chattanooga. Dr Aaron, it's wonderful to meet you today. Thanks for being a special guest today on the Good Neighbor Podcast.

Speaker 3:

Thanks for having me, Scott. I'm excited to chat about all the things.

Speaker 2:

Ever since I saw your website before I pressed record, I was telling you. You know, before I saw your website I was like, wow, I didn't know, this was a thing. You know, just somebody focusing on pelvic issues, and not only just for women, but I found out, for men too. So I really want to hear all about it. But before we jump in into the business side, would you like to share anything personal about yourself or your family maybe?

Speaker 3:

Sure, yeah. So I am originally from Batavia, ohio, which is up in up around Cincinnati, and I moved down here to pursue the passion of pelvic health. So I started my career up there and I took a job with another company and moved. They moved me down to Tennessee. Basically I had no idea about Chattanooga really except for that it was the pass through to get to Florida.

Speaker 3:

But, and when I got here, I just fell in love with it. I was like this this is where I was, where I need to be, and so yeah. So I've been here for going on 10 years now actually 10 years as of January.

Speaker 2:

And we? I ended up meeting my lovely husband here and a beautiful two year old daughter now.

Speaker 3:

So congratulations, that sounds like a success story if we just stopped right there.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, exactly, telling love with the city and the people and the person, and now you've got a two-year-old you love more than life itself, more than anything.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Well, you know, it's kind of funny that you mentioned that you came here for the pelvic method. So I tell you what I'd like for you to do. A couple of questions I had lined up for was asking you to talk to me about the pelvic method and also to tell me about your journey. So if you don't care, just kind of put both those out to you, just kind of take your time and answer both those questions.

Speaker 3:

Sure, yeah, so actually. So pelvic floor issues are just to kind of round that out a little bit, it has a lot to do with the bowel issues, bladder issues or like pregnancy. It also has pain in the pelvic region or reproductive organs or your, like I said, bowel or bladder. So, um, it kind of encompasses more of that area in that specific stuff. But so I fell in love with it.

Speaker 3:

Actually, when I was a student, I actually went into PT school saying I'm going to do pediatrics, this is what I'm going to do, um, and was so excited about that. And my professor actually reached out to me and she was like Erin, I really think, I really think you could do this and do this. Wow, like I think you have that personality that could, could really go places in this field, and I'm like. I was like no, I don't really think that's for me. But I ended up applying and going to a residency program at, or like a clinical rotation at, a at the University of Michigan, um, from my school to that school and started learning about it, um, and I have two patients from that experience. So, again, this is this is a long time ago, since 2011.

Speaker 3:

So, it's been a long time.

Speaker 1:

Or actually yeah, 2011.

Speaker 3:

Anyway, but yeah. So those two patients really stood out to me, and it was a. There was a 60 year old woman who said my husband and my son are the two funniest people I know, but I cannot go to dinner or lunch or anything without a change of clothes, wearing pens, and or we have to usually get it to go because I soak my pants.

Speaker 2:

Oh, wow.

Speaker 3:

When I laugh she's like I love, love them to death, and it's just so. They're so funny, but I just can't. I can't go and do anything um that we want to do, um without bringing those, and so and she's like and that's just. You know, I'm 60, I'm menopausal, I'm had a kid and that's just how it is. And I'm like, actually, how about? Not, how about we change that? And we started changing small changes, but like, the biggest moment she came on a day that was not her appointment.

Speaker 3:

And if you were, if you know, if, like the, the history of pelvic floor therapy is that we're always kind of like stuck down a hallway in a corner, in a closet Um, um, and so down the hallway across the corner.

Speaker 3:

But I was like I happened to be down the hallway across the corner, but I was like I happened to be down the hallway and like my door was right there at the end of the hallway, um, and this is again as a student and she was in the big open gym area where the right rest of physical therapy is, and she screams.

Speaker 3:

I didn't pee my pants, I just get chills every time I talk about it Because, like, how wonderful to change somebody's life in such a personal and important way and that kind of wrote my story. From then on I worked really hard to get more training in this and um, develop skills and continue to do so, obviously, but, um, but yeah, so I I took a job in the hospital setting um and worked with mother baby unit for high risk women, um put on bedrest, um, so I had that experience and then um, and then I also did all kinds of things there, like wound care, icu and but like all the things I I wasn't quite all the way in pelvic floor therapy like I wanted to be Um, and so I kept working and kept studying and doing some more coursework and finally took a job with another company and they moved me to.

Speaker 3:

Memphis originally for some training, and then they were like, how about Chattanooga? And I was like, sure, so that's how I got to Chattanooga with through another company and I never really thought or wanted to open up my own clinic. I did administrative. I love teaching, I love talking about what I do. I love teaching people. I love teaching other therapists, doctors, everybody about what we do and how we can help, because it is so impactful in people's lives to talk about like, and I get to talk about sex and pooping and peeing and all the things. I hope that's okay to say sex on Um, but yeah, it is. It is the most fun job and I love. I love chatting about it. So I'm glad to be here.

Speaker 2:

That's a and you, when you said that about that lady, you know screaming out when she saw you. You know that everybody else, anybody that didn't know her story and heard her, might have thought oh my goodness, what is she? That was important for her, that was like a major event for her.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, she got to go to dinner with her husband and son who came back from college and, like she, had been seen, since he was born like and he was in college, so like the time.

Speaker 2:

just, you know that's never been my, my personal issue, but I have a friend that was in her. Her husband is like you said, he is hilarious. I mean he just make you laugh with just one sentence and and she was she she had a major problem with that. So I could see where that would be a big thing in that lady's life for that to happen and to think you get to talk about all these issues and you don't even have to blush when you talk about them.

Speaker 3:

I know, that's one thing I don't do. I don't have filters anymore.

Speaker 2:

Well, remember that if I ever go out to dinner with you and your husband, I'll remember that you don't have filters.

Speaker 3:

My husband has filters and he makes me have a filter.

Speaker 2:

That is so funny. So tell me, though you know, because, like I said, when I saw your website, I didn't know that this was a practice. I didn't know this was a carved out part of physical therapy. So what are some of the myths and misconceptions that sometimes people have when they come to you the first time?

Speaker 3:

That is a great question. So most people are scared to come in because they don't really know what to expect, because it's dealing with very private areas, and so the myth that you have to live with leakage for men and women is not the case. The myth that, oh, I'm just getting older, this is what happens when you get older, like dryness or erectile dysfunction or, um, which erectile dysfunction does have an age component to it, but like it's still, there's still like some muscle component and some blood flow, nerve stuff that goes on with that.

Speaker 3:

So it's really important to encompass all of those things. But yeah, so there's like oh, this has been going on for 30 plus years, there's no way I can get better quickly. And or like this is a chronic disease issue. Like we have people who have chronic prostatitis for men, or we have endometriosis for women, or we have interstitial cystitis for both men and women, and those are like disease process things that people are like, well, I can't really get help for that. That's not a physical therapy thing, that's a medical, like I need medications, I need muscle relaxers, I need this and that, and that's the only thing that's going to help me. And that's actually not true. We actually make huge progress with these patients and give them their life back. Like that's why we do what we do to give them their life back.

Speaker 2:

Wow.

Speaker 3:

It's very powerful.

Speaker 2:

I mean, you know, dr Erin, that's life changing in many ways for so many people, because you know, yeah, I mean that you hear that a lot. You know ways for so many people because you know, yeah, I mean that you hear that a lot. You know, I'm just getting older, this happens, that happens. But when you said it, sometimes it's, it's muscular, I've never, I never, heard that before. That's so wow, that's, you know, it's so interesting. I'm so glad we got you on the show to talk about this. But I tell you what you know, I don't want to talk all business, because I know, you know, Dr Erin is not all business. She does have passion and care. I can hear it in her voice, I see it. I see it on her face. Y'all can't see her expressions, but I see it. I see how her smile turns serious when she talks about some things. But for just a moment, let's step out of the office. So you've got a husband, uh, you've got a two-year-old.

Speaker 3:

So tell me what does Dr Erin and her family do for fun when you're not in the into practice? Oh, um, yeah, so actually we are kind of um animal crazy people. So we, we love going to aquariums and zoos and we have traveled to many cities to do that. Um, we love baseball games and um, yeah, we're just, we like outdoors. We're not like I wouldn't say we're super outdoorsy, like my husband like is a golfer, like that's his outdoors kind of thing. Um, and I like to hike but like that's a nice walk on sunday, but like, I'm not, like, I'm not a like a like a rock climber or anything like that, but I do love being outside regardless.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yeah yeah, me too. I love getting out walking in nature and enjoying. I'm a waterfall chaser, I love to go find them, waterfalls, yeah yes, I love, yeah, that's waterfall chaser.

Speaker 3:

I love to go find them waterfalls. Yeah, yes, I love, yeah, that's my favorite thing too.

Speaker 2:

I love to go find them waterfalls, especially the hidden ones that nobody knows about on the map.

Speaker 3:

Oh, you're going to have to tell me You're going to divulge all your secrets now.

Speaker 2:

Oh, you know some of these. That's a whole nother podcast, dr Erin. So you know, you said you moved around a lot and I've had to in my career as well, you know move to a place where you don't know anybody and kind of start over Things in life, some kind of throw curve balls and present challenges. Could you describe maybe one hardship or life challenge that you went through that you know? Now that you look back and you came through it, you say, wow, you know I'm a better and stronger person for what I went through.

Speaker 3:

I mean, yeah, I think I think there's a couple of things probably that led me to where I am, led me to where I am.

Speaker 3:

I attribute it to some family history of trauma and sexual abuse as a child and my cousins and having a family history of that stuff and so, like I think, just helping, trying to be there to help those people, because the misconception is that everybody that has sexual trauma or any kind of emotional trauma or like, even like the alcoholic parent is also another story that we hear a lot but that not everybody that has that experience has pain or issues but also has pain or issues, but also everybody that has these issues like pain or dysfunction, I guess, if you will, or just issues with bowel, bowel bladder, don't have that background either.

Speaker 3:

So there's there's this misconception that just because you had trauma, you have these issues and just because you have these issues, you must've had trauma. So I want to clear that air. That's not really how that works. But there is a high prevalence of people who have trauma in their past or their family history, um, that do suffer with issues, um, so there is that Um, and so helping that population out, I feel like I'm helping family members that never got help. Family members that never got help um is kind of like that deeper side of things.

Speaker 3:

Um, and then from like a professional standpoint, I think, like I I I definitely felt like I got a lot of pushback and doing the way we do things now here in the public method, um, it was really difficult to treat patients the way we wanted them to be treated, because in the typical physical therapy outpatient setting it's kind of for lack of better terms turn and burn kind of thing, where you just have to see high volume and that's kind of how healthcare in general is getting both with your doctor I'm sure you guys could feel it in your doctor's offices too where you see eight, eight to 10 minutes of your doctor and then they're on to the next Um and you don't just get that quality time anymore. And so getting a lot of pushback and getting a lot of um, like overcoming some administrative top down, just feeling restricted in what I was doing and then opening up my practice actually, my husband is the one that encouraged me because I never wanted to open up a practice. It's a lot of work having your own practice.

Speaker 3:

It is not for the saints of heart, but we love what we do and we thrive and it's been wonderful.

Speaker 3:

Um, so we're coming up on um four years right now in practice. But my husband was like I don't know why you're doing this for somebody else. Like, you are not happy in what you're doing. You come home. You're not the same person that I met, you know earlier. You're getting burnt out and you're just not a happy camper. And now my husband says that, um, I come home with a smile on my face and excited. He's like you have a ton of work you're doing all the time, but you're happy and I love to see you happy. You actually care about what you're doing all the time, but you're happy and I love to see you happy. You actually care about what you're doing. Now.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, what's your husband's name? Chris Kudos. Chris Kudos, you called it.

Speaker 3:

He did, he did. You called it All right, he did. He knows me pretty darn well.

Speaker 2:

I hate to admit it, but hey, better him than a lot of people. At least you know somebody who cares about you, knows you're right Not taking advantage of you.

Speaker 3:

Very, very true.

Speaker 2:

You know I've said this before on previous podcasts. If you watch very many podcasts where I'm interviewing a lady who's got her own practice business and she's successful I say this a lot. I was raised by a single mother, so I guess that's probably a little bit of why I'm this way, but I'm a big fan of successful women. I just my mother, struggled a lot when I was a child. She struggled and I saw those struggles and so when I see a lady out there succeeding, I'm so happy for them. You know, really am, and so I just give you big props for that. You know, if there was one thing, Dr Aaron, that you wish that our listeners knew about Dr Aaron and the pelvic method that they probably wouldn't know if you didn't tell them and you like to shout it from the rooftops here on the Good Neighbor podcast what would that be?

Speaker 3:

The one thing, that about the pelvic method you said, or about me.

Speaker 2:

Well about you and your practice that they probably wouldn't know unless you shared it with them.

Speaker 3:

What would that be? Yeah, so our setting is actually and I know you could probably see a little bit it's a house setting. So, we make everything super comfortable and it's not something like people walk in and they go oh wow, this is not what I expected at all.

Speaker 1:

And.

Speaker 3:

I pride myself in that because I want you to feel at home, because these are private issues, these are things that we're going to chit chat about and we're going to talk in depth about all of the things going on with your private life and the toilet, all the things. So you know, I don't want you to sit and feel like you're in a clinical, like cold doctor's office and it's just very sterile. That's not the environment, um, that is conducive to opening up and talking about these things and feeling comfortable. So I actually had a patient last week. She came in the office because this is my office, I have a treatment table here too but she came in the office there's a big couch. She like took her shoes off, sat on the couch, cross-legged and just like got comfortable and just ready to go and I was like that's it, that's the feeling I want people to do, is like this is your girlfriend talking to you Like this is your best friend, like we're going to just get, get to the nitty gritty of what's going on.

Speaker 3:

Um yeah.

Speaker 2:

So that's what I want people to know we're going to get down and dirty. She's off and stay a while, right Cause I can spend the time Like that's. The thing is like I can spend the time Like that's.

Speaker 3:

The thing is like I can spend the time with these patients now and we do everything. It's important.

Speaker 2:

I remember the one of the first times I had to go see a specialist. That's what I felt. I felt like I was just. You know, my, my, my personal doctor is awesome. I mean, she, she makes us feel like we're the only patient that she has all day, you know.

Speaker 3:

That's a wonderful skill.

Speaker 2:

That specialist. It was like I felt like she'd come in the door, walking out the door, you know, and no doubt she was just pressured that way.

Speaker 2:

Because her lobby was full, you know full. But it made me want to find a different specialist. You know full and uh but, but it made me want to find a different specialist. You know it probably wasn't her fault, but it made me want to find somewhere else to go where that felt like they cared. So I applaud you for making a relaxing setting like that that people can come in and and feel like they're home, take the shoes off, stay a while. You know, when you said like your girlfriend, you know, I'm sure, that a lady that comes in and feels comfortable with you and a guy that comes in feels like you can see his sister, you know, whatever you know, just somebody that's really close, that you can talk to.

Speaker 3:

That's amazing.

Speaker 2:

So well, dr Aaron, I know everybody's probably saying, hey, how do I get in touch with this girl? How do I, how do I find out more about her? So tell us, online and offline people find the ways that people can find you or contact you or whatever.

Speaker 3:

Yeah. So, our website is wwwthepelvicmethodcom and our front desk, cheryl, is amazing and she's waiting a call. She loves to chat with people about what's going on and how we can help them. She loves bragging on us therapists, but that phone number is 423-825-9340. And then info at thepelvicmethodcom if you would rather email for the time being.

Speaker 2:

Did you mention social media? I don't know Did you. Would rather email um for the time being. So did you mention social media?

Speaker 3:

I don't, did you mention social media at the underscore pelvic method. Um so we're on Facebook and Instagram. We don't have anything else yet I'm not, I'm not a huge social media person, but we were there.

Speaker 2:

There you go. Well, that's good enough. Facebook and Instagram, that's a two good places to hang out find out more about you so well. This has been great. I appreciate so much you sharing all this with us and and thank you for being on the good neighbor podcast with us today.

Speaker 3:

Yes, thanks for having me. I really appreciate it.

Speaker 2:

It's been my pleasure, my, my pleasure, my pleasure, and to all the good neighbors of the Cleveland and Chattanooga and Dalton area and everywhere in between. After meeting Dr Aaron and learning more about the pelvic method, you know, I know that she hopes that you'll take a moment to consider all she has to offer. You know, go to Facebook and Instagram and look and see what she has available there, the information. Uh, you know, and as she was talking about all the things that can happen to our body and we blame it on age or we blame it on this, and that you know, but there might be a way that she could help with that. There might be a through her practice might be a method that she could strengthen a part of our bodies to help us with different things, men and women.

Speaker 2:

To me, this is exciting news to find out, because so many things we just kind of play off or, like she said, we think, oh, let's just go find a pill and maybe it'll fix it, and it don't. These are things, maybe, that she could help us with. She could provide us with a consultation and at least point us in the right direction, and it's just worth a try. That's the way I look at it. It's worth a try. If she can help us, wonderful. If she can't, at least we know we try. But if we don't do anything, we never will know, will we? So reach out to Dr Aaron and talk to her about your issues and see what she tells you about it?

Speaker 2:

Before ending this episode, I'd like to thank you, all, the listeners, for taking the time out of your busy day to visit with us at the Good Neighbor Podcast and always remember to support the locally owned and or operated businesses in the whole greater Chattanooga area. I wish I could mention every little community where our businesses and our practices are located, because there's so many good people out there that we need to be supporting. This is Scott Howell with the Friends and Neighbors Group. Everyone, go out and make this a remarkable day.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpclevelandcom. That's gnpclevelandcom, or call 423-380-1984.

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