RISE Physical Therapy

11/07/2025

Here at RISE, we are focusing on gratitude and thanksgiving for the month of November! Check out what our patients had to say this week.

As we close out the first week of November, what are you THANKFUL for? Let us know in the comments!

11/07/2025

**** PATIENT HIGHLIGHT ****
We are so thankful to have worked with you Ms. Theresa! Hope you continue to get well and keep pushing forward! Going to miss our fun times in the afternoon!

11/05/2025

10/30/2025

🎃 Trunk-or-Treat Fun!
We had such a wonderful time joining our friends at Speech Buds Therapy for this year’s Trunk-or-Treat! 👻💜

It’s always a joy to connect with our community, see so many smiling faces, and share some festive fun together. We’re thankful for the opportunity to celebrate and spread a little light (and candy!) this Halloween season. 🧡

10/27/2025

**** October is Physical Therapy Month ****

Meet Kavita Mathews, Physical Therapist Assistant

Kavita began her career in web design before discovering her true passion for physical therapy. A Louisiana College graduate, she has worked alongside Dr. Caroline Dessens for 12 years, providing compassionate, one-on-one care to every patient she serves.

Outside the clinic, Kavita enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading and playing word games. Her strong faith and dedication to helping others shine through in all she does. 💫

10/23/2025

**** October is Physical Therapy Month ****

Meet Amanda, our wonderful front desk professional who helps keep RISE running smoothly!

With 17 years of experience in healthcare—spanning Pain Management, Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Audiology, and the past seven years in Physical Therapy—Amanda brings compassion and expertise to every patient interaction.

Outside of work, she enjoys road trips, motorcycle rides, and cross-stitching, and treasures time spent with her fiance, daughters, dad and rest of her family.

We’re so grateful to have Amanda as part of our RISE family! 💙

10/22/2025

**** Patient Highlight: Thanks Michelle B. ****

Hearing how our patients feel about their care always means the world to us. Here’s a recent message that touched our hearts:

"You will not find a better physical therapy team in this area. Caroline provides the best, most thorough, holistic care that is hard to find in healthcare these days. She provides such clear, ongoing explanations of your injury and how it is specific to you and all you have going on. I have seen her for many issues (neck, lower back, wrist/hand) and always go from feeling hopeless to regaining strength and confidence. The whole team is incredible.

Kavita and Mallory are incredible. Week to week they don’t just provide the bare minimum of care but they use their knowledge and work hard to help you get the most specific therapy you can. And a huge benefit is that they are SO knowledgeable! You never hear “I don’t know.” If they don’t know, they will use their education to find out and then provide you with the specific PT you need. You always have Caroline available too for education, it’s amazing. She’s one of the best patient educators I’ve experienced.

IMPORTANT: you will also not find a better administrative side of a healthcare clinic, period. Amanda has a talent for making things happen, being flexible with scheduling, and never dropping the ball. She makes the process smooth, which I think really helps in the recovery process. I HIGHLY recommend RISE Physical Therapy!"

We truly appreciate your kind words, Michelle! Thank you for choosing RISE — we pray we can continue to support you throughout your physical therapy journey.

10/20/2025

**** October is Physical Therapy Month ****

Meet the Owner of RISE PHYSICAL THERAPY
Dr. Caroline Dessens, PT, SFMA,CertDN

Dr. Dessens is a 2010 graduate of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences and has dedicated her entire career to outpatient physical therapy. She is passionate about providing personalized care for every patient, every visit.

Her continuing education focuses on manual therapy, orthopedic care, and clinic administration. Dr. Dessens is certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), Trigger Point Dry Needling (CertDN), and is an APTA Clinical Instructor.

10/16/2025

💙 Meet Our Student Physical Therapist! 💪

In honor of Physical Therapy Month, we’re excited to introduce Aurelio Garcia, our student physical therapist currently completing his final clinical rotation at Rise Physical Therapy!

“My name is Aurelio Garcia, and I am currently on my last clinical rotation here at Rise Physical Therapy. I am a student at the University of St. Augustine in Austin, TX but I grew up in the Alexandria area. My hobbies include playing and watching sports, going to the movies, and hanging out with my friends.”

We’re so glad to have Aurelio on our team and can’t wait for you to see his enthusiasm and dedication in action! 💫

10/16/2025

**** October is Physical Therapy Month ****

It is a time to share the incredible benefits of physical therapy, how it helps people move better and live healthier. It’s also a chance to honor the hard work and dedication of PTs, PTAs, and students who make a meaningful impact in their communities every day.

This month, as we celebrate who we are and what we stand for, we’re thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our team — Mallary Smith, PTA! Mallary brings great energy, skill, and passion for helping others reach their goals, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her join the RISE family.

10/15/2025

✨ October is Physical Therapy Month! ✨

To keep the celebration going 💙, we’ll be sharing a bit about the wonderful people who keep RISE moving forward—our amazing staff and students! We can’t wait for you to meet (or re-meet!) them. Stay tuned for more highlights, stories, and smiles from our team! 💪

10/14/2025

**** Breast Cancer Awareness Month ****
This October, we recognize the importance of breast cancer awareness and early detection. Together, we can help spread knowledge, encourage screenings, and support those affected. 💗