Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Fett, Dpt (she/her)
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up out 30 miles outside of Atlanta, GA. At the end of high school, I had been working as a server, but felt a little lost as to what I would do. I did not come from a college-educated household so there was not that pressure that some kids feel about picking an academic path. But I needed some direction and I knew from working a few months as an assistant at a salon that I liked and was good at hairstyling, so I went to hair school. Little did I know that hairstyling would be an amazing career and start for me. It fostered creativity, connection with people and helped me to build soft skills that would eventually be the foundation for my career as a PT.
As a hairstylist, I developed a love and passion for helping people and building relationships and trust with my clients. People tend to think going from hairdressing to PT is a big jump but it really isn’t! The skillset is, of course, completely different, but the interpersonal relationships, I’d argue one of the most important parts, is exactly the same. You’re gaining people’s trust, dancing the fine line between what they want, their past experiences, and what you know they need (like maybe you don’t need bangs right now).
While I was still working as a stylist, I started teaching with a fitness bootcamp group and found a love for helping people feel capable, confident, and strong through movement. It felt like an even deeper connection. And even though the exact path wasn’t clear yet, at 30 years old, I started from scratch at a community college. I went on to get my Bachelor’s of Exercise & Sport Science at the University of Utah, and at age 40 I graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from MGH IHP in Boston.
Before my doctorate program, I knew I wanted to open my own PT clinic and do things my way. So, against the advice of my professors, I opened Engage after being out of school for one year.
My passion for treating females and those assigned female at birth came from seeing a gap in equity of care in the healthcare and fitness industries (shout out to Girls Gone Strong for being pioneers in this mission). Female bodies and issues are often brushed off and ignored, we are told to relax and have a glass of wine (by doctors, yes), and/or they are not understood as well as male bodies (we were not included in medical research studies until 1989!!), so we are then treated like small men, which is absolute… can I swear here?
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, definitely not. Growing up, I didn’t have great role models, but I did learn grit and determination… and luckily found therapy! I paid for school with loans, a lot of them. And I don’t recommend opening a business with zero dollars in a pandemic and having a baby a year in if you want to be a calm human and have a nice retirement account at 40. It has been quite a hard road in so many ways… but totally worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My practice is Engage Physical Therapy & Wellness, where I treat orthopedic and pelvic floor conditions for female bodies. I think people feel like they’re getting more than physical therapy at Engage. I thrive on deep connections and I attract others who do too. I take the time to really get to know my clients, some have even become friends. Yes, you get PT for your pain or injury, but you also get a curated wellness experience where, together, we take care of your nervous system and consider what season of life you’re in including what stressors you are dealing with. I am not giving a brand new parent an hour a day of homework or the stressed-out grad student 5 days of high-intensity workouts. I do strongly believe that strength/resistance training is the key to healthy aging and longevity, so don’t be surprised when I try and talk you into it, especially my over 40 friends!
How do you define success?
If I can A) continue being a drop in the bucket to my purpose, redefining the culture of care for female bodies, B) run my business and life staying true to my values, and C) provide the means and support necessary for myself and my daughter to shine our lights as bright as humanly possible… I suppose I have made it!
Pricing:
- $185 per hour
- packages and payment plans available
- sliding scale options available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://engageptutah.com
- Instagram: @engageptslc
- Youtube: @engageptutah
