Denise Johnson, PT, CLT has transformed a home near Westfield High School into a physical therapy practice specializing in helping breast cancer and other oncology patients.
Johnson has been working with breast cancer patients for more than 30 years. Several years ago she had a lump on her breast. It wasn’t cancer, but that experience led her to a calling of helping those who have been affected.
“I love to see them through their journey, and help them with their movement or with pain,” Johnson said. “It’s just a feeling that I have that this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Achieve Therapy Services opened last year, and Johnson strives to make the facility feel non-medicinal and make people feel comfortable. Johnson said breast cancer patients are scared and going through a lot, and she wants to help them through every step along their journey.
“Our vision was that it would be a place of healing,” Johnson said. “To see the women light up when they didn’t think they could either get through something or ever be able to do something – we’re going to get you there. This practice is for them; it was specifically set up to help the oncology patient.”
The name Achieve reflects Johnson’s desire to see her clients conquer their goals, which can include full mobility and independence. She treats lymphedema, scar pain, motion issues and more.
Some of her patients were diagnosed a decade ago and are now experiencing tightness or other issues. Others are currently going through treatment, and Achieve can help them before or after surgery.
“I do see a lot of patients post-surgery,” Johnson said. “They might have just had their mastectomy or lumpectomy, and now they’re preparing for radiation, where they have to get their arm up over their head. A lot of the doctors rely on me or another physical therapist to get that patient’s movement better so they can go through the radiation.”
Johnson’s husband, Jerry, also works at Achieve to support not only his wife, but the spouses of the patients through conversation. Both take pride in their work.
“Being at the front desk, it’s an opportunity to build relationships with new people who are looking for help, and we really want to provide that,” Jerry said.
New patients often get an order for therapy from their doctor’s office, and then Johnson will call them so they can ask questions and get to know her.
“A lot of women don’t have any idea what physical therapy can do for them,” she said. “They think of physical therapy as exercise and that’s not untrue, but I do a lot of manual work, mostly hands-on work. It might take me 10 minutes to schedule someone or it might take me a half hour. I just let them ask away.”
Achieve Therapy Services is located at 758 North Union Street in Westfield. For more information, call 317-845-6049.
