Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness was founded by Dr. Gretchen Brooker, DPT, PRPC in pursuit of passion for patients with pelvic floor dysfunction struggling to find lasting relief in the traditional medical model. Pelvic floor therapy is unfortunately not the traditional standard of care for prevention of many debilitating pelvic floor therapy disorders when it should be, and is even presented as the gold standard of many disorders in research such as incontinence, prolapse and constipation.
We are committed to being a comprehensive team of speciality providers in pelvic health for women in all stages of life, men, adolescents and children. We are committed to excellence in pelvic floor therapy and strive to deliver evidence-based pelvic floor therapy to provide you with lasting relief.
Welcome to Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness
Our Values:
Our team is trauma-informed and will always allow you to tell your story and be heard. We hear so many frustrating stories of medical gaslighting when it comes to finding answers to symptoms that are related to pelvic floor dysfunction. Every patient that calls our office or comes through the door will be welcomed warmly and safely. Understand when you contact our office, we are familiar with what you are going through and you will be validated and heard.
Compassionate Care
Our team has gone through extensive training to be a specialist in pelvic health following PT/OT school. We are committed to staying up to date on the latest treatment approaches and education. Every patient will receive a comprehensive evaluation for at least one hour examining all systems including the pelvic floor, orthopedic concerns and the nervous system. We understand how all of these work together and can contribute to symptoms. You will never come to our office to receive only biofeedback, solo exercises or working with an aide. You are with a specialist for every visit and provided with a detailed plan to reach your goals.
Expert Services
Educating our community on the value of pelvic floor therapy and education is so important to us. We put time and effort into hosting community events for patients, the public and providers that would like to learn more and how to optimize their pelvic health. To see our upcoming events, visit our Events page. If you would like to host a class at our clinic or have us host an educational workshop or discussion, please contact us and we would love to hear from you.
Community Outreach
Dr. Gretchen founded Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness in 2021 on Johns Island, SC. She has been practicing physical therapy for five years and found her love for pelvic health while a student in physical therapy school. She loves providing specialized physical therapy care and devoting her career to pelvic health. She understands how pelvic floor dysfunction can make patients feel hopeless and embarrassed to seek help - she sees many similar stories of pain and issues dismissed as a “normal” part of periods, birth, postpartum, menopause - you name it. She is committed to breaking this standard of “normal” and helping patients find true relief of pain and symptoms. She also enjoys treating men for pelvic floor issues and has years of experience in treating orthopedic issues such as low back and hip pain that tend to have a strong connection to pelvic health as well. She is trained in manual therapy and dry needling to help her patients find relief.
Dr. Gretchen, DPT, PRPC
Doctor of Physical Therapy,
Board Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner
Jillian joined our team with a passion to impact our efforts in serving those with pelvic floor dysfunction through the lens of an occupational therapist. Her interest for pelvic health began while in school at the University of Buffalo discussing sexual dysfunction and its profound impact on quality of life. She also personally has experienced rehab after multiple injuries as a Division 1 swimming athlete and understands firsthand the physical and emotional support needed to rehabilitate the body as a whole. She has experience working with female athletes as well as people of all ages with pelvic floor dysfunction interfering with their daily life. She enjoys working with chronic pain conditions, pelvic pain, sexual pain and dysfunction, constipation and bowel conditions that commonly affect women and men, alike. She provides trauma-informed care and is passionate about empowerment and providing person-first treatment and compassionate care.
Jillian Lawton, MS OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Masters in Rehabilitation Medicine
Meet the Team
Dr. Kaleigh Mathis, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
I was born and raised in Maryland. After graduation from Salisbury University I moved to and fell in love with Charleston. I am happiest when I am at the beach, cuddled up with my cat and surrounded by my loved ones. My personal wellness journey and passion for women's health was a natural transition into the world of pelvic floor therapy. I look forward to meeting and learning more about you!
Natalie Hite
Office Manager & Patient Care Coordinator:
Kaleigh’s love for pelvic health began in physical therapy school and grew into a passion following success with her own journey through pelvic rehab. Her favorite part about being a physical therapist is treating her patients with a holistic lens while educating and empowering them to be strong advocates for their health. She enjoys working with chronic orthopedic pain conditions, sexual pain and dysfunction, incontinence, and pelvic pain across the lifespan. With a background in pediatrics, treating children holds a special place in her heart and has provided her with tools translating to compassionate, patient driven care … all while trying to have a little fun at every age!
CLIENT LOVE
I highly recommend Dr. Brooker for any mom-to-be or new mom! She is a wealth of information and will really spend time with you so you understand the body-mechanics of the birth process. She'll help empower you to prepare your body for birth to minimize injury and she'll guide you through best-practices of postpartum recovery. If you are worried about how to safely return to your day-to-day physical activities and workout routines, please see Dr. Brooker!
- Celia B.
