DR. MARIA GARVEY-CARUSO

Dr. Garvey-Caruso received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Jacksonville University in 2005. She then went on to get a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Vermont in 2014 and has earned Therapeutic Pain Therapist certification. She already has extensive experience in outpatient orthopedic care, acute care, and outpatient neurologic rehabilitation.

Fun fact: Dr. Garvey-Caruso is certified in canine physical therapy.

Maria is the oldest child of three in her family. Her family has a tradition of hiking on New Year’s Day, even in snowy Vermont! The three words her friends and family would use to describe her are “approachable, sincere, and lighthearted.” Also, she is a tad bit obsessed with Christmas, especially the stockings and food.

Maria and her partner originally moved to Seattle to be closer to family. They have two kids and two dogs named June and Pepita.

Outside of work, Maria enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, skiing, and swing dancing. She has visited India, Mexico, Ireland, and all over the United States. The national parks were some of her most recent adventures. She found that she adored the Grand Canyon.

Dr. Garvey-Caruso began her career as a dancer. Her specialty was modern dance. Her dance career took her to New York City. She danced with H.T. Chen Dance Company, Ellen Stokes Shadle/Dance Works, and Mary Seidman.

However, she knew that she had always loved medicine. She considered careers in medicine and veterinary medicine before she went back to school for physical therapy. She realized that physical therapy is a perfect way to blend her dance background with her love of medicine.

She had considered becoming a veterinarian, but she liked that physical therapy is a bit more proactive. It’s focus is on exercise and wellness versus medicine. It gives patients the tools they need.

Her special interests are in vestibular treatment (improving inner-ear balance,) manual therapy, and canine rehabilitation. The aspect she finds most rewarding about physical therapy is being able to get to know each patient individually and help them heal their bodies with movement.

Dr. Garvey-Caruso has been working for Pain Science Physical Therapy for three and a half years. She chose to work here because she appreciated that patients receive one-on-one treatment sessions and employees are given a good work-life balance. She likes that staff are committed to continuing developing the best treatment plans for patients that they can. She loves that her job gives her the opportunity to talk with many different people who come from different backgrounds and to help them live as comfortably as they can.

Her responsibilities at PSPT include conducting physical therapy sessions, leading patient treatment, and serving on the leadership committee to continually improve the clinic.

In five years, she hopes to see that all her coworkers continue working here because she likes the team so much that she doesn’t want anything to change. However, one change she does want is that there will be more than one PSPT clinic.

Massaged Kale and Currant Salad