Hi, I’m Charmaine Rhine
I’m a licensed physical therapist by trade, but I consider myself more of a mind-body coach. I specialize in treating the nervous system, more specifically the autonomic nervous system.
I earned my master’s in physical therapy degree from Loma Linda University (LLU) in 1999, graduating with cum laude honors. In my second year of PT school, I was asked to be a head teacher’s assistant in the gross anatomy lab at LLU. I loved working hands-on in the lab and it was there where my fascination for the nervous system grew. Before I received my degree in physical therapy, I received my BA in Philosophy from University of California’s Riverside and Los Angeles campuses. As a philosophy student, my main interests were Existentialism and mind-body Dualism.
I have been providing biofeedback training to my clients since 2006. In 2008, I earned my Wellness Coaching certification. Over the past 20 years, I have focused my professional trainings on the following: Cranial Sacral Therapy, Somato-Emotional Release, male and female pelvic floor physical therapy for urinary, bowel and pain conditions, biofeedback, and pain neuroscience. I also hold a certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid. In 2017, I briefly worked for Kaiser Permanente’s Comprehensive Pain Clinic, where I taught classes on pain rehabilitation and provided one-on-one biofeedback training to patients.
I am very passionate about the mind-body connection and how it influences a persons health, behavior and well-being, but the main thing that I love about my job is working with people. It is a privilege to work with people, listen to their stories, and partner with them during their healing process. Many of my clients have a history of trauma. When trauma doesn’t get processed, it can later manifest as pain and dis-ease. I endeavor to help people make connections between the mind and the body to enhance their overall well being.
In addition to my 25 years of experience in treating clients with persistent pain and autonomic nervous system irregularities, my personal life and health experiences have given me first-hand understanding and empathy for what my clients go through. I too, live with persistent pain. I had a traumatic childhood which eventually led to disruptions in my immune and nervous systems which later in life caused chronic illness and persistent pain. I have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, a history of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis and breast cancer. Nobody can fully understand someone else’s experiences unless they stand in their shoes but I do understand the stigma and empathize with the difficulties of living with chronic pain and illness.
When I am not working, I like to be in nature, whether I’m on my daily nature walk/hike/e-bike ride, or hanging out in the backyard with my 3 cats. I live in Nevada City, CA with my husband.
My Approach
Improving Awareness of your mind-body connection
Then human body has a miraculous ability to heal itself, but we humans sometimes get in the way of this natural process in our body. After working with hundreds of patients over the years, I recognized that one of the common denominators of my client’s suffering was stress and its negative effects, which contributed or culminated into their diagnosis. Many of my clients had very little awareness of how stress was being held in their bodies and how this was effecting their health. This unchecked stress was causing subtle changes and imbalances in their nervous and immune systems that was leading to their dis-ease and pain.
By bringing gentle attention to these imbalances, with the assistance of biofeedback training, mindfulness techniques and other appropriate exercises, you can gain an improved awareness of the effects your condition is having on your mind and body. It is with this new found awareness that you can bring more calmness to your nervous system and find more adaptive ways to cope with stress and the negative ramifications of your condition. Over time and with practice, you will create new pathways in the brain for calming the nervous system which will lead to less stress on your nervous system and an opening for more adaptive strategies to dealing with your health and well-being.
Biopsychosocial Model
I work from a biopsychosocial approach with my clients. That means that I don’t just treat the body part that’s ailing you, but your whole being attached to that body part. We are such complex creatures; a holistic approach is really quite necessary. For example, persistent low back pain isn’t just about the anatomical structures that are at play. There is a whole story behind the how, what, where and when of your persistent low back pain. How is your environment affecting your symptoms? Are there genetic factors involved? What social aspects are influencing your ability to get adequate care? How does persistent pain influence the kind of social life you have? And how does what you think about your pain influence your ability to calm your pain?
Process
When we first meet, I will do a thorough evaluation of your problem which will entail taking a history and performing an examination. Together, we will discuss what your goals and expectations are for treatment and then I will explain to you how I believe I can help you.
I typically see clients on a weekly basis until one of us feels that you have reached your goals. With clients who have chronic conditions, I may see you as needed on an ongoing basis.
Multi-disciplinary
Sometimes, it will take more than what I have to offer for you to get better. I believe strongly in working with a team of professionals that can address the various needs of the client. I will work closely with your primary care doctor, urogynecologist, psychiatrist, physiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, massage therapist, counselor, oncologist, or any other relevant health care or mental health provider.
Putting it all Together
Many times my clients have more than one health issue that they are dealing with. For instance, a person may have urinary incontinence, jaw pain, and fibromyalgia. Whether you have one issue or several issues, I will design a comprehensive treatment program that will attempt to address all of your relevant health concerns.
Goal
The ultimate goal is to restore health and a sense of well-being in every person through the acquired skill of mind-body awareness. I want people to become more in touch with their mind-body in a way that feels safe and secure to them and brings them improved health, function and quality of life.