About Strive

Striving for excellence in physical and occupational therapy for injuries at work and at play.

What we DO.

Industrial Rehabilitation:
Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Hand Therapy
Work Hardening, Work Conditioning, Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs)

Strive Physical Rehabilitation offers a broad range of occupational and physical therapy services, including Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs), Work Conditioning, Work Hardening, and Hand Therapy. Strive specializes in the personalized care of injured workers, athletes and personal injury clients. We provide individualized treatment plans, tailored to each client’s unique requirements – in an encouraging and fun environment, challenging each client to succeed in their goals.

Our dedicated team has a passion for industrial rehabilitation and with well over 100 combined years of experience in the field, we are excited about providing quality, evidence-based care in a personalized environment.

Our GOAL.

Our goal is to aid injured workers and our other patients back to their life – at work and at play – in a positive and caring environment.

Teri Jo Lientz, DPT, MPT, ATC

Physical Therapist, Owner

Teri Jo is passionate about helping people heal. She is the inspiration and heart behind Strive Physical Rehabilitation. With over 26 years as a Physical Therapist, she has helped hundred's of people get back to their passions: work, fun, and life.

Teri uses her combined skills in manual therapy, sports therapy/athletic training and evidence-based practice to support the injured worker in gaining function, strength, and confidence.

Outside of the Strive clinic, Teri is a board certified Athletic Trainer and assists with her local high school's football and other sports teams, with a focus on concussion protocols.

Teri is involved in the Injured Worker community:

Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I) Representative for PTWA.
Member of Work Rehabilitation Guideline Subcommittee for L&I-Jan. 2020-present.
Member of Physical Medicine stakeholder work group for L&I - 2017-present.
Northwestern University Physical Therapy Human and Movement Sciences Alumni Board of Directors - April 2016-present.

Teri's education includes:

B.S. in Psychology from the University of Washington, Masters in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Montana.

Rhonda Law, PT

Physical Therapist

Rhonda has over 34 years in the Physical Therapy industry, most people in our area know her as Rhonda Carlson. Her background includes inpatient/outpatient hospital services and outpatient orthopedic clinic work. For 20 years, she was focused on home health rehabilitation services.

Rhonda's education includes:

BA in Physical Therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse NY 1988
BA in Biology from SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo NY 1985 with a Human Development minor

Rhonda has a passion for overall functional health and wellness post injury, working toward personal and work goals. She enjoys Crossift and has been in the top 10-12% of women in her age group (worldwide) during the Crossfit Games, THREE times!

Dena Larsen, PT

Physical Therapist

Dena has worked as a physical therapist in Washington State since 2009. She has spent time in the skilled nursing and home health settings, but her true love is here, in our outpatient clinical setting.

She specialized in vestibular rehabilitation and earned her certified strength and conditioning specialist certification (CSCS) in 2012. She loves to motivate people to achieve their goals and become more fit allowing them to return to work and whatever they enjoy doing.
Clinical interests include work, cardiac and orthopedic rehabilitation as well as agility, balance and flexibility training for return to sport.

Dena's education includes:

Doctor of Physical Therapy from University of Washington in 2009
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Virginia Tech 1993

Julie Milasich, OTR/L, CHT

Occupational Therapist / Hand Therapist

Julie has been an Occupational Therapist since 2000, and a Certified Hand Therapist since 2006. She has extensive experience working with traumatic and repetitive strain injuries to the hands and upper extremities.

She has a passion for client education, with a personal goal of helping clients understand their recovery and the sometimes confusing return to work process.

Julie's education includes:

BA in Psychology from University of Puget Sound in 1996
Masters in Occupational Therapy from University of Puget Sound in 1999

Julie Gostin, OTR/L, CHT

Occupational Therapist / Hand Therapist

Julie has been a Washington state resident since 2006, and we are so glad she moved here! Her primary focus has been Hand Therapy. Helping people get their fine motor skills is her passion. Other clinical interests include Gerontology as it relates to hand function.

Julie's education includes:

BA in Occupational Therapy Cum Laude from San Jose State University in 1997
Certified Hand Therapy Certification in 2002

Brandon Escobar, MSOT, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Brandon has been an Occupational Therapist for over 4 years. His clinical experience includes outpatient interventions, work conditioning, work hardening, pediatrics, neuro rehabilitation, and orthopedics.

Brandon finds joy working with others to help them return to work confidently and successfully by developing proper body mechanics, building strength, and increasing endurance.

Brandon has a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy, from University of Puget Sound, 2017.

In his free time he loves to spend time with his wife and family playing cards, watching movies, hiking, and cooking up some mean BBQ. He loves your fur-baby pictures, and has two dogs and a cat of his own.

Sarah Burt, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Sarah graduated from Western Washington University in 2008 with a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science.

She started out her career as a PTA in a hospital setting in 2010, and we were fortunate to have her join Strive in 2018. Sarah has a treatment style that combines exercise rehab and manual therapy. She enjoys empowering her patient's with pain management skills and independence.

Born and raised in the PNS, Sarah enjoys cycling and mountain biking, sports, staying active and all things outdoors.

Alex Jucal, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Alexandra was born and raised in the Philippines and now lives in the area with her husband, three kids, and dog. She started her career as a nursing assistant for 4 years, with a passion for helping others. After enduring an injury, she found a calling to further her study and share the benefits of physical therapy with others.

Alex received her Associates of Applied Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant from Olympic College in 2021.

In her free time, Alexandra enjoys playing legos with her kids, venturing new places in the pacific northwest, practicing martial arts, and paddling with the local outrigger canoeing team.

David White, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Story coming soon!

Alexander Kurata, PTA

Physical Therapist Assistant

Alexander is a native Washingtonian, growing up in Port Townsend! He attended Whatcom Community College, earning his Associate of Applied Science as Physical Therapy Assistant in 2013.

He worked in long-term acute care hospital and skilled nursing facilities for 8 years in the Portland area, gaining valuable experience with neurologic, orthopedic and cardiopulmonary diagnoses. He came back to the Puget Sound area to fulfill his goals of working in outpatient physical therapy and to be closer to family.

Always game for some good competition, Alexander enjoys soccer, basketball, frisbee golf, and avidly supports his Seattle sports teams!

Charlie Crane, LMP

Licensed Massage Therapist

Charlie has had his share of severe injuries. This experience has steered him to specializing in injury and rehabilitative modalities. In addition, it heightened his awareness of the difficulties and rewards of injury treatment massage. He identifies with you personally.

Certified in Massage Therapy through Clover Park Technical College in 2007, he has practiced Massage for over 15 years.

Charlie is a former Washington EMT and is currently working towards an Associates in Nursing. He LOVES working with the Strive team to provide our clients with the highest level of skilled care.

Cathie Pitts

Office Manager

Cathie has been with Teri Jo and Strive Physical Rehabilitation since the first day we opened. She has experience working in Customer Service and Administrative positions for over 25 years.

She has a passion for helping others and assisting them in anyway she can to help them achieve their goals.

Alicia Buffington

Administrative Assistant

Bio to come!

Taylor Sather