Meet Your Therapist

Mita Patel, MSPT

Owner and Founder of Essential Physical Therapy and Wellness Inc.

My Story

I never set out to own a business—I just wanted to help people. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science and Psychology from UCLA in 1999, followed by a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Columbia University in 2001. For over 23 years, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people move better, feel better, and get back to doing what they love. But along the way, I realized that truly effective care—care that gets real, lasting results—requires time, specialized techniques, and a deep understanding of each individual’s unique needs.

Early in my career, I worked in busy outpatient clinics, helping people recover from injuries, surgeries, and chronic pain. But over time, I saw how insurance companies were stripping away the quality of care. Reimbursements were cut, treatment decisions were taken out of my hands, and time with each patient kept shrinking—from 45 minutes to 15 minutes. I was told to see more patients per day and even encouraged to provide unnecessary treatments—as long as it wasn’t harmful—just to increase billing. That’s not why I became a physical therapist.

I was laid off three times in five years, not because of my skills or experience, but because as a senior therapist, I cost more to employ. At one job, I was told bluntly: “If you want to keep your jobs, you have to prioritize quantity over quality.”  That was my breaking point. I was tired of being forced to give people less than what they truly needed.

I left outpatient PT and moved into home health PT, where I worked with some of the most challenging cases—patients who were too weak to get out of bed, in constant, debilitating pain, or completely dependent on others for basic tasks. Traditional PT helped some, but for others, it wasn’t enough. That’s when I discovered two techniques: John Barnes Myofascial Release and CranioSacral Therapy—techniques that addressed the hidden restrictions in the body that no standard treatments could reach. The results were life-changing. People who thought they’d never be without pain finally found relief. Those who had been stuck on pain medications regained control of their bodies. Years of built up restrictions in their bodies just melted away. They were no longer trapped by their limitations—they were moving, thriving, and living again. It was like “magic”.

That’s when I knew I had to do things differently.

I never wanted to run a business, but I knew I couldn’t go back to a system that just didn’t work. I started Essential Physical Therapy and Wellness to give my patients the time, attention, and specialized techniques that provide a deeper level of healing, when so many other treatments have failed —without insurance dictating what I can and can’t do for my clients. Here, every session is  focused, designed to integrate the entire body and uncover the root cause of pain and dysfunction—not just mask symptoms. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with chronic pain, or simply want to move and feel better - you’ll not only experience physical relief, but also gain the knowledge and tools to stay active, move with ease, and maintain independence as you age.

Your health is your foundation—let’s build one that supports the life you want to live.