The Optimal Performance Health and Healing Association
A Private Member Healthcare Association
Practitioners
Karen Bailey is what some would call a “true Mainer” born and raised in the Portland area, graduated from Deering High School in 1989 and received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of New England in Biddeford in 1993. To complement her academic accomplishments she brought a “play to win” attitude to the soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball programs at both Deering and UNE.Following graduation from UNE she worked for nine and a half years at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford, as well as at the satellite clinic in Saco where she focused primarily on outpatient orthopedics, but occasionally covered inpatients, neuro patients, wound care and aquatic therapy as needed. She was the liaison between the rehab department and the occupational medicine department (WorkWell). She worked closely with the doctors and nurses. She developed stretching programs, back schools, ergonomic and safety assessments for the contracted companies.
In February 2003, she fulfilled one of her dreams and opened Optimal Performance Physical Therapy, LLC her own physical therapy clinic, where she takes an integrated holistic approach to therapy focusing on treating the whole person; body, mind, spirit and soul, while educating clients and their families. “Anything is possible if a person believes” Mark 9:23
Karen is a licensed physical therapist, with advanced training as a certified athletic trainer. She is also certified in the following disciplines: Integrated Manual Therapy, Natural Health, Nutrition, Reiki Master, and advanced level integrated energy therapy. She received her Doctorate of Naturopathic Ministry from Trinity College of Natural Health in 2007. She studied Energy Medicine with Cynthia Atkinson, CEMP/S/I, CHTP, through the TransformYour Life Program. She completed a Holistic Health Counselor Certification course through the American Society of Alternative Therapists (ASAT) C.O.R.E. Counseling. She has completed the two year Shamanic Healing Training Program with C. Allie Knowlton, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, Psychotherapist, Teacher of Shamanism and Shamanic Healer & Evelyn C. Rysdyk, Teacher of Shamanism, Shamanic Healer, Sacred Artist and author of Modern Shamanic Living of Spirit Passages. “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding” Proverbs 3:13
Professionally, Karen is always looking to add new techniques and skills to her physical therapy foundation in order to help patients achieve their “Optimal Performance”. This allows patients to improve their quality of life, stay active and healthy, be able do the things they desire and fully enjoy them.
“Anything the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”
—Napoleon Hill (author of Think and Grow Rich)
Karen’s personal interests include spending time with family, friends, and her dog – Brandi, traveling, relaxing by the lake or at the beach, going to the theater, concerts and sporting events, playing golf and softball, reading, learning and teaching. Karen strives to be a champion in all that she does based on the following motto:
“A true champion is someone who wants to make a difference, who never gives up, and who gives everything she has no matter what the circumstances are. A true champion works hard and never loses sight of her dreams.”
—Dr. Dot Richardson (Orthopedic Surgeon and Olympic Softball Gold Medalist)
Michaela Reynolds is a local Scarborough resident originally from Rhode Island. She graduated from Smithfield High School in Rhode Island and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University. She has worked for the past 23 years in an orthopedic physical therapy setting. Manual therapy has always held great appeal for her, and she has furthered this interest at the Connecticut School for Integrative Manual Therapy. She is the mother of three children ages 20, 18 and 16, and is still involved in being a sports fan for field hockey and ice hockey for the youngest.Michaela’s personal interests include field hockey, biking, jogging, ice skating and reading. She also enjoys going to the beach in the summer, skiing in the winter and going to school to study homeopathy and furthering her career.