Testimonials

Testimonials

I started working with Martha in 2018 after undergoing two surgeries; a mastectomy and a breast reconstruction. During that time I needed to heal my body, but also address the emotional impact that cancer had on me. Martha’s personalized treatment that combined physical exercises, scar tissue massage, and emotional support made a huge difference not only with the speed at which I healed, but also how I started to become whole emotionally and physically. I recently underwent a second reconstruction and I continued working with Martha. She has been able to adapt to the changes that came with COVID19, and has helped me navigate the new reality that started when I was diagnosed with cancer.
Eva, Psychotherapist

I met Martha 3 years ago, when at the age of 49 years I was in desperate search of a therapist to help me ease the ongoing pain in my hip, leg, and back. I had undergone a major surgery for a fractured neck of the femur, and the recuperation did not go as smoothly as I had expected. The physical pain persisted and began to take a toll on my emotional being as well. Martha immediately created a space where I felt comfortable and at ease. She assessed my walk, my breath, and my overall wellbeing, and Martha’s attention to detail, as well as the whole picture, offered me the customized support I needed to work through the emotional and physical obstacles that I was carrying. She made me feel supported, seen, and secure, and I was finally able to bring my body back into balance and ease my pain. Martha not only proved to me again and again that I was stronger than I thought, but she also reminded me to reconnect to and trust my own body. I have never had such transformative experience as I have with Martha’s work. She’s able to peel back the layers with her extraordinary skills and intuition. If you are stuck in pain mentally or physically as I was, your key to liberation is working with Martha.
Dina Perez Volovitz

I first went to Martha 7 years ago in the hope of finding relief from what had become chronic pain throughout my body. I had partially torn my left hamstring surfing a few months earlier, and subsequent visits to physical therapy had only worsened the muscle tear. At the time I was traveling on planes every week and the resulting imbalance created by the hamstring injury had started to affect other areas of my body, including my back and shoulder. From the first session I could tell that Martha was completely different from anyone I had seen previously for an injury, and I have been a competitive athlete in multiple sports for most of my life. Her deep understanding of the body as an integrated unit encompassing not only physical movement and anatomy, but also the underlying ,and often ignored, neuroscience and psychology is unique. She has the rare ability to simultaneously listen, see, and feel what is going on with her patient while completely focusing her wide ranging knowledge and critical thinking on solving the specific problem in front of her. Over the years not only has my quality of life, both physically and mentally, improved dramatically thanks to Martha, but the resulting deeper understanding of self-care and body movement has also helped me to avoid new injuries. Martha has been a true lifesaver for me, and I could not have given anyone a higher recommendation.
MP

Originally, I started seeing Martha/Dr. Helliesen to help me with sexual side-effects due to breast cancer treatments, I had no idea that instead, with the use of a combination of physical exercises and emotional work, I would slowly build my true-self for the first time. Because of the trauma I have lived through, I spent most of my life disconnecting from my emotions, my body, and my needs, and through Martha’s guidance and practical exercises, I can finally feel and in turn, finally heal.
2x Cancer Survivor, 36 Years Old

“After having a torn pelvic floor misdiagnosed for ten years, I finally had pelvic floor repair surgery two years ago. Because of how long it took to find the problem, my body developed all kinds of compensation patterns that had me walking incorrectly, standing incorrectly, and otherwise moving every part of my body incorrectly. Some muscles were working too hard, others not hard enough. Some muscles knew they were alive, others thought they had been left for dead for ten years. I was truly desperate. Thankfully, I came across Martha, who has proved to be nothing short of a miracle for me. Her background in neuroscience, psychology, movement, and bodywork is ideal. She understands how the mind and the body work together. She understands how the different muscle groups work together. She understands that she doesn’t understand everything, and is humble enough to hit the books and do some research if she needs to. She’s always striving to be better, and as good as she was when I first met her, she has gotten better since. I can’t recommend her enough. She truly changed my life. ”
Alex Flint

“I’m an active middle age man that has always played a variety of sports. To this day, I enjoy basketball, weight lifting, running, swimming, and golf – my new obsession! Due to my competitive nature, I tend to overexert myself to the point of injury. After an injury, I usually seek professional help but never felt comfortable enough to return after the initial treatment ended. This went on for many, many years until I met Martha. Her knowledge of how the body works is incredible. Because of her knowledge, she is able to reduce the acute pain from a recent or a nagging, chronic injury and get you on the path to a quick and safe recovery. In addition to the immediate help she provides during the office visit, she also helps with specific stretches you can do at home to prevent future injuries. If you have a sports related injury, chronic back issues, or just find yourself with muscular aches and pains, you must see Martha. I promise she will exceed all expectations! ”
An eternally grateful customer!

“Before going to see Martha my body was electrocuting itself. I had shooting pains in my upper thigh and no personal trainer or chiropractor could make it better (I tried!). After just 1 session with Martha my pain started to dissipate. Seeing Martha weekly helped the pain disappear altogether. I, like many, sit in a chair on a computer for 10-12 hours a day and rely on Martha to make my back, neck, and leg pain disappear. Martha has such a thorough understanding of the human body, there is no better practitioner to understand and treat your ailments. I highly recommend her services. ”
Jennifer Diaz, Attorney

“I fell in NY city and tore a ligament in my rotator cuff. After 6 months of traditional therapy, restriction of movement improved very little and the pain was bad enough for me to decide to have the surgery doctors recommended. Then, just before having it, my nephew recommended Ms. Helliesen to me. After the first treatment I started to feel less pain and 5 sessions later almost full mobility returned. Now I am back to my normal activities, including swimming and yoga. I have to thank Martha. She is a real professional, knows her work and has outstanding work ethics.”
Miryam Flint