About Us
PT Empowered was founded in 2020 by Dr. Brandon Bennett, a highly-qualified physical therapy professional. Dr. Bennett is committed to providing exceptional therapy using evidence-based practices. Offering a variety of techniques as well as treatment either in a clinic or at your home, PT Empowered creates custom care plans to get you feeling your best. Offering physical therapy and occupational therapy in the South Sound Region.
MEET OUR PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Dr. Brandon Bennett
Owner, Physical Therapist
PT, DPT, ATC, LAT, VRS, ASTYM
A native of Olympia, Brandon has been involved in the sports medicine community and physical therapy field in the South Sound region since 2004. Trained as both an athletic trainer and physical therapist, Brandon has always had a passion for helping athletes of all ages reach their full potential. Over his years of experience Brandon has gained knowledge and expertise in postural restoration and biomechanics of the human body. This method offers a holistic approach to treating the human system and understanding the science of postural adaptions. This encompasses treatment of traditional pathologies, sports injuries, and more complicated cases such as TMD and scoliosis. Brandon is also a certified Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) gaining expertise in treating vertigo, balance disorders, and post-concussion syndrome. Additionally, Brandon is ASTYM certified and has education in manual therapy. Brandon’s holistic approach combines manual therapy, on the field training, and clinical rehabilitation expertise to meet the patient’s goals. When Brandon is not working with patients he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids whether it is snow skiing, boating, mountain climbing/hiking, or camping.
Dr. Sarah Bennett
Physical Therapist
PT, DPT
Sarah has been serving as a physical therapist in Olympia, Washington for the past 11 years. She enjoyed growing up in Puyallup, Washington and staying close to family while obtaining her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Puget Sound in 2010. Working for a hospital system has allowed Sarah to provide physical therapy in a variety of settings including outpatient, intensive inpatient, and acute care rehabilitation. Her inpatient rehabilitation experience has grown her passion for optimizing patient mobility following stroke, traumatic brain injury, spine surgeries, and other neurologic diseases and events. Her acute care hospital training has given Sarah exposure to multi-trauma injuries due to falls and accidents, post-surgical needs, complex medical conditions, frail and critically-ill patients. She looks forward to helping individuals maximize their mobility both in their home and community by providing individualized skilled fall risk assessments, balance and gait training, promotion of physical activity and wellness, pain reduction, and functional strengthening. Sarah continues to enjoy part time work at the hospital, spending time with family, seeing her two children grow, cooking, gardening, and being active outdoors.
Jennifer Hopps
Occupational Therapist
OTR/L, CAPS
Jennifer is an Occupational Therapist and Aging in Place specialist. She obtained her Master of OT degree in 2000 at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA. She has been a Washington resident since 2002 and lives with her husband and two teen boys in Olympia. Jennifer, with over 20 years experience as an OT, has worked in sub acute, Inpatient rehab, outpatient and acute settings throughout the region. She is the owner and operator of Adaptive Living since 2015 where she has focused on Aging in Place and home modifications to allow individuals and families to remain in their homes as they age or after illness or injury. She works with builders, designers and architects to create a safe and functional environment for her clients. Jennifer is excited to be able to provide these services and more with outpatient mobile therapy including Activities of Daily Living training, fall risk assessments, energy conservation training, adaptive
equipment recommendations and training, cognitive assessments and training, post stroke rehabilitation and family and caregiver training. She looks forward to meeting you.
George Hager
Physical Therapist
PT, MPT
George has been a member of the Thurston County community his entire life. Born and raised in Tumwater, he attended Washington State University and received his Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Business in 1994. He attended Eastern Washington University where he received his Master in Physical Therapy in 1998. George has 25 years of experience as a Physical Therapist. This has included experience with Acute care, Inpatient rehabilitation, and Outpatient orthopedics. George has experience working with
patients of all ages and diagnoses. He has experience with complex medical patients, post-operative recovery, injury recovery and prevention. He has worked to gain knowledge and expertise regarding manual therapy, movement dysfunction and treatment of acute and chronic disease and injury. George has a strong background in leadership and mentorship in the profession- having worked with hundreds of therapy professionals during his career. He has a passion for movement and incorporates his treatments with looking for the root cause of dysfunction. His treatment approach is one of collaboration where he works with his patients to alleviate pain, improve function and return to prior activities. George takes the time to get to know his patients and assist them on an individual basis. His focus is also on prescriptive treatments to improve each individual's specific need. George has a multitude of interests including skiing, fishing, cycling and mountain biking.
MEET OUR PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Dr. Brandon Bennett
Owner of PT Empowered, Physical Therapist
PT, DPT, ATC, LAT, VRS, ASTYM
A native of Olympia, Brandon has been involved in the sports medicine community and physical therapy field in the South Sound region since 2004. Trained as both an athletic trainer and physical therapist, Brandon has always had a passion for helping athletes of all ages reach their full potential. Over his years of experience Brandon has gained knowledge and expertise in postural restoration and biomechanics of the human body. This method offers a holistic approach to treating the human system and understanding the science of postural adaptions. This encompasses treatment of traditional pathologies, sports injuries, and more complicated cases such as TMD and scoliosis. Brandon is also a certified Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist (VRS) gaining expertise in treating vertigo, balance disorders, and post-concussion syndrome. Additionally, Brandon is ASTYM certified and has education in manual therapy. Brandon’s holistic approach combines manual therapy, on the field training, and clinical rehabilitation expertise to meet the patient’s goals. When Brandon is not working with patients he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids whether it is snow skiing, boating, mountain climbing/hiking, or camping.
Dr. Sarah Bennett
Physical Therapist
PT, DPT
Sarah has been serving as a physical therapist in Olympia, Washington for the past 11 years. She enjoyed growing up in Puyallup, Washington and staying close to family while obtaining her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Puget Sound in 2010. Working for a hospital system has allowed Sarah to provide physical therapy in a variety of settings including outpatient, intensive inpatient, and acute care rehabilitation. Her inpatient rehabilitation experience has grown her passion for optimizing patient mobility following stroke, traumatic brain injury, spine surgeries, and other neurologic diseases and events. Her acute care hospital training has given Sarah exposure to multi-trauma injuries due to falls and accidents, post-surgical needs, complex medical conditions, frail and critically-ill patients. She looks forward to helping individuals maximize their mobility both in their home and community by providing individualized skilled fall risk assessments, balance and gait training, promotion of physical activity and wellness, pain reduction, and functional strengthening. Sarah continues to enjoy part time work at the hospital, spending time with family, seeing her two children grow, cooking, gardening, and being active outdoors.
Jennifer Hopps
Occupational Therapist
OTR/L, CAPS
Jennifer is an Occupational Therapist and Aging in Place specialist. She obtained her Master of OT degree in 2000 at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, CA. She has been a Washington resident since 2002 and lives with her husband and two teen boys in Olympia. Jennifer, with over 20 years experience as an OT, has worked in sub acute, Inpatient rehab, outpatient and acute settings throughout the region. She is the owner and operator of Adaptive Living since 2015 where she has focused on Aging in Place and home modifications to allow individuals and families to remain in their homes as they age or after illness or injury. She works with builders, designers and architects to create a safe and functional environment for her clients. Jennifer is excited to be able to provide these services and more with outpatient mobile therapy including Activities of Daily Living training, fall risk assessments, energy conservation training, adaptive equipment recommendations and training, cognitive assessments and training, post stroke rehabilitation and family and caregiver training. She looks forward to meeting you.
George Hager
Physical Therapist
PT, MPT
George has been a member of the Thurston County community his entire life. Born and
raised in Tumwater, he attended Washington State University and received his Bachelor of
Science in Biology with a minor in Business in 1994. He attended Eastern Washington
University where he received his Master in Physical Therapy in 1998. George has 25 years
of experience as a Physical Therapist. This has included experience with Acute care,
Inpatient rehabilitation, and Outpatient orthopedics. George has experience working with
patients of all ages and diagnoses. He has experience with complex medical patients, post-
operative recovery, injury recovery and prevention. He has worked to gain knowledge and
expertise regarding manual therapy, movement dysfunction and treatment of acute and
chronic disease and injury. George has a strong background in leadership and mentorship
in the profession- having worked with hundreds of therapy professionals during his career.
He has a passion for movement and incorporates his treatments with looking for the root
cause of dysfunction. His treatment approach is one of collaboration where he works with
his patients to alleviate pain, improve function and return to prior activities. George takes
the time to get to know his patients and assist them on an individual basis. His focus is also
on prescriptive treatments to improve each individual's specific need. George has a
multitude of interests including skiing, fishing, cycling and mountain biking.
WHAT OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO SAY
Brandon is consistently and consummately professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Highly recommended. He worked for several months with my wife and I both coming into our home weekly (her for a knee issue, me in rehabbing after surgery to reattach my torn bicep tendon). My standards are high. I offer this recommendation as someone who has worked with a dozen good PTs over the years (this was my fifth orthopedic surgery and I do Olympic Weightlifting and other athletic activities), as someone who has held multiple certifications as a personal trainer and still a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who has previously worked with many Olympic and Professional athletes, and has spent the last ten years as a full time Executive Coach.
– Dale L.
Sarah Bennet has been my PT as I am recovering from a prosthetic fracture of my right femur. She is an exceptional therapist who visits me weekly in my home. We work together to solve my issues such as climbing stairs, adjusting the car seat for optimum comfort, improving and strengthening my walking and getting me ready for hiking and using treking poles. Sarah is a great coach encouraging me all along the way to recovery. She is extremely knowledgeable ,professional, creative and fun! I look forward to our visits and would highly recommend her to anyone.
I've worked in the medical field for many years and had my fair share of personal experiences, both positive and negative, with medical professionals and physicians. I'm so happy that my first experience with physical therapy was with Brandon. I really appreciated his knowledge and expertise as well as his kind approach. Working with him was definitely a positive experience. It was very helpful that he could come to our home as well. I highly recommend Brandon to anyone needing PT.
– Kelle K.
We are so thankful to have found Brandon and his practice, to aid my teenage daughter in her ACL reconstruction recovery, and her return to soccer. He is extremely knowledgeable, and very professional. He quickly identified some problem areas and started her on a program that will serve her for the rest of her life to prevent future injuries. She does her muscle-building intense sport rehab in a different facility, and we supplement with Brandon' expertise for core stability, re-training her hamstrings, and re-alignment of her hips- all underlying issues that most likely lead to injury and can help prevent other injuries in her future. I feel her rehab would not have been holistic and well-rounded if we had only concentrated on rebuilding her leg muscle. Brandon was the missing piece, and is progressing my daughter to a fuller, stronger, more confident complete recovery. We will continue to see Brandon to keep her healthy. And with teenage daughters, it's important to note his knowledge and professionalism and engaging personality makes my daughter extremely comfortable and at ease. You can tell he loves what he does, and keeps up with all the latest techniques and developments in the field of physical therapy. So happy to have found him! He came highly recommended, and it's easy to tell why!
– Wendy B.
My old personal trainer referred me to Brandon when I told her that I had been experiencing back/pelvis pain 24/7 - for several months. Through his unique approach, Brandon helped me to re-educate and re-align my body, ultimately breaking the pain cycle. He is a knowledgeable and gifted practitioner. I will be forever grateful for his work and would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone seeking physical therapy.
– Christine F.