Chrissie Morgan Sulkess, PT, Owner

Chrissie Morgan is a highly accredited physical therapist, as well as a successful business woman. She received a Bachelor's degree in Health Science with a certificate in physical therapy from California State University, Northridge. She has more than 16 years of hands-on experience, practicing in the orthopedic setting, specializing in sports medicine and orthopedics.

Her extensive work with athletes includes training and treating professional water polo players, treating professional surfers and working with the San Clemente High School dance team for injury prevention and rehabilitation. She is also a certified Titleist Performance Institute fitness instructor.

Her vision to promote a sense of self empowerment through education and injury prevention while restoring function was realized with the opening of Body Awareness Physical Therapy clinic in Costa Mesa, California. Having developed a highly successful business model, she opened a second location in San Clemente, California.

Responding to the diverse treatment needs of Body Awareness patients, Chrissie continues to expand the capabilities of the business. In addition to the more traditional services of orthopedic rehabilitation, sports medicine, spine care, the business now offers specialized treatments for women's health, including prenatal, postnatal, pelvic pain and breast care programs; pediatric orthopedic physical therapy, vestibular rehabiliation and most recently craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation. She is one of the few physical therapists in California to treat male pelvic pain.

In addition to a wide range of physical therapy capabilities, Body Awareness helps foster physical fitness through its Pilates conditioning services. Clients improve core strength, a balanced, evenly conditioned body and increased flexibility in the only full-service studio in San Clemente. The studio equipment includes a full Cadillac or Trap Table, Combo (Wunda) Chair, a Large Barrel and a Step Barrel (Spine Corrector).

A consummate and enthusiastic spokesperson for her trade, Chrissie is involved in numerous activities outside of Body Awareness. She currently conducts a yearly lecture to the UCI Medical Center urology department and functions as a teacher's assistant for continuing education courses of the Movement Balance System, developed by Shirley Sahrmann. She also lectures within the physical therapy community regarding shoulder rehabilitation and injury prevention.

Chrissie lives in San Clemente with her husband and two beautiful children; Luci and Nathan. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, yoga, Pilates, hiking, jogging and laughing.

Melia Perrizo PT, DPT, OCS

Melia Perrizo studied at San Diego State University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology/ Pre-Physical Therapy. She continued her studies at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles where she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She completed a year-long post professional Residency at Kaiser Permanente, West Los Angeles, where she received clinical and didactic education from a clinical specialist in orthopedics. Melia is a board certified as an Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) as well as a certified Titleist Performance Institute fitness instructor.

Melia stays current in the field of physical therapy through her participation in the Orthopedic section of the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) and CPPSIG (California Private Practice Special Interest Group). Melia has worked with a large range of orthopedic, pediatric and neurologic problems that range from weekend warrior and collegiate athlete injuries to post operative care. Her scope of treatment also includes pre/post natal care as well as pelvic floor dysfunction. She uses techniques that include manual therapy, functional mobilizations, movement science, and craniosacral therapy.

In her downtime, Melia enjoys being active and outside in her local community of San Clemente. She can be found running, playing soccer, riding her beach cruiser or trying stand-up paddle boarding.

Melissa Matta, PT, MPT, OCS, CLT-UE

Melissa Matta, received her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from UC Irvine. She completed her post graduate studies at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California where she received her Master's Degree in Physical Therapy.  Melissa has gained extensive practical experience working in outpatient orthopedic clinics in Orange County. She is a board certified as an Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) as well as a certified Titleist Performance Institute fitness instructor.

Melissa enjoys working with prenatal and postnatal patients as she has 2 children of her own. She is also the lead therapist of our Breast Care Program, with specialty training in treating reconstructive surgery following breast cancer.  Melissa is certified as an upper extremity lymphedema therapist. Complete decongestive therapy includes manual lymph drainage, bandaging and compression garments, as well as development of an individualized strength and range of motion program. Melissa also enjoys working with athletes and a special interest in women's Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) knee injury prevention. She uses her first hand experience in having played division I soccer at UCI to enhance her rehabilitation knowledge and specificity of training techniques.

Melissa enjoys hiking, snow skiing, Pilates, spending time at the beach, and spending time with her husband and two children, Spencer and Keira.

Jane Galusha, PT

Jane Galusha has been practicing as a physical therapist for the past 32 years graduating from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with a B.S. in Physical Therapy. She practiced for the first eight years of her career in southern California, providing rehabilitation for patients with strokes and other neurological disorders. In 1986, Jane relocated to the Seattle area and began practicing in outpatient orthopedics. While in the Northwest, she attended numerous continuing education courses and completed Level III training with the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT). The NAIOMT program offers advanced training in orthopedic manual therapy with a strong emphasis on biomechanics, mobilization/manipulation and the interaction of the extremity with the spine.

Jane's special interest is in musculoskeletal conditions of the spine and extremities, especially the cervical spine and shoulders. She also has expertise in treating vestibular dysfunction, movement impairment strategies, gait analysis and orthotic intervention. Jane is our lead Vestibular Rehabilitation therapist. She has been treating vestibular dysfunction for the past 5 years in addition to her 25+ year manual therapy background to assist in differentiating cervicogenic, vascular and vestibular dizziness to develop and provide appropriate and specific treatment programs.

Jane lives in Dana Point since returning to southern California in 2009. She loves catching up on all the sun, sandy beaches and wonderful weather she has missed, hopes to continue learning to golf, and raise her new Lab pup. Jane has two young adult children that reside in Washington State.

Nancy Kim, PT, MPT, OCS

Nancy Kim received her Bachelor's Degree in Social Ecology Psychology & Social Behavior from UC Irvine. She completed her post graduate studies at Chapman University in Orange, California where she received her Master's Degree in Physical Therapy. She is a board certified as an Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS).

Nancy has worked with a large range of orthopedic problems with patients from young adult to the geriatric population. She uses techniques that include manual therapy approaches from US, Australia, New Zealand, and Prague. She combines her hands on skill with movement science as well as neuromuscular re-education to obtain optimal results for her patients. She enjoys partnering with her patients in discovering ways to improve function in their daily activities and sport to prevent recurrence of injuries. Nancy has a special interest in integrating specific movement patterning and yoga in improving alignment and function of scoliosis.

Nancy enjoys spending her free time being active in Nova Masters swim class, road biking, yoga, having potlucks with friends, reading, & watching movies.