Meet Physical Therapist and Health and Wellness Coach Jen Uschold
In a profession where healing is often focused solely on the body, Jen Uschold takes a more holistic approach to helping individuals through life’s toughest transitions. With a career spanning over thirty years in physical therapy, Jen uses lifestyle medicine, pain science, and mental fitness to address both physical and emotional pain because “We cannot have one without the other.” Offering non-invasive, evidence-based techniques that foster resilience during life changes, her work is specifically valuable for those navigating a divorce.
In this interview, Jen shares how her personal divorce journey, combined with her studies in mental fitness shaped her unique approach to supporting others through times of transformation. She says, “Pain is debilitating, divorce is devastating” and believes that her superpower lies in connecting with clients’ needs and creating a customized plan using pain science and mental fitness to help them navigate challenges.
Meet Amicable Divorce Network member Jen Uschold!
Full Name: Jen Uschold
Title: Certified Physical Therapist with 180 Therapy & Wellness | Health and Wellness Coach at iRise for Me I Certified Lifestyle Medicine Coach I Certified Positive Intelligence Coach
What is the name of your business or firm? 180 Therapy & Wellness | iRise for Me.
Which state(s)/county(ies) do you service? 180 Therapy & Wellness is based in Virginia, and I offer coaching through iRise for Me locally and virtually.
Which professional field do you work in? Physical Therapy, Lifestyle Medicine Coach, and Mental Fitness Coach for those navigating divorce and beyond.
How many years of experience do you have within your field? I have 33 years of experience as a physical therapist and 10 years in Pain Science and Health Coaching.
What certifications do you hold?
Physical Therapist (PT)
Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT)
Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS)
A National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)
Fellow of Pain Science (FPS)
Certified Positive Intelligence Coach (CPQC)
Lifestyle Medicine Coach (LMC)
What related services (if applicable) do you offer? In addition to physical therapy, I offer coaching services focused on divorce preparation, mental fitness training, and pain coaching. After going through a contentious divorce and two failed mediations, I used my background in pain science and lifestyle medicine to transform my approach to my final round of mediation. Practicing “mental fitness” helped me reach a signed agreement, leaving me feeling grounded and excited. After sharing my experience with my divorce support group, their positive feedback and curiosity inspired me to create two online courses to guide others through the divorce process. I also offer mental fitness training and personalized coaching for pain and lifestyle medicine and have hosted webinars on holistic divorce preparation, emphasizing the importance of self-care beyond financial and legal readiness.
What drew you to join the Amicable Divorce Network? I discovered the Amicable Divorce Network (ADN) through an online search after attending a collaborative divorce retreat. ADN’s pillars aligned perfectly with my passion for integrating pain science and mental fitness into my work. I believe that fostering self-efficacy and empowerment throughout the divorce process benefits both clients and divorce professionals. When we, as amicable divorce professionals, prioritize our physical and mental health, we are better equipped to support our clients. It creates a beautiful back-and-forth ripple effect.
How does your firm/practice/business impact the lives of families and individuals? It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact physical and mental fitness has on my patients and coaching clients’ lives as they navigate and recover from divorce. In one case a client who completed mental fitness coaching with me, shared some exercises with her students, which later helped one of them when they were injured on the playground. This teacher then received a grant for her school district to incorporate mental fitness into their social/emotional learning curriculum. Years ago, I was involved in research on how middle schoolers cope with pain and taught them techniques they could use when injured. Now, I hear from their parents who say their kids still remember the techniques and use these tools during sports or other injuries. Other patients have reached out to me years later telling me how their lives have changed and that they no longer burdened the pain they felt. Hearing these stories is incredibly rewarding and motivates me in my work every day.
What makes you stand out as a professional, or what do you do that sets you apart?
What sets me apart as a professional is my experience in physical therapy combined with my expertise in lifestyle medicine, pain science, and mental fitness. I focus on non-invasive, evidence-based approaches to help people treat the complexities of pain. Physical and emotional pain always go hand-in-hand during life transitions like divorce. My practice emphasizes the four pillars of pain science–education, goals, exercise, and sleep–paired with lifestyle medicine essentials such as exercise, sleep, nutrition, stress, social connections, and avoiding risky substances. I also integrate “mental fitness” techniques to empower clients to ease stress and promote self-efficacy. Merging pain science and positive intelligence helps people empower themselves through life transitions such as divorce. I am known for a balance of “quirky and authentic” with a “sweet and ferocious” approach, creating a space where clients feel both supported and motivated, mixing levity with serious work to help them navigate tough times.
What has been the biggest benefit of your membership with ADN? I am a new member of ADN and look forward to more collaboration and connection with the divorce professionals in the group.
Do you have a favorite/saying/words to live by? “Train the brain to benefit the body and brain. Train the body to benefit the body and the brain.”
Jen Uschold’s unique blend of using the science and art of physical therapy with mental fitness coaching and pain science provides a comprehensive approach that can be applied to both divorcees and divorce professionals. By addressing both physical and emotional pain, Jen empowers individuals to navigate divorce with resilience and self-efficacy, highlighting the importance of determining how you want to show up, and then practicing showing up in that way. These broad options provide clients with the training to heal and thrive during life’s toughest challenges.
Jen has been a guest on dozens of podcasts sharing her expertise in helping people through divorce through mental fitness. She also hosts masterclasses for family law professionals, sharing how her techniques can benefit them as well as individuals going through a divorce.
Learn more about Jen by visiting 180 Therapy & Wellness and iRise for Me.
Jen, it has been a delight learning about you and your passion for incorporating lifestyle medicine and pain science into your practice. Thank you so much for taking the time to share more about yourself and your work!