Santa Barbara, California
learn to treat your chronic pain, not just manage it.
Hi, I am Dr. Ben Olivo, a board-certified physical therapist and therapeutic pain specialist
I help your body and mind heal naturally.
My practice uses mind and body modalities to empower you towards a path of healing. Using a holistic view, I help you facilitate healing by looking further than just the area of pain or injury.
Understanding Your Chronic Pain
If medical interventions have not improved your well-being, this is because chronic pain is not just a medical problem. Chronic pain can be combination of your physical, cognitive and emotional states. The mind and body connection has been shown to be real and in order help your healing process, we must address your pain using a holistic approach looking at the mind and body as a whole. My goal is to help you heal free of medication, injections, or surgery.
TESTIMONIALS
Rick M. I was recovering from foot surgery when I started having difficulties not only in the immediate area of the surgery but in other areas due to instinctively trying to lighten the load on that part of my foot. My doctor highly recommended Ben Olivo to help correct the situation. Ben is well versed in a broad range of methodologies in pain management and physical therapy. He interviewed me in the early part of my first visit and created a detailed schedule for my therapy. I felt the improvement from my first visit and my physical condition got better within a few visits. Ben uses a Holistic mind-body approach where your mind is treated as well. In order for my gait to improve permanently Ben went deeper than just teaching me the physical exercises needed . He also addressed the mental processes that helped me integrate the physical corrective movements into everyday life. Ben is very passionate about his work and compassionate about his clients. I strongly recommend Ben for any physical and/or pain management issues that you might have.
Toni S. Since I first saw you, I have been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. In my research I found that P.T. can be harmful. Unless the practitioner is very careful to use massage first and be very gentle P.T. can actually harm the joints further. You did all the perfect things suggested in the research when I saw you following my two shoulder surgeries. At the time I had not been diagnosed, but I did know working with you was the most successful and relaxing P.T. I had ever had. I appreciate your gentleness, attention to how my body responds and your patience. I would refer anyone to you without reservations. But I would especially want to recommend you to anyone who has chronic pain, any joint issues and those recovering from surgery.
Rinaldo B. I have been a patient of Ben’s for more than a year as a result of a serious double neck disc fusion operation and related complications. He is an expert in long term pain management, which I really required, and has provided me with non-drug pain relief for all that time. His unique blend of traditional and innovative pain management technologies is precisely what I needed. I’m still Ben’s patient and couldn’t recommend him more highly, particularly if your issue is long term pain management
Lynne H. Broken, that’s how my body felt when I tentatively made my first appointment with Ben. I’d had a fused back that was fractured in an accident. After physical therapy I was still experiencing pain and numbness in my left leg. A catastrophic fall was followed by two unsuccessful surgeries on my right hip. After the second surgery I spent a pain-filled year with my tendons not attached on my right hip. I found myself back in physical therapy after a third surgery on my right hip done by a surgeon who fixes other surgeons mistakes. By now I thought I had a good idea of what was going to happen. I had no idea how my life was about to change. Ben instinctively knew what I needed long before I did. Each appointment was tailored to my immediate needs. Ben would start with a simple massage to the area we would be working on or a massage to the most painful area. He would then design the work we were going to do at that particular session based totally on my needs at that moment. He was so gentle with my “broken body.” It was easy to trust that this time I was working with someone who not only knew the human body but was brilliant at what he did. At the same time as we were working toward full restoration of my aging body Ben was teaching me to connect with brain and the role thoughts as well as actions play in healing. He provided resources that have proven to be essential in the optimal health I feel currently. Thanks to Ben I have better health than I dreamed possible. He worked so closely with my needs. Everything he did was so well-rounded. He worked with both my body and my mind. He provided me with resources that speeded the healing process. I’ll be using these resources for the rest of my life
Hannah K. I went to see Ben about 2 years after herniating a disc in my neck. I couldn't seem to get rid of a constant ache that lingered long after the tingling nerve pain had subsided. Ben listened attentively to how I described the pain I was experiencing and was always kind and compassionate with his approach to my care. His treatment went beyond hands on PT and the prescription of exercises, he helped me to make connections with what was exacerbating the pain beyond physical injury through meditation and cranial sacral therapy. In a matter of weeks the pain that I had felt for over 2 years subsided and I had a new awareness around how my body responds to both emotional and physical stress. I highly recommend Ben and his approach to the treatment of pain.
Annie F. Ben Olivo has been my physical therapist for over a year and has helped me recover from a painful shoulder issue and surgery. Over the past 6 years I had seen multiple Doctors, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors etc with no relief. When I started working with Ben I was finally able to build and follow an exercise regime that resulted in becoming pain free. This took months of trial and error but Ben went above and beyond searching for the right combination of stretching and exercise. He is very knowledgeable and always up to date on new scientific research. I never hesitate to recommend him to friends.
Katja G. Ben Olivo has been a wonderful support in my managing pain and healing process. He has effectively taken care of my worst and immediate pain and given me relief when most need. Ben has been an attentive listener and using that skill to find where help and support is most needed. He has given me effective exercises to continue at home and showing me various ways to relax and cope. Ben has an all integrating approach of body, mind and soul to be alleviating pain. He possesses a wealth of knowledge that he is always excited to share. He is a dedicated healer that believes in the power of humor. He is an upbeat, positive and sensitive Therapist. I feel very fortunate to have been treated by him and I am able to manage on my own and enjoying life mostly pain free nowadays.
Dr. Judith S. This is to share my experience when working with Dr. Ben Olivo. At my age of eighty and several surgeries over the years, I’ve had multiple providers when I needed physical therapy. All were good however none have been as knowledgeable in totality of treatment as Ben. His approach combines body and mind, so there is an improvement of spirit, not just work on a joint or muscle group. Ben is professional and friendly when giving services. He listens, gives encouragement (which includes stressing self-compassion) while providing medical and psychological education to further healing. He helps a person strategize and combine physical and mental exercises for overall health improvement. I cannot imagine finding anyone who is more respectful of an individual’s health needs. I received more health benefits than I ever expected.
Located at 300 East Canon Perdido Street, Suite E
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Ben@coastinmotionpt.com
Tel: 805-324-7541