Our Vision
Wellest Integrative Health inspires individuals to take control of their health through movement and integrative body work. At Wellest Integrative Health, we strive for health through mind, body, and spirit. We focus on creating a nurturing environment that incorporates all aspects of being. At Wellest, we provide the resources and services needed so individuals can make informed, health promoting changes and decisions in a way that empowers our clients.
Wellest health care providers have merged their specialties so that we can offer a holistic approach to healing and preventative wellness through our outstanding customer service.
Wellest’s vision is to provide state of the art health and wellness services of the highest quality, empowering our clients to become responsible for their well-being.
Melissa Hines, PT, DPT
Dr. Melissa Hines, PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist (PT) in MA. Since graduating from Simmons College magna cum laude with her doctorate in physical therapy, she has practiced in a wide variety of holistic settings specializing in GYROTONIC® rehabilitation, pelvic floor rehabilitation, myofascial release, visceral manipulation, and craniosacral therapy.
Melissa specializes in Pelvic Floor PT for all genders through the prestigious Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Melissa's training in myofascial release, visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy and GYROTONIC® has proven pivotal in the treatment of pelvic and orthopedic conditions. She has taken continuing education courses through advanced Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, Barral Institute of Visceral Manipulation, advanced myofascial release through John Barnes, Upledger Craniosacral therapy, and a certified GYROTONIC® instructor. Melissa has a strong interest in teaching and currently mentors physical therapists and students in the field to help empower physical therapists to think holistically.
Melissa has a passion for treating the whole body and sees a widespread range of conditions from pelvic health to autoimmune to orthopedic. Melissa is currently training through the Institute of Functional Medicine in order to incorporate both manual therapies as well as supplementation through diet/food/supplements to aid in recovery and get to the root cause of the problem. Melissa utilizes an intuitive touch and enlightened approach in each of her treatments.
Melissa lives in Melrose with her husband, daughter Louisa, and cat! She enjoys giggling with Louisa, cooking with her husband, and being by the ocean!
Kathy Kates, FNP
Kathy Kates, NP is an experienced bilingual Family Nurse Practitioner at Wellest Integrative Health in Boston. As a specialist in pelvic health, she created a grant-awarded pelvic floor therapy myofascial release program at a local Boston health center to help women, men and transgender patients with chronic pelvic pain. She has been invited to lecture on pelvic health at the Partners in Perinatal Health conference and at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Annual Community Health Institute.
Kathy has completed extensive training in the John Barnes Myofascial Release Approach™. She participated in the inaugural “Integral Touch of Birth” workshop in which she learned to integrate the Spinning Babies ™ approach to help women bring balance to the pelvis during pregnancy.
Prior to her medical training, Kathy was a professional musician, playing locally with the Boston Pops and also traveling the world. Her two career paths, while disparate, have each served to foster a lifelong curiosity about the body from a biomechanical perspective. Her passion lies in educating others on how they can function optimally in order to live their healthiest lives. Kathy offers a unique perspective, not only as a medical provider, but also as a patient who has experienced pelvic pain after treatment for breast cancer.
Kristin (Stetzel) Kennedy, PT
Dr. Kristin Kennedy is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic health.
She received her doctorate from Rutgers University and holds an undergraduate degree in biobehavioral health from Penn State University.
Dr. Kristin has advanced training in pelvic health through the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (APTA) and the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Since beginning her career, she has gained extensive experience in working with those with hypermobility spectrum disorders (such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), endometriosis and the pregnant and postpartum population. Dr. Kristin enjoys weight lifting and running and loves to incorporate this part of her life by forming creative treatment plans for her patients, so she can help get them back to doing the things they love.
Dr. Kristin was introduced to pelvic health during physical therapy school while performing research for a poster presentation on the topic of surgical site infections following cesarean sections. She soon realized how little information is available for new mothers regarding proper care of their bodies before, during and after pregnancy, and immediately questioned why physical therapy isn’t an established routine-practice following childbirth. Kristin believes she has found purpose in treating patients with pelvic health conditions, in educating the general public about the importance of these intimate health topics, and in starting the conversation about subjects that have far too long been inadequately discussed.
In addition to her pursuits in physical therapy, Dr. Kristin also enjoys creating artistic informative content through her passion as a graphic design artist. She discovered her hidden talent while studying in physical therapy school where she began an educational and entrepreneurial venture to create visual study guides, which she shares with other visual learners through social media. To check out some of Kristin’s work, follow her on Instagram- @ptstudyguide.
Dana Solomon, OT
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Dana came into pelvic health through her years in working with children under the age of 3 and their families. Maternal health was simply not addressed. It became clear that the well-being of baby and mother was deeply intertwined, and postpartum recovery was a mystery to most.
She has grown to find that there is a gap in pelvic health services for all people across the lifespan, race, and gender. In addition to seeing patients through pregnancy & postpartum, she enjoys working with people with pain with intimacy, cesarean and other surgical recovery, pelvic/bladder pain, vaginismus, constipation, and other bowel issues.
Her clinical style incorporates manual therapies (visceral mobilization and myofascial release), yoga, and rebuilding movement patterns that helps you to do the things you love without hesitation, fear, or pain.
When not working with clients, Dana can often be found teaching or practicing yoga, outdoors hiking and trail running, playing out the show Chopped in her kitchen, and trying out her hand at gardening.
Diana Paola Cortés
Diana Paola Cortes (Nanny) is a bilingual Colombiana with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Literature Magna Cum Laude from UMASS Boston and LSW from Massachusetts. Diana is passionate and committed to women’s behavioral and reproductive health. Additionally, Diana studied nursing in her country of origin and is a health educator with an emphasis on reproductive health.
With over ten years of experience working in mental and sexual health, Diana Cortes is devoted to community development, improving educational materials and connecting underserved communities to the resources needed to thrive. Diana’s passions are rooted in health and economic equity, serving under-resourced populations, while promoting personal empowerment, self-advocacy, and self-motivation in individuals.
Diana currently works as a social media manager at the Institute for Pelvic Health (IPH) and translator in the United Language Group.
She loves traveling, and one can never be too sure about where she’s pinned on the globe.
Wellest shares an office space with Erin Walker, Licensed Acupuncturist and owner of Boston Integrated Health, who offers health support to women and their families. With our combined services, we are thrilled to offer a collaborative approach for all your health and wellness needs.
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