PHYSICAL THERAPIST CRANIOSACRAL THERAPIST

Kay Schaefer, PT, MPA
Kay has a superb understanding of the relationships between body, mind, and spirit. She brings sensitivity, compassion, and wisdom to each of her patient sessions and we are pleased to welcome her to Alchemy.
As a physical therapist and long time meditator, Kay brings a diverse and balanced skill set to the Alchemy team. Her presence fosters confidence and ease, while her experience and knowledge targets the specific needs of each client.
Kay relies on a client-directed approach to each session, which empowers optimal health and healing. Education for post session self care is fundamental to her work. Her patients say that when they understand what is happening medically and physically, they are better able to relax and focus on their healing plan. Each person’s challenge is understood within the context of the whole body and life goals.
After sailing into Annapolis 3 years ago from Arlington, VA, Kay has had a successful private practice on Bestgate Road. She loves the community and lifestyle and is ready to shift her work life balance and is excited to join Alchemy. In fact she has already brought her 47 years of experience to many of our Multi-therapist and Intensive Sessions over the last year. The shift to Alchemy will allow Kay more personal time for family life, sailing, education, and some writing projects.
Kay sees clients on Tuesday and Thursday each week, her rate is $140 per hour.
Kay has a superb understanding of the relationships between body, mind, and spirit. She brings sensitivity, compassion, and wisdom to each of her patient sessions and we are pleased to welcome her to Alchemy.
As a physical therapist and long time meditator, Kay brings a diverse and balanced skill set to the Alchemy team. Her presence fosters confidence and ease, while her experience and knowledge targets the specific needs of each client.
Kay relies on a client-directed approach to each session, which empowers optimal health and healing. Education for post session self care is fundamental to her work. Her patients say that when they understand what is happening medically and physically, they are better able to relax and focus on their healing plan. Each person’s challenge is understood within the context of the whole body and life goals.
After sailing into Annapolis 3 years ago from Arlington, VA, Kay has had a successful private practice on Bestgate Road. She loves the community and lifestyle and is ready to shift her work life balance and is excited to join Alchemy. In fact she has already brought her 47 years of experience to many of our Multi-therapist and Intensive Sessions over the last year. The shift to Alchemy will allow Kay more personal time for family life, sailing, education, and some writing projects.
Kay sees clients on Tuesday and Thursday each week, her rate is $140 per hour.
Whether you seek physical therapy for a body injury or illness or you seek consultation for strengthening, alignment, and balance; the concept of enhancing your vitality supports each and every visit.
- KAY SCHAEFER, PT
KAY'S MODALITIES
WORKING WITH KAY

Each person receives a complete assessment and treatment plan guided by your issues and goals. The approach is to use minimally invasive techniques, exercises and targeted education to positively impact quality of life, activity modification and return to optimal function.
Kay’s professional training, experience and empathetic nature enable her to help you in your journey of optimal healing and a pain free active lifestyle. Her passion is supporting people to achieve their functional life goals through passive and active therapies. Pain, injury and trauma activate body tension which impedes healing. Kay has found that CST and other manual therapies which quiet activation, deepen the breath and soften tension play a critical role in restoring and maintaining optimal physical health.
Kay’s professional training, experience and empathetic nature enable her to help you in your journey of optimal healing and a pain free active lifestyle. Her passion is supporting people to achieve their functional life goals through passive and active therapies. Pain, injury and trauma activate body tension which impedes healing. Kay has found that CST and other manual therapies which quiet activation, deepen the breath and soften tension play a critical role in restoring and maintaining optimal physical health.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
A personalized, one-to-one, hands-on, gentle approach recognizes your unique path to recovery and vitality. Kay will often integrage CranioSacral Therpay, Visceral Manipulation, Neural Manipulation, and strain-counter strain into sessions.
ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS: Pre-op and Post-op, as well as strategies to avoid surgery or more invasive treatments. Rotator cuff injuries, knee pain, back, neck, and hip pain can all be addressed. SPINAL CARE Neck, back and sacral pain conditions treated with the focus on your life goals. CLIENT EDUCATION When you understand the anatomy of your condition and the steps to take for healing and well-being, you are better equipped to support your health and healing goals. INTEGRATIVE APPROACH your physical condition and goals are not separate from who you are as a whole person. Your emotions, spirit and energy impact and are impacted by your condition and are considered part of your whole treatment. TOTAL MOTION RELEASE
PAIN FREE EXERCISE - MOTION IS LOTION
Total Motion Release (TMR) is a revolutionary form of rehabilitative exercise that is simple, pain-free and results oriented. Although TMR is based on the neurophysiology of movement, it is easy to teach and usually requires just 2-4 simple exercises to do at home between sessions. TMR is an effortful, but pain free exercise approach which restores strength, flexibility and function. TMR not only restores body symmetry and strength, it takes very little time and patients can easily be taught to self-treat. TMR is an effective treatment for a wide range of clinical diagnoses affecting the back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot. This may include diagnoses encompassing soft tissue, muscles, joints, bone and nerves, back pain, neck pain, concussion, soft tissue injuries, knee pain, headache, soft tissue injury, cumulative trauma disorders, and postural stress, |
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
CST is a gentle, light touch bodywork that can improve the function of the central nervous system and in turn promote the body’s own self healing mechanisms. Through listening and working with the cerebrospinal fluid and the supporting structures a profound change can begin to take place in the body’s neurological patterning. CST creates a container by which the body’s natural healing processes is supported and encouraged. This can be used preventively, and is an effective aid for many concerns.
CranioSacral Therapy has facilitated relief from migraines, chronic low back pain, physical and emotional trauma, sinus problems, chronic pain and long-term unresolved health concerns for adult clients. Kay has integrated her CranioSacral Therapy experience and training into most all of her sessions. Using these skills, along with her Physical Therapy background to work with clients who present with more complex issues. Whether is it long-term illness or injury, a chronic condition, or a significant recent challenge, she finds these challenges rewarding and has worked with many clients to achieve results they were not able to find with other therapies. Learn more about CranioSacral Therapy MULTI-THERAPIST SESSIONS
When clients are experiencing more complex challenges, their progress during sessions isn't holding, multiple compensation patterns are apparent, or the client wants to speed up treatment are good opportunities for multi-hands sessions with two or more therapists.
With a foundation in CranioSacral Therapy, the multi-hands work brings a broader attention, increased energy, more security, and a great deal of experience to the client. Multi-hands work is effective for three main reasons. The first is structurally more therapists are going to be able to hold the entire compensation pattern. Second, more people mean more energy and often this correlates with added security, and less resistance which creates more efficient sessions. Finally, multiple therapists equal more skills and tools to best resource the client’s inner wisdom. Generally, the client's primary therapist at Alchemy will make the recommendation and suggest the additional therapist(s). Learn more about Multi-Hands Sessions SOMATOEMOTIONAL RELEASE
SomatoEmotional Release (SER) is a treatment approach that arises organically during a session when a client has emotions, stories, patterns or belief systems enmeshed in tissue from injuries and/or traumas. A global whole body reorganization often takes place when these memories and or emotions are re-experienced and resolved by the client during a session.
SomatoEmotional Release is not a technique that is done by a therapist. When it arises, the process needs to start with permission; this is given by both the safe, supportive touch of the therapist and answered by the client’s system, their inner wisdom. It is also important to note that SER is not talk therapy and sessions are not scheduled specifically for this work, as how and when it arises is not something that can be planned for, it is an organic process. |
Bringing Balance To Your Life
- KAY SCHAEFER
ABOUT KAY

Kay Schaefer, PT, MPA graduated with honors from Ithaca College with a degree in physical therapy. In order to better understand the political and business environment in which health care is delivered, Kay earned her Master’s of Public Administration specializing in health care administration from American University. She is currently licensed in Maryland and Virginia.
Kay has been self-employed for over 30 years and has worked and consulted in home care, in hospitals and in rehabilitation centers. In addition to Total Motion Release, Craniosacral Therapy, Conscious Breathing and Embodiment Meditation, her professional experience includes visceral manipulation, post-concussion rehabilitation, head and neck pain treatment, and chronic pain management. Every patient receives one-on-one, hands on treatment in a private, welcoming space.
Her professional career includes active membership in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She has held numerous official positions including two terms as the elected Chapter President of the Washington, DC Chapter; two terms elected to the Board of Directors of the Private Practice Section; and five years as Editor of Physical Therapy Today, the official journal of the Private Practice Section of the APTA.
Although her background and education are diverse and inclusive of systems theory, her primary focus and professional concerns have always been the unendingly unique biology in which an injury, pain or dysfunction can exist.
Kay has been described by her peers and patients as highly skilled, knowledgeable, dedicated, committed and well-trained. She is generous with her time with each individual and brings sensitivity, compassion, and wisdom to each session.
Catherine sees clients Monday through Friday, and one Saturday each month, she has with late afternoon and evening hours on Tuesday and Thursday. The focus of her practice is CranioSacral Therapy, and she will integrate her other specialties into sessions as needed. Catherine's rate is $125 per hour.
Kay has been self-employed for over 30 years and has worked and consulted in home care, in hospitals and in rehabilitation centers. In addition to Total Motion Release, Craniosacral Therapy, Conscious Breathing and Embodiment Meditation, her professional experience includes visceral manipulation, post-concussion rehabilitation, head and neck pain treatment, and chronic pain management. Every patient receives one-on-one, hands on treatment in a private, welcoming space.
Her professional career includes active membership in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She has held numerous official positions including two terms as the elected Chapter President of the Washington, DC Chapter; two terms elected to the Board of Directors of the Private Practice Section; and five years as Editor of Physical Therapy Today, the official journal of the Private Practice Section of the APTA.
Although her background and education are diverse and inclusive of systems theory, her primary focus and professional concerns have always been the unendingly unique biology in which an injury, pain or dysfunction can exist.
Kay has been described by her peers and patients as highly skilled, knowledgeable, dedicated, committed and well-trained. She is generous with her time with each individual and brings sensitivity, compassion, and wisdom to each session.
Catherine sees clients Monday through Friday, and one Saturday each month, she has with late afternoon and evening hours on Tuesday and Thursday. The focus of her practice is CranioSacral Therapy, and she will integrate her other specialties into sessions as needed. Catherine's rate is $125 per hour.
WORKING WITH KAY
Kay sees clients on Tuesday and Thursday during the day. Her practice focuses on Physical Therapy and CranioSacral Therapy, and she will integrate her specialties as needed. Kay's rate is $140 per hour.