Ceirra grew up right here in Berks County, graduating from Exeter Township and is an alumnus of Kutztown University. She lives with her husband, two boys, and multiple animals in the borough of Kenhorst where she enjoys gardening, painting, and reading in-between raising her children. When not working, Ceirra can usually be found chasing her kids around on the playground, worshiping at church, or taking her dog for a walk.
Front Office Assistant Christine is originally from Shamokin, PA and moved to the Reading area in 1981 and currently lives in Wernersville. Her experience in retail management, banking, customer service and receptionist is evident in her service-minded spirit. When not working, she enjoys traveling, especially the beach! She also enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is always ready for a new adventure!
Office Manager Darrien is a native of Berks County, graduating from Wilson High School and is an alumna of Messiah College with a degree in Exercise Science. She continued her education into medical billing while settled in Colorado where she was able to do the things she loves: hiking, mountain biking, camping, snowboarding, and just being outside! She moved back to the area with her fiancé to raise their two boys, Bennett and Grayson, and to be close to family. When not working, she loves spending every second with her baby boys, fiancé, and two golden retrievers.
Matt is originally from Minnesota, but he has travelled the country extensively for his 16 years as a PTA and has spent the past 6 years in Lancaster County where he has worked with Kathleen and our aide, Cindy Ulrich. He has a vast range of experiences and skills from his extensive coursework and continuing education. He enjoys working with people of all ages and problem solving to get the best result for the work that his patients put into their sessions. He enjoys travelling, photography, and history. He has enjoyed recent trips to Hawaii and visiting many of the Civil War Battlegrounds.
Aase (pronounced “ACE-uh”) is a 2020 graduate of Arcadia University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and she earned a BA in Psychology from Temple University in 2010. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Pennsylvania and Pelvic Health Chapters. Her treatment focus is in Pelvic Health, for which she has completed training through Herman and Wallace Institute and has received her Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certificate (PRPC) in 2022. She is excited to join her father, Kai’s, practice and bring Pelvic Floor PT to South Mountain Physical Therapy. Aase treats adult patients of all genders for a multitude of conditions, including pain, incontinence, constipation, pregnancy, and postpartum concerns. Aase also has a special interest in treating patients with neurological conditions, especially Parkinson’s Disease, for which she has completed LSVT BIG and Rock Steady Boxing training. In her practice, Aase finds that education is often her most valuable skill. We are not taught much of anything about our pelvic floor but it is such an important aspect of daily function! She appreciates providing information and assistance so that her patients can feel confident in their bodies’ ability to function the way they’d like it to. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, and stays active with running, hiking, and yoga.
Amber is a doctor of physical therapy graduate from Alvernia University class of 2019. She graduated from Arcadia University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in biology, pre-physical therapy. Amber has 3 years of experience treating the geriatric population with emphasis on balance training and decreasing fall risk. Amber recognizes and believes that it is important to consider various domains of function for each patient including biophysical, psychological and sociocultural domains to ensure that each patient has a relevant and individualized plan of care. She believes that being a physical therapist means that you are a “life-long learner” and strives to continue to learn as much as she can to ensure her patients have positive functional outcomes.
Kim has over 25 years of experience as a physical therapist. A Berks County native, she graduated from Exeter High School, obtained her Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Physical Therapy from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, and gained her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Temple University. She is a member of the APTA and PPTA. Kim’s clinical experience is in the outpatient setting, having worked with patients across the generations with a multitude of injuries and conditions. She strives to deliver individualized care, be a good listener, and to actively involve her patients in their treatments, including providing them with education about their condition, to help them achieve their best results. Outside of the clinic, Kim is an avid sports fan, who enjoys traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Certified in Rehabilitation Administration Kathleen is co-owner of South Mountain Physical Therapy and has over 25 years of clinical experience. She started her career as a Health and Physical Education Teacher and Athletic Trainer after recieving her BS in Exercise and Sport Science from Penn State University in 1990. She has worked with the Penn State baseball, fencing, and mens’ gymnastics teams and has also worked with dancers and entertainers at Hersheypark as an athletic trainer. She taught HPE K-12 in her hometown school of Hershey, and worked with children in the schools with various disabilities. Kathleen received her MPT from Hahnemann University (now Drexel University) in 1995 and has worked in various settings including schools, home health, acute rehabilitation hospitals, acute care hospitals. For the past 20 years, she has worked in outpatient orthopedic settings in Lancaster and Reading areas. She has been with South Mountain Physical Therapy for 11 years and is a co-owner for the past 6 years. Kathleen has recently completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Montana. She also has attained a Rehabiliation Administrator certificate from UMT. She has experience with a broad range of injuries and conditions, and is also trained in vestibular rehabilitation (vertigo) and TMJ pain. She enjoys working with people of all ages and working in an environment where the quality of patient care is the first priority and where she shares ideas and knowledge with her peers. She enjoys connecting with patients and developing a relationship of partnership in providing care. She is a member of the APTA and PPTA. Outside of work, she enjoys being outside whenever possible, camping, hiking, boating and kayaking with her husband and getting together with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoys visiting her family from her hometown of Hershey.
Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Dan, a co-owner of South Mountain Physical Therapy, has worked as a Physical therapist in the Berks County area for over 18 years in outpatient orthopedic settings. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, PA Physical Therapy Association, and the Orthopedic Section of the APTA. In addition to his physical therapy license, he has been an certified athletic trainer and worked at numerious high schools and colleges in the Allentown/Bethlehem and Berks County areas. His BS is in Health Education (Athletic Training 1989) and a MS in Physical Therapy from Neumann college in 2000. Dan believes in treating patients as an individual, adjusting treatment programs based on what each individual presents with and needs. He is a constant learnr who is always looking to gain new skills and knowledge. Dan enjoys spending free time traveling places with his wife and two daughters.
Kai has worked closely with Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons, and other professionals in the area for more than 23 years. He is active with continuing education in Orthopedics and Manual Therapy. Kai is a member of the American Association of Physical Therapy (Orthopedic and Private Practice Sections), the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapy, and the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association. His educational background includes an Associates in Zoology, Bachelors in Psychology, Masters in Gerontology, and a Masters in Physical Therapy. His graduate research was in the area of ergonomics. Kai believes in educating every patient about their diagnosis; from anatomy to treatment protocols. There is a constant flow of new research in Physical Therapy. Patient participation is important to Kai in order to achieve optimal results in as short as time period as possible. He is familiar with surgical procedures and treatment protocols for each procedure. Patients are given the tools needed to work on their program at home; he can even send home exercises through the internet. When not in the clinic, Kai enjoys working with his wife Jean on their small farm nearby and getting away on fishing trips. He appreciates his improved lifestyle gained from a hip replacement.
