Ross Valley Physical Therapy

Dr. Lauren Malachowski is currently my treating physical therapist. As someone who has been both a physical therapy patient off and on for the past 40 years, and a rehabilitation professional who worked with physical therapists collegially, and co-treated patients with them, I am eager to let folks know what an exceptionally talented physical therapist Dr. Malachowksi is. Not only is she accomplished with all of the standard and cutting-edge knowledge and skill of a well-trained and licensed physical therapist, but she brings to the work a rare sensibility for grasping the whole person, along with a passionate commitment to assist patients in realizing their rehabilitation goals. Perhaps most unusual, I have found that within a very short time she showed an uncanny intuitive ability to understand exactly what I needed as a patient, despite my presenting with a complicated history of musculo-skeletal challenges. Dr. Malachowski’s uncommon insight as a clinician felicitously combines with an accurate empathic quality and a genuine relational facility that makes the experience of working with her fresh and effective. Most remarkable of all, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Malachowski forged a powerfully functional, individually-honed and fruitful therapeutic relationship with me, entirely through remote means.
Eliezer T. Margolis, PhD
Diplomate in Rehabilitation Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology

Assistant Clinical Professor (Retired)
Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois

I’ve abused this body for 75 years and now I’m paying the price – back, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows. I’ve been to several doctors and physical therapists in several settings – therapy mills, small practices, etc – but I’ve only had marginal results until I found Dr. Lauren Malachowski. She has a small practice that has allowed her to provide careful individualized attention to what ails me. Hers is a whole-body approach that considers not only the specific issues, but how the mind and body affect and are affected by these issues. Her combined approach of both standard therapeutic technique and Pilates enabled me to find relief from my arthritis and neuromuscular problems while developing the core strength and postural awareness to keep these issues under control. She’s pleasant and provides both a therapeutic and personal training experience. It’s like having a PT and personal trainer rolled into one!

Dr. Lauren Malachowski is not simply a physical therapist. She will go the extra mile to ensure you have the motivation needed to achieve your goals.

When treating my long-term knee pain, she tailored an achievable step-by-step plan enabling me to return to distance running. She listened through my skepticism, factored in the daily realities of life, and designed a program tailored to my situation. This dynamic, personalized approach to physical therapy was just what I needed.

If you’re looking for a physical therapist who genuinely cares about you and your recovery, then you are looking in the right place!

I first visited Dr. Malachowski after experiencing unprecedented, acute neck pain, rendering me bed-ridden for a few days. I walked out of my initial appointment with a regained range of motion and much less pain, and continue to feel much better following the exercises she suggested. Dr. Malachowski was attentive, thorough and an expert physical therapist. She clearly explains her methods and the science and rationale as to why she's selecting the specific treatment methods. In addition to immediately addressing and minimizing my acute neck pain, she also gave me a list of preventative measures to take. I highly recommend Ross Valley Physical Therapy and Dr. Malachowski.

Dr. Malachowski is an exceptional PT and my go-to recommendation for everyone I know. It’s always a private session, in a private studio with the actual doctor––not an aide/assistant––it's just me and Dr. Malachowski. The building itself is very nice, clean, warm, spacious, and a great layout. Other clinics were noisy, w/multiple therapists, no privacy, lots of clutter, and the PT typically only spent 15 minutes before they delegated an aide/assistant for the rest of the session. Dr. Malachowski spends a full 60-75 minutes on direct individualized care. Her approach is unique, attentive, present, and she is determined to fix the problem. I never feel like I'm alone on this journey to recovery.

Dr. Malachowski also goes above and beyond to do a thorough evaluation, communicate her assessment and her proposed therapeutic plan, and then she details how each approach works. I appreciate that she brings me into the process and teaches me how to get better by empathetically communicating exactly what's going on.