About Us
Our Philosophy
Vibrance Physical Therapy and Wellness is a clinic that recognizes the diverse elements that contribute to health and wellbeing of individuals. The best healthcare is patient-centered and individualized to evaluate and treat the assorted factors implicated in drawing the body away from health and homeostasis. Whether these factors are a result of an automobile accident, sports injury, or chronic disease, we apply a holistic approach to rehabilitation that is formulated to maximize the body’s ability to heal itself.
Our approaches are research-based and results-driven, utilizing proven and innovative techniques to make health attainable for all of our patients.
Our Staff
Helén Åkerberg Evans, PT
With over 30 years of experience working as a physical therapist and a lifetime spent nurturing a passion for healthcare, Helén expanded her practice by opening Vibrance Physical Therapy and Wellness in January of 2019. As founder and owner of the clinic, Helén offers proven and innovative therapeutic techniques coupled with functional nutritional counseling to restore optimal health and wellbeing to patients of the Salem area and beyond.
Helén began her career in healthcare after obtaining a nursing degree in 1985 from Bohusläns Vårdhögskola in Uddevalla, Sweden. Intrigued by the body’s amazing ability to heal itself with proper guidance she went on to become a physical therapist, graduating from the University of Gothenburg in 1988. Helén relocated to Portland the following year and worked at Oregon Health and Sciences University Hospital in neurosurgery, outpatient orthopedics, and sports medicine before moving to Salem, where she has spent the last 27 years working with outpatient orthopedics and TMD patients. In 1999, Helén started specialization in the field of TMJ and has since become the TMD specialist of the area. Helén has been invited to lecture on TMJ and TMD for several annual classes of George Fox University Physical Therapy Program students. Her continuing education has also included studies in orthopedics, sports medicine, spinal stabilization, medical exercise therapy, McKenzie therapy, weight training, posture correction, yoga, and post-op treatment. After decades of observing the accelerated healing power that a balanced diet and lifestyle lends to patients, Helén began rigorous training through the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy and received her first IFNA certification early in 2018. She continues to be invited by collegiate athletics programs to speak on the value of applying nutrition strategies to optimize athletic performance.
When Helén is not at the clinic or reading the latest in healthcare news she enjoys spending time with her husband and two grown children. After more than a decade of coaching youth soccer and watching the beautiful game played at all levels, Helén has found more time to enjoy more of Oregon’s outdoors – hiking, mountain biking, snow skiing, camping, and waterskiing, as well as yoga, cooking, and partaking in Oregon’s fine wine country.
Kaitlyn Kruse
Kaitlyn grew up in Troutdale, OR just east of Portland, right at the start of the Columbia River Gorge. She is currently living in Monmouth and attending Western Oregon University as a senior, and excited to graduate in spring of 2024 with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Human Biology. Kaitlyn’s interest in exercise began early, playing soccer and running distance events in track and field through middle school, then ran varsity cross country and track during high school. She continued her athletic pursuits running for the WOU women’s cross country and track teams during college, and currently writing her thesis on how female endurance runners can prevent hip injuries through strength training. She is excited to begin physical therapy school in the Fall of 2024.
In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys hiking, going on road trips to national parks, baking, paddle boarding in the summer, and going to the gym/weight training.
Mariana Contreras Guerra
After growing up in Phoenix, Oregon, Mariana moved to Monmouth to start her undergraduate studies at Western Oregon University. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology, she has been working as a physical Aide and substitute teaching part time in the Salem area while she applies to physical therapy programs in Fall 2024. Mariana initially became interested in physical therapy through her own rehabilitation during freshman year after a car accident. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Mariana has demonstrated a passion for giving back to her community with an emphasis on diversity and health equity through extracurricular activities, including the Multicultural Student Union and student-led sports science organizations.
In her free time Mariana enjoys reading, watching new shows, trying new foods, hiking, exploring new places, and spending time with friends and family!
Kassidy Noon
Kassidy grew up in a softball family as the youngest of three girls. It was only natural that she started playing softball competitively by the age of 8, although an injury led to an early end to her career at 18. However, it was her own journey through rehabilitating sports injuries that has inspired Kassidy to pursue a career in physical therapy! She sees physical therapy as a powerful tool for athletes in regaining confidence in their bodies through the healing process. Joining the Vibrance team, Kassidy brings a passion for creating lasting physical health and wellbeing for our patients and embodies this in her personal life. Kassidy is currently a senior at Western Oregon University, graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science this spring with plans to begin physical therapy school in the Fall of 2024.
In her free time, Kassidy enjoys reading, cooking health-conscious food, practicing yoga/weightlifting, spending time with her cat Izzy, and drawing with oil pastels.
Nikia Evans, MS, CSCS
While concurrently attending the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Nikia continues her involvement as our coordinator of strength and conditioning. Prior to beginning medical school, Nikia spent a year in Germany playing professional soccer and was a part of NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer at Portland State University, graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. With an extensive personal background in the world of elite performance training and several years of experience coaching youth soccer, Nikia brings knowledge of practical applications of strength and conditioning principles as well as a natural teaching ability to Vibrance Physical Therapy and Wellness. In addition to her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist accreditation through the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2019, Nikia became a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2022 and just graduated with her Masters in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida in 2023.
Nikia spends her free time adventuring with Samara, cooking seasonal meals, making music, and getting together with family and friends as often as she can.
