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 still devotes many weekends each fall watching her son play in collegiate soccer games across the region. She also makes time for outdoor adventures – hiking, mountain biking, snow skiing, camping, and waterskiing, as well as yoga, cooking, and partaking in Oregon’s fine wine country.
Micah McLeish
It was after moving from Arizona to Lincoln City, Oregon that Micah first discovered his love of the outdoors at the age of 11 with a new backyard of forests, rivers, and the ocean! Joining cross country during his sophomore year in high school allowed for even more exploration of wilderness, and fostered an interest in sports as well as a fascination for exercise and the limits of the human body. This led naturally to currently majoring in Exercise Science at Western Oregon University with a future goal of becoming a physical therapist to support people through the difficult times of injury. Through personal experiences in training for foot races, competitive swimming, and weightlifting, Micah is also interested in becoming certified personal trainer.
In his spare time Micah enjoys listening to music, exploring the outdoors, and doing a variety of sports that keep his active self feeling alive!
Taylor Harris
Taylor was born and raised in Boise Idaho, moving to Salem in order to attend Corban University where she is currently a junior double majoring in Biokinetics as well as Kinesiology. It was through years of involvement in athletics, specifically volleyball and soccer, and experiencing her own journey through sports rehabilitation, Taylor became interested in physical therapy. She is passionate about living an active and outdoor lifestyle, while enabling others to do so as well! After graduation, Taylor plans to pursue a doctorate in Physical Therapy.
In her free time, Taylor enjoy hiking, camping, 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 junior at Western Oregon University, majoring in exercise science!
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, CSCS
While concurrently attending the OHSU 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, Nikia is also finishing coursework to become a Bio Force Certified Conditioning Coach.
Nikia spends most of her free time adventuring with her pup, cooking seasonal meals, making music, and getting together with family and friends as often as she can.