Archive for About

Meet the Therapists – Larry Wurn, LMT

What is your name?
Larry Wurn

How long have you been a therapist?
Since 1989, so 22 years

Larry with his beautiful bride, Belinda on their wedding day.

How long have you been practicing the Wurn Technique?
My wife Belinda and I began developing it in 1989. We then incorporated Clear Passage in 1995.

How did you first become interested in this work?
It began when my wife developed debilitating adhesions, after surgery and massive doses of radiation therapy.

Where did you grow up?
Jacksonville, Florida, then moved to San Francisco in 1969. I became Guest Curator at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in 1972, coordinating large, multi-museum shows throughout the San Fransisco Bay area for the next three years.

What’s your favorite food?
I love Indian and Thai food, and anything with lots of garlic!

Where did you receive your education?
University of North Carolina, then transferred to San Francisco State University during a very exciting time in the early 70’s. That was when our campus became a center of protest of the Viet Nam War. I can still remember police on horseback herding students into or away from certain buildings – while I was just trying to get to class.

What is your philosophy on continuing education?
Continuing education is vitally important. You never stop learning. I learn every day from study, from my co-workers, and from my patients.

What conditions do you have experience treating?
My main focus centers around the adhesions that form wherever the body heals. I have extensive experience treating chronic pain, bowel obstruction, female infertility, endometriosis, intercourse and menstrual pain, TMJ, chronic head and neck pain, low back and post-surgical pain.

Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?
Anywhere exotic – where there is no fax machine, phone service or Internet! My favorite is being “away from it all.” For that reason, I love to scuba dive – to just be one of the fish!

What is your favorite part about treating patients?
I love giving people back their lives, and helping make their dreams come true.

Larry treating a patient at Clear Passage's National Headquarters in Gainesville, FL

What do you hear patients say most often after receiving treatment?
“I don’t want to leave; I wish I lived here.”

What one word describes you best?
Inspired.

What drives you every day?
There are people suffering with physical needs that have found no relief, or whose conditions have worsened, using traditional medicine – drugs or surgery. Some have debilitating pain, some have life-threatening conditions; many have been told “there is nothing that can be done for you” or “it’s all in your head” when it is clear to us that they have very real, tangible problems. In most cases, these are conditions that we can reverse.

I love it that we are so often able to give people back pain-free lives and hope using a non-invasive therapy that is based on compassion, and grounded in science.

I love it that to be successful, we must deeply listen to our patients, ask them what they are feeling, and even what they feel needs to happen in their bodies for them to reach their goals. Thus, we empower each patient to help create and direct her/his own cure. Working together with patients to achieve a great result is exciting, powerful and humbling. I am truly blessed to be able to work with people in need, and to help them find a new life, and achieve their goals.

Have a question or comment for Larry? Post a reply below.

Meet the Therapists – Kathy Hess, PT

Kathy is an accomplished equestrian

What is your name?

Kathy Hess

How long have you been a physical therapist?

31 years

How long have you been practicing the Wurn Technique?

I have been certified in the Wurn Technique for six months, but I have been doing most of the hands-on techniques for over 15 yrs.

Which Clear Passage clinic location do you work at?

I am the clinic director for the Northern Virginia location.

How did you first become interested in this work?

I felt like I was missing something with my treatments. I started taking Myofascial Release classes, then became interested in treating women’s health issues. I then started taking additional classes in this area.

Kathy with her family

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the Philadelphia area, specifically Norristown, PA.

What’s your favorite food?

Potato chips

Where did you receive your education?

Univerisity of Pittsburgh

What is your philosophy on continuing education?

I believe it is very important to expand your knowledge base.   I take about 2-3 continuing education classes every year.

What conditions do you have experience in treating?

I have treated patients with chronic pain, adhesions, women’s health issues, orthopedic issues, neurological issues, and amputees.

Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?

My favorite location is Sedona, Arizonia. Going camping anywhere is great to me. I love being outside in the fresh air.

What is your favorite part about treating patients?

Kathy treating a Clear Passage patient

I enjoy helping patients get there life back without pain or limitations

What do you hear patients say most often after receiving treatment?

“I can’t believe I am feeling better.”

What three words describes you best?

Intense, Motivated, and Caring

What drives you every day?

Knowing that I can help people

Have a question or comment for Kathy? Post a reply below.

Clear Passage: A Different Kind of Healthcare Clinic

Clear Passage is very different from many healthcare clinics. Our goal is to put our patients first, to treat them with care and respect, and to help them reach their health goals.

So what’s makes Clear Passage different?

  1. We Learn – We take the time to review and understand your entire medical history. This allows us to create a customized treatment plan based on your needs and goals.
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  3. We Listen – We offer free consultations for you to discuss your condition with a therapist who is familiar with your medical history and can offer insight as to how therapy may benefit you.
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  5. We Value – We want you to be a part of the therapy team that is treating you. We value your feedback, thoughts, and feelings throughout each one-on-one therapy session. We will constantly ask you how you are feeling and what changes you are noticing throughout the week to ensure that you are comfortable.
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  7. We Care – We provide each patient with a private therapy room throughout their week of treatment. This allows patients to relax in a beautifully decorated room during and between treatment sessions.
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  9. We Treat – Our treatment program can be completed in just one week of intensive therapy. Patients often begin therapy on Monday and are finished by Friday afternoon. This allows our patients who travel from out of town to complete treatment without the need to return for follow-up visits. This week also allows you to escape from the distractions of home and work and focus on your health and healing.

If you would like to receive a free consultation with a Clear Passage therapist, simply fill out our online medical history form. After we have reviewed your submitted form, we will contact you to set up your free phone consultation with a therapist.

New Clear Passage Clinic in Virginia

Relief for chronic pain and natural treatment for infertility will soon be available in Northern Virginia, just south of Washington D.C. Clear Passage Physical Therapy welcomes physical therapist, Kathy Hess, to their newest clinic, opening on August 1, 2011.

With over 1,000 babies born to women diagnosed infertile, and research published in major medical journals, Clear Passage Physical Therapy is expanding its pioneering hands-on treatment for infertility and pain to Northern Virginia. Opening August 1, 2011 south of Washington, D.C., the new clinic will provide a natural alternative to surgery for complex conditions including infertility, chronic pain, adhesions, endometriosis, and small bowel obstruction.

“Due to its central East Coast location, this clinic will allow patients from Boston to Savannah the option to travel to the clinic by car, train, or by air to the three nearby airports,” said Belinda Wurn, PT, and National Director for the group.

Clinic Director Kathy Hess, PT, has over 20 years of hands-on therapy skills. While her experience spans many areas of rehabilitation, Kathy has a strong focus on treating chronic pain and dysfunction over the last two decades. Her expanded role with Clear Passage now includes treatment of female infertility, post-surgical adhesion pain, and small bowel obstruction – a common life-threatening condition.



The therapy she will provide, the Wurn Technique®, has been featured in major medical journals for its ability to improve fertility, decrease pain and open blocked fallopian tubes. Her certification will allow the merger of her extensive experience with the pioneering work of the Wurns in their continuing efforts to research uncharted areas of non-surgical therapy. Recent clinical data shows the therapy’s success in clearing small bowel obstruction, a condition previously treatable only by surgery.

About Clear Passage Physical Therapy

Clear Passage Physical Therapy is a network of high quality physical therapy clinics specializing in hands-on treatment of women’s health conditions, adhesions, and chronic pain. Clear Passage treats patients from all over the world. “About 20 percent of our patients are healthcare professionals,” Wurn said.

Clear Passage was co-founded by therapists Larry and Belinda Wurn, a husband and wife team. It was born from Belinda’s own personal experiences and quest for relief from debilitating adhesion pain after surgery to remove cancer.

About the Wurn Technique

The Wurn Technique is a hands-on soft tissue manual therapy developed to treat adhesions, female infertility, pain, endometriosis, and small bowel obstruction. This therapy is practiced exclusively at Clear Passage Physical Therapy clinics.

Fourth Times a Charm

Natural Pregnancy after Three Unsuccessful IVFs – Faith’s Story

After trying to conceive for over a year, I started down the path of infertility treatments. I was 35 years old and the doctors reminded me that I was getting “old.” I started with IUI treatments (two), but when both failed the doctors told me I should start IVF treatments.

I had my first IVF and had three embryos transferred. A few months later, I started experiencing a lot of pain. I went to the hospital and the doctor discovered one of the embryos had implanted in my right tube causing an ectopic pregnancy. He immediately scheduled me for surgery to remove the tube.  After the surgery, the doctor told me I had a lot of scar tissue at my right tube and that I probably had scar tissue surrounding my left tube, as well.

Remarkably, the other two embryos were still alive inside my uterus. However, on a business trip to California, I started getting sick. When they diagnosed that pain, the physicians said that my gallbladder had to be removed. When they then checked on the embryos, we found that they didn’t make it. Crushed, I had to have a D&C as well. After the last round, my doctor again reminded me that I was getting “old” and the only way to get pregnant was to go through another (fourth) round of IVF.

When I returned home, my doctor tried to be positive and said that we should start right away on another round of IVF, but when they checked my uterus, they found that I had remaining tissue and I had to have another D&C before we could start. My second round of IVF began and they transferred two embryos, but with no success.

When my third round of IVF began, the doctors discovered that my uterus lining was not thick enough, so they had to freeze those embryos until my uterus was “ready.” When the third transfer finally occurred; it was also unsuccessful.

After the last round my doctor again reminded me that I was getting “old” and the only way to get pregnant was to go through another (fourth) round of IVF.

I felt that my body had been beat up and I was sick of all the shots. I wanted to try to heal my body and think about next steps, which is when I found Clear Passage Physical Therapy. I found their clinic online and thought it might be the right path for me after what I had experienced. It made sense to me that my body needed to heal and that the therapy was something I needed. I could feel the changes occurring in my body. Even though the IVF doctors told me it would not happen (and I was too old) I have proved them wrong!

I spent one week (20 hours of therapy) at Clear Passage’s Gainesville, FL clinic.  All of the therapists were wonderful and I could feel the changes occurring in my body. I left Clear Passage feeling that my body was in a much better state than when I arrived.

When I returned home, I thought trying another other natural fertility treatment to help heal my body. I started to see a homeopath and began yoga to get my body in shape. I realized that I needed time to heal from all the treatments and surgeries and I wanted to feel stronger.

Then a few months later, I found out that I was pregnant – naturally! I am still a little shocked because I feel great. I think the reason why this worked for me is a combination of everything, but it started at Clear Passage. Even though the IVF doctors told me it would not happen (and that I was too “old”) I have proved them wrong!

Do you have a remarkable story to tell? We’d love to hear it. Leave us a comment below.

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