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To give you the tools to move better, feel better, and live better—without sacrificing the job, the lifestyle, or the identity you’ve worked hard to build.
Our flagship solution, the Clarify & Conquer™ System, bridges the gap between pain and care—helping you take action early, recover faster, and protect your quality of life.
This stigma-free, self-guided system combines a personalized troubleshooting and recovery program with an ongoing support community—giving you everything you need to identify what’s driving your low back pain, follow a customized treatment plan, and stay consistent long after relief begins.
No stigma. No waiting weeks for answers. No pushing through pain in silence.
Founded by Dr. Karen Thomas, an Air Force Veteran and Doctor of Physical Therapy, Venture Out Wellness™ was built for those who give their all—but haven’t always been given the tools to care for themselves.
Meet the Founder
My story starts in 2007, during a clinical rotation at a neuro-rehabilitation center in California. That’s where I met a Wounded Warrior recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury after his vehicle struck an IED in Iraq.
What struck me most wasn’t just his courage — it was the discipline and determination he brought to every single therapy session, and the unwavering love and support of his wife, who was there by his side through every treatment. They were a team — both recovering from the impact of an injury sustained in service to all of us.
That experience changed everything for me.
I wanted to serve a higher purpose — to give back to those who give their all. I made it my mission to someday deploy in his honor as a physical therapist in the military.
Years later, I got that chance. During that deployment — the hardest I’ve ever worked as a PT — my bond with the military deepened. And it was there that I began to see more clearly the barriers service members face when it comes to pain, access to care, and stigma.
There was more I could do.
Everywhere I served, I saw the same truth:
The people who give everything to protect others are often the last to get help for themselves.
What struck me most wasn’t just his courage — it was the discipline and determination he brought to every single therapy session, and the unwavering love and support of his wife, who was there by his side through every treatment. They were a team — both recovering from the impact of an injury sustained in service to all of us.
That experience changed everything for me.
I wanted to serve a higher purpose — to give back to those who give their all. I made it my mission to someday deploy in his honor as a physical therapist in the military.
Years later, I got that chance. During that deployment — the hardest I’ve ever worked as a PT — my bond with the military deepened. And it was there that I began to see more clearly the barriers service members face when it comes to pain, access to care, and stigma.
There was more I could do.
Everywhere I served, I saw the same truth:
The people who give everything to protect others are often the last to get help for themselves.
Dr. Karen Thomas, PT, DPT
Air Force Veteran | Physical Therapist | Founder of Venture Out Wellness™
On deployment in the Middle-East in 2019 - serving under my maiden name Hedenschoug.
Most of my patients called me "Dr. H" - a name that still holds a special place in my heart.
JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING JUST THE BEGINNING
Over the next two decades, I served as a Physical Therapist working with military service members and frontline professionals — on active duty, in the Reserve, and as a government contractor multiple times over. My work took me everywhere: from hospital clinics to Special Warfare training grounds, from conventional units to elite special operations teams, and from post-injury rehab to proactive injury prevention.
Everywhere I went, I saw the same pattern repeat itself:
Service members and first responders pushing through pain for far too long — not because they didn’t care, but because stigma and access stood in the way.
Then one day, a Special Operations service member told me,
“Doc, from day one, we’re told not to go to Medical. It could mess up our careers. It’ll ground us. Don’t go.”
That moment hit hard. I realized the problem wasn’t just access to care — it was the stigma around asking for help.
So, I decided to change that.
I created Venture Out Wellness™ to bridge the gap between pain and care — and built the Clarify & Conquer™ System to give frontline professionals the tools to troubleshoot pain immediately, identify its root causes, and begin recovery without delay.
It’s a stigma-free, self-guided system that combines a personalized low back pain recovery plan with ongoing community support — so no one has to face pain alone or risk their career to get help.
I may wear a different uniform now, but my mission hasn’t changed.
I still serve — just in a new way.
Everywhere I went, I saw the same pattern repeat itself:
Service members and first responders pushing through pain for far too long — not because they didn’t care, but because stigma and access stood in the way.
Then one day, a Special Operations service member told me,
“Doc, from day one, we’re told not to go to Medical. It could mess up our careers. It’ll ground us. Don’t go.”
That moment hit hard. I realized the problem wasn’t just access to care — it was the stigma around asking for help.
So, I decided to change that.
I created Venture Out Wellness™ to bridge the gap between pain and care — and built the Clarify & Conquer™ System to give frontline professionals the tools to troubleshoot pain immediately, identify its root causes, and begin recovery without delay.
It’s a stigma-free, self-guided system that combines a personalized low back pain recovery plan with ongoing community support — so no one has to face pain alone or risk their career to get help.
I may wear a different uniform now, but my mission hasn’t changed.
I still serve — just in a new way.
respectfully,
In 2023, I stepped away from the clinic to go all in on building something new — a movement that redefines what it means to care for yourself while serving others.
The Clarify & Conquer™ System was created to meet you where you are — whether that’s on duty, off duty, or halfway around the world. It’s designed to help you:
This isn’t about “pushing through” anymore.
It’s about reclaiming control — showing up stronger, more grounded, and more resilient in every part of your life.
Because when you move better, feel better, and live better — you’re unstoppable.
You’re not in this alone.
We’re building something bigger together — a community of frontline professionals who are rewriting what recovery and readiness look like.
Welcome to Venture Out Wellness™.
Let’s move better. Feel better. Live better — together.
The Clarify & Conquer™ System was created to meet you where you are — whether that’s on duty, off duty, or halfway around the world. It’s designed to help you:
- Identify the key sources of your pain
- Take immediate, tactical action
- Reclaim the energy, movement, and confidence that pain has been draining away
This isn’t about “pushing through” anymore.
It’s about reclaiming control — showing up stronger, more grounded, and more resilient in every part of your life.
Because when you move better, feel better, and live better — you’re unstoppable.
You’re not in this alone.
We’re building something bigger together — a community of frontline professionals who are rewriting what recovery and readiness look like.
Welcome to Venture Out Wellness™.
Let’s move better. Feel better. Live better — together.
Dr. Karen Thomas, PT, DPT, Cert. DN, RYT200, WAET
Founder & CEO of Venture Out Wellness, PLLC
Woman Veteran Owned & Operated
Venture Out Wellness™: A New Movement in Frontline Wellness
Grab your free guide: 7 quick, tactical strategies to reduce pain and feel better—fast.
- Built for military & first responders
- Easy-to-follow, stigma-free relief
- Crafted by a prior Air Force Physical Therapist
Low Back Pain Can’t Wait.
