Protean Therapy

Protean therapy:

“Protean” is the capacity “to change frequently or easily.” “Therapy” is any “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.” So, protean therapy helps you adapt to a rapidly changing world.

Protean man:

Entomologist E. O. Wilson and psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton discuss the adaptability of protean man. Accelerating techno-industrial change and cultural evolution increase demands on modern humans. The survival of Homo sapiens depends on the prudence of wise men and the pragmatism of protean man.

Small changes:

Humans experience small changes. Our biological traits are largely locked in. We cannot choose to be taller but we can try to have offspring with someone who is tall.

Big changes:

Species experience big changes. We cannot spontaneously grow fins or wings but descendants that live near water or treetops may develop traits that promote diving and gliding. Over millions of generations, species may evolve to breathe underwater or fly through the air.

Sociality:

Humans leverage cultural evolution to create technology that transports us across oceans, through the skies, and into the depths of the sea. All these superpowers are built on sociality. E.O. Wilson referred to Homo sapiens as a eusocial species. We must live and work together to survive. But humans, especially in the Western Hemisphere, often identify as individuals.

Individualism:

You have a unique set of traits, strengths, and weaknesses that makes you, you. So, any treatment designed to help you live a happier and healthier life should be tailored to you and your needs. You are the only person who has always been there for you, so you are your best advocate in your quest for health.

Nature, Nurture, & Nuance:

Life is constantly changing. Health changes with it. Health depends on heredity, behaviors, and environments (i.e. genetic, epigenetic, & environmental interactions). Healthier habits, upbringings, inherited traits, and environmental exposures begin with improved awareness of nature, nurture, and the nuances of their interactions.

History, Habits, & Health:

Your past history and present habits determine the future of your health. Since you are a member of a (eu)social species, much of your past, present, and future is shared with others. Health demands a better understanding of the biopsychosocial and geopolitical reality of the world you inhabit.

Helping yourself to a healthier life:

I’m here to help you use your past and present to build a bright future. My writing and services bring actionable context to complex topics. All you have to do is read and subscribe. Are you ready and willing to help yourself to health?

Josh Telfer, BSc, DPT/PT, CLT, MPH

Bottom Line Up Front:

Josh’s broad health sector exposure and background providing care in hospitals, clinics, and homes helps him better understand and empathize with his clients. As a licensed Physical Therapist (PT), Certified Lymphatic Therapist (CLT) and Master of Public Health (MPH), Josh is trained in physical rehabilitation, lymphedema treatment, and disease prevention. His collaborative client-centered approach aims to help you help yourself to a longer and healthier life.

Individual Health:

Josh was born in the middle of the United States and spent parts of his childhood as a “missionary kid” in Lisbon, Portugal and Maputo, Mozambique before completing High School in Warren County, Missouri and studying exercise science at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Josh gained health service experience working as a patient safety and aftercare assistant in hospitals and clinics during his years in University. Josh completed two academic degrees, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in 2013 and a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Missouri State University in 2016 before providing physical therapy services as traveling therapist, civil servant, and public health officer.

Population Health:

Josh completed a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona Online in 2021. He also gained experience in incident command logistics and disease/disaster response while working on public health projects and missions. Josh worked as a physical therapist (PT) and public health officer in New Mexico, Southwest Missouri, and Oklahoma before returning to the greater St. Louis area in 2025. The health companies Josh has worked for over the last 15 years include a mix of non-profit, for-profit, public, private, and government organizations: SSM Health, Elder Care, AMN Healthcare, Indian Health Service, United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Integrity Home Care & Hospice, Select Medical, Mercy, Cox Health, and FYZICAL.

Hobbies:

Outside of work, Josh enjoys reading & writing, running & hiking, playing or coaching team sports, and traveling with family & friends.

Health scout:

My education and multicultural exposures and experiences in healthcare and public health systems give me enough range to write at the intersection of history, habits, and health. I specialize in synthesizing biopsychosocial and geopolitical events into practical awareness that improves your health. I’m just another [health] scout you can use to improve your life. So, subscribe and stay tuned. Scouting report pending…