our staff

Jeff Shirley, DPT, OCS, Co-owner

Jeff Shirley earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2009 from the University of Montana, after completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at Carroll College. Jeff has advanced his education with focus on treatment of the foot and ankle, hip and knee injury rehab, strength and conditioning, running gait analysis, and he is board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). He enjoys working with athletes, runners, patients recovering from ACL reconstruction, and also a wide variety of post-operative or non-surgical injuries. Jeff developed a passion for health and the human body while growing up playing sports, and he played football for Carroll College. Now he stays active by hiking, running, skiing, and spending time with his wife, Brittney and his two daughters.

Anna Larson, DPT, Co-owner

Anna was born and raised here in Helena. She graduated from Helena High School and played college softball for Seattle University. Anna went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Montana in

2008. Over the course of her career she has specialized in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation in the orthopedic outpatient setting. She also works with several other patient populations including sports injuries, geriatrics, and total joint replacements. She loves taking time to get to know people and truly making sure the patient reaches their goals. Anna was nominated to sit on the Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for the State of Montana back in 2021.

Anna and her husband Shane are kept busy with their three children Kate, Mavryk, and Beau. She loves sports, walking her dogs, and spending time out at her family's lake home in the summer months when they are not at the baseball fields.

Kyle Cicero, DPT, CCFT, USAW L1, Co-owner

Kyle Cicero graduated from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in 2011 with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. He has been practicing in the Helena area since that time. Kyle specializes in low back pain and spine care, post-operative care, shoulder pain, knee pain, and any other of your physical therapy needs. Kyle was a graduate of Carroll College in 2006 and was a member of two National Championship football teams. He continues his support of Carroll College athletics as an active member of the Saints Athletic Association (SAA). Kyle is certified as a level-1 trainer for TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) and can help you with any golfing issues. Kyle is also a Certified CrossFit Trainer (CCFT), USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach, and coach and co-owner of Seven Devils CrossFit. Kyle is a member of #TeamJudgement and has traveled the world judging CrossFit’s elite athletes. Kyle married his
wonderful wife, Kyrie, in September 2018. They welcomed their child, Nico, in January of 2021. They have a dog, Boris, and two cats, Benny and Bishop. If they are not outside enjoying Montana’s scenery on its incredible golf courses, hiking the trails, or fishing its beautiful rivers, you can find the Ciceros outside in their backyard garden, tending their bees.

LaRyn Martin, DPT, CMT

LaRyn grew up in Montana and received her bachelor of science degree from Montana State University in 2004 followed by her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Montana in 2007. LaRyn advanced her knowledge further by doing additional course work and became a Certified Manual Therapist (CMT) through the North American Institute of Manual Therapy. Additionally she has done multiple trainings through the Herman & Wallace Institute to become a pelvic floor physical therapist. She enjoys treating a wide variety of conditions, but specializes in post op orthopedic care, running injuries, foot/ankle disorders, chronic overuse and tendon injuries, neurological disorders and pediatric care. For pelvic health, she treats both female and male clients with a wide variety of pelvic health conditions including incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, prenatal/ postpartum care, pelvic floor and core strengthening, and pelvic floor weakness/ prolapse.
She takes a very hands on approach to her patient’s care, with education being a large component of treatment. She firmly believes figuring out the cause and effect of the patient’s symptoms is the key to a successful treatment. Often one area of the body leads to issues elsewhere and she loves putting the musculoskeletal puzzle together to look at the big picture. LaRyn is an empathetic and caring therapist who is easy to talk to and work with. She enjoys tailoring patient’s treatment plans and home workouts to their lifestyle and specific goals.
When not working, LaRyn enjoys spending time with her husband and two active sons, Max and Kai. Additionally she loves being outdoors, doing adventures around Montana, doing DIY home improvement projects, baking, and cheering her kids on in their multiple sports and activities.

Sierra Richmond, DPT, Functional Dry Needling, CSCS, Pelvic Floor PT

Sierra Richmond joined Ascension Physical Therapy following a year-long orthopedic clinical residency program in Madison, WI, in 2017. During her time in Wisconsin, Sierra taught at the UW-Madison PT program and underwent extensive orthopedic training. As part of her residency training, she presented five clinical case studies. Sierra earned her undergraduate degree from Carroll College and obtained her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Montana. She pursued clinical experiences in Helena with Montana VA Health System and worked in Big Sky treating winter athletes. She also participated in a sports and pediatric clinical internship in Cape Town, South Africa. Sierra emphasizes a team-based approach in the clinical partnership with her patients to develop the tools and establish the habits that help them move better, return to their desired activities, and achieve their fitness goals.
Sierra enjoys spending her free time outdoors with her husband, John, and their dog, Rollo. You can often find her running on Helena’s trails, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking and floating on Montana’s rivers.
Contact Sierra at sierra.ascensionpt@gmail.com

Dan Barraclough, DPT, CSCS

Dan Barraclough grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota where he developed a passion for sports, exercise and the outdoors. Sports would lead him to Dickinson State University in North Dakota, where he received an athletic scholarship to play basketball. During his time at Dickinson State University he completed his Bachelors of Biology with minors in Chemistry and Coaching, as well as, meeting his eventually wife Shayla, a native of Helena, MT. Dan’s initial desire to become a physical therapist began after several injuries during adolescents and sports that would require physical therapy treatment. This desire would become a reality after completing his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2010 at the University of Montana and becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist during his studies. Since his formal physical therapy education, Dan has furthered his knowledge through many hours of continuing education, which includes dry needling, spinal manipulation, blood flow restriction therapy, and many other evidence-based treatments for the extremities and spine. Dan has a passion for treating a variety of conditions including post-operative orthopedic care, injuries of the shoulders, hips, knees, cervical and lumbar spine. As a former athlete, Dan also enjoys getting to work with athletes of all ages to help them to recover from injury and resume their passions. Dan and his wife Shayla have two beautiful little girls named Blake and Brynn who bring them countless joy and laughter while keeping their parents very busy. When Dan is not in the clinic, he loves spending time with his two daughters, which includes getting to coach them in a variety of sports and chasing them down a mountain while skiing. His other joys in life are hiking, hunting (more wondering than hunting), fishing and enjoying an occasional good beer.

Chris Shafer, DPT, OCS, CSCS, NSCA

Chris Shafer earned a Bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Montana State University in 2009 and earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The University of Montana in 2018. Chris went on to become board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Chris is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). His practice philosophy focuses on bridging the gap between orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation so that he can help anyone achieve their rehabilitation goals regardless of injury. He enjoys working with athletes recovering from orthopedic injury, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury. Chris’s specialties include concussion management and return to sport programming. As a former competitive skier, mountain biker and triathlete, Chris understands the motivation to return to sport when injury strikes and he is motivated to help any person achieve their performance goals. When not in the clinic, Chris can be found outside exploring the mountains and getting ready for his next adventure.

Jamie Carter, DPT

Jamie is originally from Camas, WA where she grew up with her older brother and younger sister. She graduated from Carroll College with a degree in Health Sciences. She was also a member of the Carroll College Women’s Soccer team where she was a three-time All-American goalkeeper. She wanted to follow in her mom’s footsteps as a physical therapist so she furthered her education at Trine University in Indiana where she graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. She dedicated herself to gaining extensive experience across various clinical settings, honing her skills in orthopedics, sports rehabilitation, neurological conditions, and beyond. She is a certified oncology rehabilitation therapist through the Physiological Oncology Rehabilitation Institute (PORi). In her free time she enjoys playing adult league soccer, hiking around Helena, and discovering new books to read.

Favorite food? Steak

Favorite vacation spot? Sisters, OR

Favorite holiday? Christmas

Favorite book series? Throne of Glass

Favorite drink? Iced white mocha

Favorite TV show? Friends

Amy Moses, Office Manager

Amy was born and raised in Butte and graduated from Butte High School in 1991. She attended and graduated from Montana Tech in 1995 with a degree in Technology and Business Development and a minor in accounting. Amy lived in San Jose, California and the Bay Area for eighteen years and spent the majority of her career in Retail Management. She was a Department Manager for Macy’s for three years and a store Manager for Coach Handbags for twelve years. In 2017 Amy moved back to Montana and worked as a Para Educator at Four Georgians Elementary School for two years before joining our team at Ascension Physical Therapy in 2019. In her spare time she enjoys movies, wine tasting and frequenting local restaurants and spending time with her family and friends.