A message from the founder
The Philae Center was born out of the convergence of a career in physical therapy, new motherhood, and the desire to create a healthcare setting that is both professional and deeply compassionate.
One birth, and another
The founding of the Philae Center is closely linked to another birth: that of my daughter.
My profession has always been very meaningful to me. It involves care, listening, and support, but it also has a more personal dimension: the opportunity, as a woman, to build financial stability, independence within a relationship, and intellectual openness.
When I became a mother, I realized that a child doesn’t just grow up based on what we tell them, but also on what we model in our daily lives. I wanted to pass these values on to my daughter, and that led me to seek my own balance: loving my family deeply while also daring to forge my own professional path.
This balance is built day by day. It exists thanks to Lise, who encouraged me to reflect on myself and grow, but also thanks to my partner Thomas, whose support, trust, and work ethic have made this adventure come to life.
“A place is built, like a balance, day by day.”
From sharing a room to the creation of a center
It was a year after Lise was born, in early 2021, that I started my practice in a treatment room. Since I couldn’t work full-time with a young daughter to care for, I shared my office with a colleague. Together, we gradually felt the need for our own space: a shared rehabilitation room, and above all, the desire to work more closely together, simply to share lunch breaks, clinical discussions, and those moments that bring us together.
This experience gave me the motivation to take the plunge and start my own center. I wanted to create a place where a team could enhance and strengthen their skills, where the work environment was supportive, and where I could bring an approach that reflects who I am: rigorous and professional, yet warm and welcoming.
Over time, the center has grown naturally, particularly with the opening of a second location near the train station in 2023. It has expanded with the arrival of new colleagues, the needs of each individual, and a vision that continues to evolve.
A place for clients,
and for therapists
I have always wanted this to be a place designed as much for the people we support as for the therapists who work here. A place where everyone can feel valued, supported, and respected.
To this day, this vision continues to guide us: to provide care where expertise meets empathy, where each person is welcomed for who they are, and where care remains deeply human.
The people who made this possible
I would especially like to thank my daughter Lise, my partner Thomas, my colleagues… and my cats, who, of course, also played a big part in inspiring the name of the center.
And why “Centre Philae”?
For those who are curious, there’s also a little story behind the name.
Philae is an island in ancient Egypt where the goddess Isis was worshipped; she is associated with the protection of women, mothers, and children. I like the idea that the present is also built upon the past, upon what came before us and inspires us.
Today, scientific knowledge provides answers that, in the past, were more a matter of prayer or hope. It is with this touch of history—and because, deep down, I also carry a measure of faith—that I wanted a name that would bridge the gap between care, history, and humanity.
… And I must also admit that my cats played a part in inspiring me.
Solen Duclos
founder of the Philae Center (2021)
Meet the team
The Philae Center team now consists of seven practitioners, spread across our two locations in Lausanne (Sous-Gare and Riponne).