Frequently Asked Questions
I do not accept any insurance, because I work for YOU, not an insurance company. Insurance companies can dictate the type of treatment that is performed and what they deem “necessary” even though they are not medical professionals and, more importantly, don’t know your story. Insurance companies also have strict rules of “treating one body part” but you will always be treated as a full person here, as your whole body is interconnected.
HOWEVER, I am happy to provide you a superbill for each session. A superbill is a special receipt you can submit to your insurance company and they may reimburse a percentage of your cost. I cannot guarantee payment, but typically at the very least the cost will go toward your deductible.
Need more reasons to come to a cash-pay clinic? At a traditional physical therapy clinic, you may see the actual therapist for 15-30 minutes, which does not give you the same amount of personalized care as 60 minutes sessions. Furthermore, when working through insurance, many people have a copay of $30-$50 each treatment session. Patients are often treated 2-3x/week, which could potentially add up to $150/week out of pocket – more than what I charge for personalized treatment. You also don’t have to worry about extra cost if you have not yet met your deductible.
I will always treat you one-on-one for at least one hour sessions. You will not be “handed off” to a tech or an assistant and I will not waste your time with things you can do independently at home. With the type of treatment methods I use, I do not need to see patients more than 1x/week. And you can take an active role in deciding the frequency that works for you, your condition, your budget, and your lifestyle. I don’t agree with “surprise bills.” I want you to know what you are paying up front! I believe in fee-for-service and want transparent costs – there will never be any hidden fees.
The focus for the first visit always includes getting a detailed history and learning your story. After this, an examination will follow of important body structures, movement, and testing to determine root cause of symptoms. Then we will begin to develop a plan of care to achieve your goals.
For some conditions, an internal examination may provide useful information. This is not typically done at the first visit, and always depends on patient comfort level. Moreover, you are always welcome to bring a partner or friend to your appointments.
Most patients notice improvement after a single treatment session. The number of follow-up visits depends upon individual needs/goals and each person is very different. Some have been experiencing issues for years – or even decades – and likely will require more visits.
Each session will focus on empowering you with information and programs so you can take charge of your health and do independent work at home. I want you feeling confident in yourself and your body. Lastly, a good rule of thumb is the more work you are willing to do at home, the quicker your results.
You are NEVER the wrong age to get treatment! I have treated people from age 6 to 103 years old. I know that everyone can always improve – even if an injury or surgery happened decades ago.
For example, I treated a patient who had chronic low back pain for years. She also happened to have a couple c-sections 40 years prior. Once we started treatment, her back pain subsided.
You may be surprised how much progress you can make in even a few short sessions.
A common belief is that women have pelvic issues only after having a baby. This could not be further from the truth! Many teenagers (to their mother’s surprise) have pelvic issues similar to their own. This includes but is not limited to urinary leakage with activity, pain using tampons or having routine gynecological exams, painful menstruation, tailbone pain, constipation, and more. All of these issues can be helped with specialized pelvic physical therapy!
It is important to have these conversations with your daughters and to get them help if needed. Not only can these issues be annoying, but it can indicate other underlying issues with their core. Treatment can help improve athletic performance, prevent injury, and promote overall wellness.
Yes yes and YES! Pregnancy, birth, and recovery are big life events, after which the focus is all on the baby – even though mom deserves recovery support. The six-week check up is not enough. It is ridiculous that we send someone with a sprained ankle to physical therapy, however, a woman has a baby and she is briefly “okayed” to “return to normal activity” six weeks out without a second thought. Many other countries routinely send their women who are postpartum to a pelvic physical therapist. As a pelvic therapist, I am in mom’s corner making sure she heals, quickly and fully, so she can enjoy the time with her new baby.
Nope. This is not the “price to pay” for having a baby or aging. I like to say it may be common but it is not normal and it can be treated! This is true for countless pelvic issues, so don’t write off your issue as something you may have to live with for the rest of your life.
You can prepare for childbirth through the use of biofeedback, a non-invasive little machine that can help you see if your pelvic muscles are relaxed or contracted. This is helpful because you can learn to “push” in various positions and see which ones may work best for your body to open the pelvis and deliver your baby. Patients report feeling much more confident before and during labor after this education!
