Frequently asked questions
About Physical Therapy:
What is “pelvic” physical therapy?
Pelvic PT is a specialized type of PT that takes into account the muscles, nerves, and tissues that are in the pelvis and pelvic floor AS WELL AS everywhere else. Pelvic PT’s have additional skills in evaluating and treating internally (vaginally/rectally) as well as externally, treating pregnant/postpartum individuals, & taking into account bladder, bowel, & sexual function. There are varying degrees of expertise among pelvic physical therapists, & finding one who has expertise in your particular concern(s) is vital. Rachel has more than 17 years of experience as a pelvic health physical therapist, & has built a reputation around seeing complicated & rare cases.
What’s the 1st Visit like?
While it may sound scary or out of the ordinary to you as a new patient going to pelvic PT, it’ll be okay! It’s just like going to another type of PT, where we sit & talk about your symptoms, ask pertinent questions about your history & your life, & then will do a physical exam. This physical exam can be general or specific to a body region depending on your symptoms. While we may suggest doing an internal exam to evaluate the pelvic floor, some patients choose to defer this. We will start with education & practical skills, & you will go home with at least one thing to do to start your path to healing.
What if I live outside of NC?
Rachel is licensed as a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the state of North Carolina, & therefore is only able to provide physical therapy evaluations & treatment if you physically present in North Carolina. If you do not live in NC, Rachel is still available for pelvic coaching & consulting services, which are intended to provide education & general guidance on pelvic & sexual health concerns. She may have you see a PT that is local to you for hands-on care, in consultation with her.
About Sex Education/Counseling:
Am I “Normal?”
YES! You. Are. Normal. You are normal if you are the person who avoids bedtime or sensual contact because you are tired, who wants sex more often than your partner(s), who has never had “sex” (AKA penile-vaginal penetration) with your partner/spouse because of pain, who is scared to try sex after baby/surgery/divorce/etc., who is interested in exploring solo sex but doesn’t want to search Amazon for a sex toy, who is in a new relationship and wants to try new things, who has shame around all things sexual, or who has a history of sexual or other trauma and is wondering if you’ll ever move past it. ALL of those and many, many more are absolutely normal. Gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual? Normal. Single, monogamous, polyamorous? Normal. All of this makes you uncomfortable? Normal. All of this makes you SO excited to work on it? Normal.
What if I don’t have a partner right now?
Awesome. It’s a great time, whether you want a sexual partner(s) in the future or not! We are sexual beings all on our own, and you can and should absolutely experience pleasure as your human birthright. I encourage you to try “dating yourself” … treat your body as if she/he/they are a brand new, special, exciting, curious experiment and see what you learn!
What is Sexuality Counseling?
Sexuality Counseling is getting one-on-one sex education from a qualified healthcare professional (in this case, a pelvic physical therapist) who knows how to evaluate your specific situation and advise you as you work through your opinions, perspectives, desires, and goals around sex and intimacy. It is like physical therapy in that you and your therapist together identify things that you would like to work on and then your therapist uses practical education and tools to address those things.
What if I am embarrassed?
It is completely okay to laugh or cry in our sessions and to feel ANY emotion that comes up. Because there is so much shame in our culture around sex and our bodies, we feel a variety of emotions when we talk about those things. Because I am a healthcare practitioner, all privacy rules apply. Our sessions, whether in person or remote, will be private, and my clinical notes will never be shared without your written permission.
What if I already have a (mental health) therapist?
Excellent! Even better. Sexuality Counseling is NOT mental health therapy, and so getting mental health therapy (before, during or after) from a qualified therapist is highly recommended if you feel you need it. As a child of a Marriage & Family Therapist, I believe that everyone needs mental health therapy at least at SOME point in their lives! Sexuality counseling is a great adjunct to talk therapy for folks who want to specifically work on sex and sexuality concerns with a healthcare practitioner who can provide up to date, anatomically correct, practical, and sex positive information.
Do you have experience seeing/hearing ________?
I won’t claim to have seen or heard “it all” but I have more than 15 years of experience treating humans and concerns about their bodies and sex. I welcome all identities and sexualities, backgrounds and belief systems, and I will work with you to set goals that are consistent with what you believe and you desire. I strive to maintain a safe space, physically and emotionally, as I am honored to get to be a part of your life.