January 12, 2025
Not all Pelvic PT Specialists are created equal. Each provider brings a unique combination of clinical training, personality, and dedication to staying current in their field. Becoming a well rounded skilled Pelvic PT Specialist often requires years of advanced postgraduate education, hands-on mentorship, and extensive clinical experience. Just like in any profession, finding the right provider who meets your needs and helps you achieve your goals may require some trial and error.
It takes so much courage to take that first step and seek help. Dealing with a medical condition that’s sensitive in nature can feel overwhelming. It’s confusing, embarrassing, and often tangled with feelings of shame or guilt. You may have spent years keeping your symptoms to yourself, even from a trusted friend, partner, or medical provider. Finally deciding to work with a specialist, only to feel like you’re not making progress, can be incredibly disheartening.
You may have certain expectations for your provider—qualities or criteria that are important to you. Does your current or past provider meet those expectations?
In nearly 30 years of working with patients struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction, I’ve heard many share their frustrations from previous experiences:
“I didn’t feel heard.”
“I felt rushed.”
“They didn’t seem to understand what I was going through or didn’t seem confident they could help me.”
“I had to keep repeating my story to different providers—or even to the same one.”
“It didn’t feel clean or private.”
“I just did pelvic tilt exercises while the provider watched.”
“I only saw the PT rarely”, or, “…for the first visit only.”
“I was not assessed internally.”
“I felt worse.”
“I was just set up with biofeedback.”
If you’re dealing with urinary leakage, you don’t want to discuss your most vulnerable symptoms in a loud, open gym. If painful intercourse has kept you from intimacy with your partner for years, you shouldn’t have to repeatedly share that deeply personal information with a revolving team of assistants. And if you’re living with persistent pelvic pain that defies simple diagnoses, you may have felt dismissed or misunderstood through your diagnostic stage with your physicians. You want to work with a Pelvic PT specialist that has had ample experience working with these conditions.
Far too often, people (particularly those born with a uterus) are told that their symptoms are “normal” and that they just need to live with them. Some are even treated as if they’re exaggerating their pain or seeking attention. It’s heartbreaking.
I’ve lost count of the number of women who have sat across from me over the years and, for the first time, let down their emotional guard. Sometimes they cry, not out of despair but out of relief. Relief that someone understands that their symptoms are real, that they’re not alone, and that there is hope.
These moments—when a patient finally feels safe, heard, and supported—are the most rewarding for me as a pelvic health specialist. That’s why Haven Physical Therapy is named “Haven.” For decades, I’ve reassured patients, “You’re in a safe space….to tell your story, to cry, to laugh, to pause—whatever you need.”
Haven is a sanctuary, a place where you can find relief, regain hope, and begin your healing journey.
That said, I know I’m not the right provider for everyone. If after a reasonable amount of time you’re not seeing progress, I’m always open to discussing other options. Sometimes, seeking a second opinion or trying a different approach is the best next step. A collaborative relationship is important to me. You feeling better is the number one priority.
This post is here to encourage and empower you:
If you’ve been hesitant to try Pelvic Physical Therapy, it’s worth taking that first step.
If your previous experience wasn’t what you hoped for, it’s okay to try again.
You deserve to work with a provider who feels like the right fit. Take time to do your research, ask questions about what’s offered, and even schedule a phone or Zoom consultation to see if a provider’s approach and personality resonates with you.
Finding the right Pelvic PT Specialist can make all the difference—not just in your symptoms but in how you feel about your journey toward healing.
