Great question. Similar to how both OT’s and PT’s can be hand therapists, both can be pelvic health therapists. The main difference between a pelvic health occupational therapist (OT) and a pelvic health physical therapist (PT) lies in their training focus and therapeutic lens, though both can address pelvic floor dysfunction. Often, many pelvic health PTs and OTs will refer to themselves as “pelvic health therapists” to avoid confusion and promote inclusivity of both disciplines in the field.

In general, OT’s approach care through the lens of “occupation”—not just your job, but anything that fills your day: parenting, sleep, self-care, chores, work, exercise, hobbies, and even intimate activities like toileting and sex. We consider not only the physical issue, but also your environment, emotional well-being, sensory needs, in the context of your daily life.

Bottom line - both pelvic health OTs and PTs have different generalized training but have sought additional training in pelvic health. What’s important is finding someone who is a good fit for you.

In-Home Visits:
I come to you! We’ll meet in your home—whether that’s your living room, bedroom, or wherever you feel most comfortable. This is great if you are more of a face-to-face person, want hands-on treatment, like gentle manual therapy or muscle assessments, and don’t feel like driving or dealing with a clinic. Your home is where you’re probably experiencing a lot of symptoms. I want to get to the root of your symptoms, so seeing you in your home in real time can help us do the detective work to solve your problem in the comfort of your home.

Telehealth Visits:
We hop on a video call and work together virtually. It’s perfect for education, movement guidance, nervous system work, and exercises. While I can’t do hands-on stuff over the screen, we can still make real progress. I can guide you through your own feedback based assessments of your body and movements, and a lot of the time, this helps you connect more with your body than you would if I was doing the hands on. Of course - for privacy and dignity purposes all virtual visits are completely clothes on feedback based.

Not sure? Like the idea of having the flexibility to do both? As long as your within the service area just indicate what type of visit you would like when you go to schedule your appointment and I’m happy to accommodate a combination of tele-health and in-home visits. We will reach your goals either way.

Maine is a “direct access” state for occupational therapy, which means you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see me. This is convenient for most because it helps you get care faster—no need to wait for an extra doctor’s appointment just to get a referral, which can save you time and money.

If you do have a referral, or would prefer to have one from your doctor before seeing me, make sure the referral says “pelvic health occupational therapy” or “pelvic floor occupational therapy.”

If you’re planning to submit a Superbill to your insurance, just a heads-up: some insurance companies do still require a referral to reimburse you. If you’re not sure, it’s best to call your insurance to check.

At this time I do not take insurance. This is a hot topic in the therapy world. Unfortunately, insurance can dictate the type of care I provide to you and how much. In addition, many insurances wont cover you until you’ve met your deductible. I’m out-of-network with insurance so I can provide the kind of care that is personalized, one-on-one, and focused on your goals, not rushed by insurance restrictions. This allows me to spend more time with you, avoid unnecessary red tape, and tailor treatment to you, not what an insurance company says is “allowed.”

However, I can provide a superbill - basically a detailed receipt that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement if you see an out-of-network provider (like me). It includes all the important info your insurance needs—like the type of service you received, diagnosis codes, my credentials, and how much you paid.

While a Superbill doesn’t guarantee reimbursement, some insurance plans will pay you back for part of the cost, depending on your out-of-network benefits. It’s always a good idea to call your insurance ahead of time to see what they’ll cover.

In most cases, if someone has Medicaid, you legally cannot charge them cash for services that are covered by Medicaid, even if you're out-of-network or a private-pay provider.

So unfortunately, if you have MaineCare or Medicare as your primary insurance even though I can’t/won’t charge your insurance , I cannot provide pelvic health services to you at this time.

If this applies to you, I am more than happy to try to connect you to a therapist who can help, so please reach out!

Nope—an internal exam is not required for a pelvic health evaluation! You’re in charge of your body and your care, and there are lots of ways we can learn about your pelvic floor without going internal.

We can get tons of amazing helpful info just by looking at how you move, breathe, and how your muscles feel from the outside. If an internal exam ever does make sense down the road, we’ll chat about it first—what it is, why it might help, and if you’re cool with it. While not necessary, internal exams can be very helpful in providing more information about your pelvic floor function. Also - an internal pelvic floor exam is NOT like your typical OB-GYN exam, no speculum required, just a single gloved and lubricated finger.

At the end of the day - you always get to decide what feels right for you. No pressure, no surprises.

Your comfort matters, and one size doesn’t fit all—so I offer four different types of pelvic floor assessments to meet you where you’re at. Click here to learn more and find the approach that feels right for you.goes here