So You’ve Been Referred to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy—Now What?

If you've been referred to pelvic floor physical therapy, you might be wondering what exactly to expect. For many people, this part of the body can feel mysterious, overlooked, or even off-limits. But the truth is, your pelvic floor plays a vital role in your well-being—physically, emotionally, and energetically. At my practice, I offer a specific kind of care called Integrative Pelvic Floor Therapy, which brings a deeply supportive and integrative approach to this essential part of your body.

What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy is a subspecialty of physical therapy focused on the muscles, fascia, and surrounding structures of the pelvis. Like any physical therapist, a pelvic health specialist will assess your posture, movement, strength, flexibility, breathing, and areas of pain or dysfunction. What sets pelvic floor therapy apart is that it may also involve an internal vaginal or rectal exam—always with your full, informed consent.

These exams allow your provider to directly evaluate the tone, strength, and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles, which can’t be fully assessed externally. Whether you’re dealing with urinary leakage, prolapse, pelvic pain, birth trauma, or simply a sense of disconnection from your core, this work can be transformative.

What Happens in a Pelvic Floor Exam?

A first appointment typically begins like any other physical therapy session—with a detailed conversation and a comprehensive external evaluation. We look at your hips, back, posture, and breath. I may assess for diastasis recti (abdominal wall separation), postural imbalances, or muscular tension in the hips, abdomen, or glutes that could be impacting your pelvic floor.

If an internal exam is appropriate and you consent, I’ll explain everything step-by-step. You’ll lie comfortably on your back with support for your head and legs—no stirrups, and no speculum, because we’re assessing muscle tissue, not your cervix.

Using gloved hands and lubricant, I’ll first do a visual inspection of the external genital area. Then, using gentle palpation, I’ll assess superficial muscles around the vulva and perineum. I may use a finger to assess sensitivity or ask you to engage your pelvic floor so I can observe how it functions. If everything feels comfortable, I’ll gently examine the deeper muscle layers, checking for tone, strength, and balance. This part of the exam usually takes less than five minutes.

From here, we create a treatment plan tailored to your goals. Some follow-up visits may involve internal work, while others focus more on breath, movement, and external release techniques.

Your Pelvic Bowl Holds More Than Organs

The pelvis is not just a structural part of the body—it’s an emotional container. We often hold unresolved emotions, stress, trauma, or old stories in the tissues of our pelvic bowl. It’s no surprise, then, that during pelvic floor work, big feelings can surface. Sometimes patients experience unexpected waves of sadness, anger, grief, or even laughter. This is a normal and natural part of the healing process.

In these moments, we pause. I use a technique called Embodied Alignment—a gentle, somatic method to support you in staying present with whatever arises. Together, we work with breath, sensation, imagery, and grounded support to help you process and integrate what’s coming up.

👉 Want to learn more? Visit my Embodied Alignment page for a deeper look at this powerful mind-body approach.

My Approach: Integrative, Naturopathic, and Yoga-Informed

I practice a specific form of pelvic floor therapy called Integrative Pelvic Floor Therapy, developed by Dr. Kathryn Kloos. This modality blends traditional pelvic floor techniques with whole-person, naturopathic therapies to support healing physically, emotionally, and energetically.

In our sessions, I also bring in my background as a certified yoga instructor to support you with movement, breath, and posture. We may incorporate  gentle intravaginal massage, myofascial release, abdominal & uterine massage, breathwork, visualization simple exercises you can do at home to strengthen or release specific muscles.

This approach is trauma-informed, body-positive, and deeply individualized. It’s about listening to your body, not forcing it into a protocol.

👉 Curious to know more? Learn about Integrative pelvic floor therapy here.

Who Can Benefit from Integrative Pelvic Care?

You do not need to have a “problem” to benefit from pelvic floor therapy. In fact, many of my patients come for preventive care, postpartum healing, support through menopause, or simply to reconnect with their bodies.

Integrative Pelvic Floor Therapy can help with:

• Urinary incontinence or urgency

• Pelvic pain or heaviness

• Pain with sex or orgasm

• Scar tissue and prolapse

• Low libido or pelvic numbness

• Abdominal pain or tightness

• Chronic constipation, IBS and other GI issues

• Preparation for pregnancy or birth recovery

• Menstrual irregularities, PMS or endometriosis

• Fertility

• Postpartum Care

• Energetic boundary issues or past trauma

Women often leave their first session feeling more centered, supported, and aware of their inner landscape. On a physical level, increased circulation and release of tension improves function and flow. On an emotional level, patients report a sense of reconnection and healing.

A Different Standard of Care

Sadly, many people are told that their symptoms are “normal” after birth, after trauma, or with age. I’m here to say: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal—or that you have to live with it.

At the heart of Integrative Pelvic Floor Therapy is this: your pelvic bowl is sacred. Your health, vitality, and connection to your root matter. I bring both clinical knowledge and a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to every session, whether you're coming in for support with symptoms or simply seeking a deeper connection with your body.

If you’ve been referred to pelvic floor therapy—or are just curious about what it could offer you—I invite you to schedule a session and experience what it feels like to come home to your root