Why choose Mind Body Pelvis?
Mind Body Pelvis is a specialized physical therapy practice with a sole focus on pelvic health through an individualized and holistic approach where we strive to meet the underlying emotional and spiritual needs of those seeking care. Mind Body Pelvis’s mission is to provide a serene, comfortable, and inclusive environment where individuals can receive high-quality and compassionate pelvic health care from a dedicated specialist.
At Mind Body Pelvis, clients experience far fewer limitations to receiving pelvic health care through our out-of-network approach. This allows treatment to be driven 100% by the client’s needs in a comfortable setting that is designed for individually-centered pelvic health care, rather than rushed, abbreviated appointments and treatments dictated by insurance billing guidelines.
What does this look like for clients receiving care at Mind Body Pelvis?
- All visits are 60-90 minutes in length, one on one with Dr. Natalia, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner, and Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist. Dr. Natalia emphasizes trauma-informed care in order to create a safe and inclusive space for favorable client outcomes.
- Clients will receive the entirety of their session with Dr. Natalia and will never be shuffled off to an aide or perform any part of their treatment alone.
- We are able to perform holistic assessments and treatments with the client’s best interest in mind. Our approach is not limited to one part of the body based on an insurance diagnosis code. We are able to evaluate and treat the person as a whole, and find the root cause or the “why” to their symptoms.
- This holistic approach ensures that each client is truly receiving the highest standard of individualized pelvic health care, and not cookie cutter interventions.
- All clients are able to request a superbill to submit to insurance for reimbursement.
How to schedule an appointment
For convenient scheduling, simply select the “BOOK HERE” button at the top of this page. Alternatively, feel free to reach us for immediate assistance. If you prefer, you can also fill out our contact form, and we guarantee a response within 24 hours.
Insurance Information
Please refer to our dedicated Insurance Info page linked in our main menu.
Do you accept Medicare?
Since Medicare guidelines state that those covered under Medicare Part B must see a Medicare provider for physical therapy services, we are unable to treat or accept self-pay individuals with Medicare insurance.
Do I need a referral or script to see you?
Nope! The Direct Access Law in New Jersey law allows patients to receive physical therapy treatment from a licensed physical therapist without a referral.
Pricing?
- 90 min initial evaluation $250
- 60 min follow up sessions $185
All clients are able to request a superbill to submit to insurance for reimbursement.
What will my first session in pelvic floor PT look like?
At your initial evaluation, Dr. Natalia will first gather a detailed medical history. The start of the appointment is a time for you to talk about your symptoms, what brought you in and anything you may be concerned about. You will be thoroughly educated on the anatomy of the pelvic floor that may have a role in causing your symptoms. She will then move into the physical exam which begins with a thorough assessment of your back, hips, abdomen, sacrum, cervical spine, posture and breathing. She will assess your range of motion, strength, sensation and functional movement patterns. An internal assessment of the pelvic floor may be performed only with your explicit informed consent. Palpating the pelvic floor will give valuable information as to the cause of your symptoms and how to best develop an individualized plan of care. Although this assessment can give valuable information, there are numerous external techniques that Dr. Natalia can perform as well. You get to guide the entire appointment and nothing is done without your consent! After the assessment she will discuss in detail the findings and what you should expect throughout your treatment moving forward. She is here to listen and answer any questions you may have about bowels, bladder and intimacy!
Nothing is TMI!
What is your Cancellation Policy?
Our goal at Mind Body Pelvis, LLC is to provide every client with high quality care and attention. In order to provide this care, we will make our best efforts to accommodate each client’s schedule and reserve appointment slots accordingly. Read our full Cancellation Policy.
Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy right for me?
Not sure if pelvic floor physical therapy is for you? Do you have questions about specific treatments? Do you want to make sure Mind Body Pelvis, LLC is a good fit for your needs? We welcome you to to contact Dr. Natalia to schedule a 15 min free phone consultation prior to booking.
What is the pelvic floor and what does it do?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that form the base of your pelvis. Your pelvis is like a bowl, and your pelvic floor muscles are the bottom of that bowl, supporting and controlling your bowels, bladder and uterus. There are 3 layers of muscles that run from pubic bone to tailbone.
The role of the pelvic floor, or “5 S’s of the pelvic floor”:
- Support
- Imagine a hammock, supporting your bowel, bladder and uterus
- The pelvic floor muscles aide in holding these pelvic organs, and providing support especially with impact
- Sphincter control
- Ensures that things are kept close when we want them closed
- Preventing passing of urine and fecal matter
- Open when we need them to open for successful urination, bowel movements and having a vaginal delivery
- Stability
- Works simultaneously with our abdominal muscles to create stability at the center of our body
- Transfers force especially correlating to what is happening in our legs and hips
- Stabilizes the lower back through proper muscular activation
- Forms the base of the abdominal cavity to manage intra-abdominal pressure
- Sexual Function
- Helps us to achieve arousal and orgasm through contracting and relaxing
- Sump pump
- Helps to move lymph fluid and blood through the pelvis up into the trunk
- Forms the base of the abdominal cavity to manage intra-abdominal pressure
- Diaphragm forms the top of the abdominal cavity
- Think of a soda can
- Lid=diaphragm
- Front of can=abdominal muscles
- Back of can=spine
- Bottom=pelvic floor muscles
- Your pelvic floor and diaphragm (top and bottom of soda can) work together simultaneously
- Inhale
- Diaphragm contracts or flattens, belly expands
- Pelvic floor should relax and lengthen downward
- Exhale
- Diaphragm should go back up towards our rib cage
- Pelvic floor pulls back up to resting position
- Inhale
What is pelvic floor dysfunction and what are its symptoms?
Pelvic floor dysfunction refers to various conditions and diagnoses that affect the muscles, ligaments and nerves in the pelvic area-the muscles that support the bowels, bladder and uterus (in women). Symptoms can include leakage of urine or feces, urgency of urine or feces, constipation, painful bowel movements or urination, pelvic pain/low back pain, prolapse or heaviness in the pelvic floor, and sexual dysfunction. PElvic floor dysfunction can be caused by a variety of reasons including childbirth, surgery, nerve damage, and age.
If you feel like you have symptoms, it’s always best to get an evaluation. Although symptoms may be common, it does NOT make it normal.
Is it normal to leak urine or feces when I cough, sneeze, or exercise?
It is never normal to leak urine or feces, no matter how small or infrequent it may occur. This is a common issue, indicating issues with muscle integrity, pressure management and ability to coordinate your pelvic floor muscles-but NOT normal. There are always solutions to heal these symptoms. And no matter what any person or doctor tells you, leaking urine or feces is not normal.
What conditions can pelvic floor physical therapy help with?
Pelvic floor therapy can address so many things! It can even address issues that occur outside of the pelvis. Pelvic floor PT is conservative, full body treatment to address dysfunction involving our pelvic floor and abdominal region:
- Urinary leakage
- Urinary urgency/frequency
- Painful bladder syndrome
- Prolapse
- Constipation/fecal incontinence
- Tailbone pain
- Persistent low back/hip pain
- Pelvic pain and pain with sex
- Diastasis Recti
- Symphysis pubis dysfunction (pelvic girdle pain)
- Cesarean or perineal scar management
- General core weakness
- Postoperative care (from mastectomy, tummy tucks, laparoscopic abdominal surgeries, pelvic surgeries, gender affirming surgery)
- Prenatal/postpartum care
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic floor PT can also be PREVENTATIVE care to address these muscles and ensure the pelvic floor is working optimally during all life stages
- Education and knowledge about your unique history and body to feel empowered no matter what stage of life we are in
- Your pelvic floor is vital to daily function and no different than your bicep or quad
- Invest in wellness now, not illness later
What can I expect during my first pelvic floor physical therapy appointment?
At your initial evaluation for pelvic floor PT, Dr. Natalia will first gather a detailed medical history. The start of the appointment is a time for you to talk about your symptoms, what brought you in and anything you may be concerned about. Think of this as a conversation about your symptoms, past medical history, your goals-a time to be heard and supported in a judgement free space. You will be thoroughly educated on the anatomy of the pelvic floor and core that may have a role in causing your symptoms. She will then move into the physical exam which begins with a thorough assessment of your back, hips, abdomen, sacrum, cervical spine, posture and breathing. She will assess your range of motion, strength, sensation and functional movement patterns. An internal assessment of the pelvic floor may be performed only with your explicit informed consent. Assessing the pelvic floor will give valuable information as to the cause of your symptoms and how to best develop an individualized plan of care. Although this assessment can give valuable information, there are numerous external techniques that Dr. Natalia can perform as well. You get to guide the entire appointment and nothing is done without your consent! After the assessment she will discuss in detail the findings and what you should expect throughout your treatment moving forward. She is here to listen and answer any questions you may have about bowels, bladder and intimacy, nothing is TMI.
Are Kegel exercises the same as pelvic floor exercises, and are they always helpful?
Kegel exercises are very different than pelvic floor exercises. It is important to understand your own, unique pelvic floor muscles FIRST to determine if Kegel exercises will even be beneficial for you. For some people who’s plan of care requires strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles, we may incorporate Kegel like contractions WITH full body functional movement patterns like lunges, squats, dead lifts etc. Your plan of care and training should replicate your daily activities to ensure your pelvic floor can function as optimally as possible in every situation! There is so much we do as pelvic floor physical therapists that goes beyond kegels, which can look like corrective exercise, manual therapy, different forms of feedback to ensure optimal muscle control, education, symptom tracking, breath work, managing posture and nervous system somatic work.
How long does pelvic floor physical therapy take to see results, and how often will I need to go?
You should leave your first session feeling more empowered and informed about why your symptoms may be happening. Depending on how long symptoms have been happening for, some people can begin to see results within that one session. Usually, it takes between 6-12 sessions for a complete plan of care. These sessions can occur weekly, biweekly or even monthly depending on your schedule. When first starting your plan of care, it is usually best to space your appointments weekly. As symptoms improve, it may be more appropriate to space those visits out. The most important thing is coming up with a plan of care that feels comfortable and achievable for you!
Is pelvic floor physical therapy painful?
Healthy muscles shouldn’t be painful, but sometimes when an area of the body has been feeling pain or dysfunction for awhile it can be uncomfortable to assess and start treatment. During the exam your symptoms may be reproduced which helps us to understand exactly what structure or structures in your body are the root cause of dysfunction. Our goal is to address the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to optimize function and promote healing, but this is only accomplished when treatments are performed within your comfort level. You always get to dictate what we do with your ongoing consent. You should be prepared for uninterrupted conversations, lots of mind-blowing education, ongoing consent and treatment modifications depending on your needs (internal or external work depending on your comfort level and needs that day) and a lot of knowledge and insight to feel empowered in your body no matter where you are in your pelvic health journey.
Is pelvic floor physical therapy covered by insurance?
It depends! The answer to this question depends on the type of care and environment you are seeking for pelvic rehab. Most hospitals and large corporate physical therapy chains take insurance. But, this means loud, busy clinic environments with rushed appointment sessions. Often, there is a co-pay that may even be more than out of pocket costs at more dedicated practices. At Mind Body Pelvis, we understand that when it comes to your health, quality of care should never be compromised. Our approach is centered around providing the highest standard of individualized pelvic health care, where your needs are prioritized over insurance billing guidelines.
Here’s why patients choose us:
Out-of-Network, Insurance-Friendly Care
While we operate on an out-of-network basis, this allows us the flexibility to focus entirely on your unique needs without the constraints of insurance limitations. This approach ensures that your treatment is holistic, thorough, and designed with your best interests in mind.
- Superbill for Reimbursement:Although we are out-of-network, we provide all clients with a superbill that can be submitted to their insurance for potential reimbursement, offering a blend of personalized care and insurance support.
One-on-One Care with a Specialist
When you choose Mind Body Pelvis, you’re choosing undivided attention and care. All sessions are conducted one-on-one with Dr. Natalia, a dedicated pelvic health specialist.
This means:
- Personalized Attention:You will receive the entirety of your session with Dr. Natalia—no being passed off to an aide or left to complete treatments alone.
- Comprehensive Assessments:We perform thorough evaluations of your entire body, not just focusing on a single area dictated by an insurance code. This allows us to find the root cause of your symptoms and address them effectively.
Patients Choose Us for Quality Care, Not Insurance
Our clients don’t choose Mind Body Pelvis because we fit neatly into their insurance plan; they choose us for the exceptional care and service we provide. We focus on delivering a serene, comfortable, and inclusive environment where you can receive the highest quality pelvic health care.
- Extended Sessions:Our sessions last between 60-90 minutes, allowing ample time to address your concerns without feeling rushed.
- Holistic Approach:Our treatments are designed to consider your entire well-being—emotional, physical, and spiritual—ensuring that you receive care that truly addresses your needs.
At Mind Body Pelvis, your health is our priority. We’re here to provide you with compassionate, expert care that empowers you on your journey to wellness.
Benefits of Personal Out-of-Network Therapy
Dr. Natalia provides high quality care. As a doctor of Physical Therapy she has dedicated her career to treating pelvic floor dysfunction and women’s health. She has taken thousands of hours of continuing education, received mentorship and has completed 2 pelvic floor certifications which distinguishes her as an expert in the field of pelvic health.
Do only women have pelvic floor muscles/dysfunction?
Everyone has a pelvic floor! Whether you are a child, a cis male or cis female, or transgender-everyone has a pelvic floor and can be affected by pelvic floor dysfunction. It is never to late to start pelvic floor physical therapy, and know that there are always solutions to address your concerns.
