How to choose the right Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist for you?

When navigating sexual health conditions or unexplained GI symptoms, you may find yourself searching for a pelvic floor physical therapist (PT). It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed or confused about what a pelvic floor PT even does. Women don’t typically talk about their latest pelvic floor techniques or at-home dilator stretches during girls’ night out. So if this feels unfamiliar or intimidating, you are not alone.

To provide a bit of helpful medical context, here is an article from Johns Hopkins Medicine explaining what pelvic floor therapy involves and what to expect during a session: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pelvic-floor-therapy 

It’s important to understand the clinical side of care, but it’s equally important to feel comfortable with your provider. Pelvic floor therapy programs often last 3–6 months, meaning you’ll spend significant time with this person. They will also be working with some of the most private and intimate parts of your body. Feeling safe, supported, and heard is essential.

I want to share my own journey in finding the right pelvic floor PT.

I initially saw a pelvic floor PT within a large hospital network. She accepted my insurance, which was a huge benefit. However, because the practice saw a high volume of patients each day, the care felt generalized. She performed a standard assessment and communicated her findings to my gynecologist, but I needed more individualized support at that time.

As Dr. Jandra Mueller, PT, SHEFIT, beautifully states:

“Finding the right PT can be tricky, like any trusted ally or provider. Finding someone that listens, advocates, is resourceful, and is curious is essential. Your provider should be willing to work with you on your journey as a guide, not as the authority. That partnership is necessary when navigating complex conditions.”

Everything changed when I transitioned to a small, private women’s pelvic floor physical therapist office. The energy of the space was different. The care was intentional. The treatment plans were personalized and deeply attuned to my specific conditions.

Dr. Ellen Meisner and Dr. Jandra Mueller at SHEFIT Physical Therapy in San Diego have truly been “unicorns” in my health journey.

Dr. Ellen was the first provider to mention endometriosis to me in 2024. She connected me with the surgeon who ultimately performed my excision surgery.

Dr. Jandra was the first to suggest I might have May-Thurner syndrome and pelvic congestion syndrome. Her knowledge within the women’s sexual health space is expansive. She referred me to Dr. Brooke Spencer, a leading interventional radiologist in Denver who specializes in complex pelvic venous conditions. Dr. Jandra’s clinical findings were correct, and I am now scheduled for procedures this April.

Your pelvic floor PT often becomes one of the providers you see most frequently. Because of that, they play a crucial role in your medical support network and healing journey. Trust, open communication, and collaboration are everything.

Choosing the right provider can make all the difference when you are navigating multiple complex illnesses.