What to Look for in a Pelvic Floor Therapist
By Kelly Morrison, PT, DPT
If you're considering pelvic floor therapy, choosing the right pelvic floor therapist is a key step toward improving your health and confidence. Whether you're managing bladder issues, pelvic pain, constipation, or postpartum recovery, the quality of care you receive can make a big difference in your outcomes.
Here’s what to look for in a pelvic floor physical therapist to ensure a safe, supportive, and effective experience:
Comfort and Trust Matter
Pelvic floor therapy can feel intimidating at first—but it doesn’t have to be. Feeling comfortable with your therapist is essential. You should feel safe sharing your concerns, history, and goals without judgment.
A good pelvic floor therapist will listen attentively, offer clear education, and collaborate with you to create a treatment plan that works for your body and lifestyle. If you’ve had previous experience with physical or occupational therapy, don’t hesitate to share what worked and what didn’t. That information helps your therapist tailor care more effectively.
2. Adequate Appointment Time
Do you feel rushed during your visits? You shouldn’t. A thorough pelvic floor evaluation typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. Your therapist should give you their full attention during that time—no distractions, no double-booking.
Make the most of your appointment by arriving a few minutes early and completing any new patient paperwork in advance. This gives your therapist the time they need to focus fully on your care.
3. A Thorough Pelvic Floor Evaluation
One of the most common concerns about pelvic floor therapy is the evaluation process. While it may feel uncomfortable to talk about bowel and bladder function or pain in sensitive areas, this is an essential part of restoring your quality of life.
Your therapist will ask about:
Your symptoms and pain
Bladder and bowel habits
Physical activities that are difficult or limited
Lifestyle factors that may be contributing to pelvic floor dysfunction
With your consent, an internal pelvic floor exam may be performed to assess muscle strength, endurance, and control. You can always request a chaperone—or decline the internal exam entirely. Effective pelvic floor therapy is still possible without it.
4. It’s Not Just About the Pelvis
A qualified pelvic floor therapist will assess your entire body. That includes how your hips and back move, your core strength, posture, and overall muscle function. Muscle tension in other areas—especially the hips, glutes, and low back—can often contribute to pelvic floor symptoms.
A whole-body approach helps identify root causes and ensures your treatment plan addresses them fully.
5. Personalized, Evidence-Based Treatment
Pelvic floor therapy is never one-size-fits-all. Your sessions should include exercises and techniques specific to your needs and goals. This may include:
Breathwork and body awareness
Pelvic floor relaxation and strengthening
Glute and hip strengthening
Postural alignment
Functional movements like squats or jumping
(based on your lifestyle and activity level)
Your therapist should also teach you how to tune into your body—understanding when muscles need to activate, and when they need to relax.
6. You’ll Be Given Homework
Healing happens between sessions too. A customized home exercise program is essential to reinforce what you learn in therapy. Your therapist will give you clear, manageable exercises to complete throughout the week to support progress.
7. Your Success Is the Goal
Above all, your pelvic floor therapist should be focused on your comfort, confidence, and independence. They should regularly check in with you during and between sessions to ensure you’re feeling heard, supported, and satisfied with your care.
Take the First Step Toward Better Pelvic Health
At Your Health, our Pelvic Health Program offers compassionate, personalized care to help you feel stronger, more confident, and in control again—no matter what phase of life you’re in.
Kelly Morrison, PT, DPT
Dr. Kelly Morrison, PT, DPT, is a licensed Physical Therapist with 14+ years of experience in inpatient care, outpatient orthopedics, neuromuscular therapy, and military-based settings. Certified in dry needling, Kelly specializes in pelvic floor therapy for incontinence, pelvic and back pain, pregnancy/postpartum recovery, and menopause-related issues.
She sees patients at Your Health’s Chapin and 1730 Main Street locations, with select services available via telehealth.