Frequently Asked Questions

No, you don’t require a doctor’s referral to come to physiotherapy! You can book an appointment directly through my website or by contacting me. If I think that you need additional medical care after the assessment, I’ll let you know, but in most cases, I can help you with your pelvic health symptoms right away!

You may want to check with your insurance provider first though, to see if they will need a doctor’s referral to cover your physiotherapy appointments.

I don’t offer direct billing, but you can easily submit your receipt to your insurance provider and be reimbursed within just a few days.

Before your first appointment it can be helpful to prepare the following:

Fill out my online intake form - this will be emailed to you after your booking and it will help me prepare for your appointment.

Know your medical history including past injuries, surgeries, chronic conditions, medications, birth history (any tears and degree, time pushing, episiotomy, etc.)

A list of any previous physiotherapy or other treatments and how you responded to the treatments.

A list of your symptoms/issues - when they started and if there are any triggers or anything that relieves your symptoms

Information about your lifestyle such as your sleep, exercise, and diet which will help me understand what will work for you when we design your treatment plan.

Your goals - what you’re looking to achieve with your pelvic health!

During your pelvic floor physiotherapy appointment, we will discuss your history, concerns, your pregnancy and birth (if this applies to you). Then I will do a physical exam which can include a postural assessment, a movement assessment, functional testing, and external and internal pelvic floor muscles exams. We will then discuss treatment options and exercises and carry out those that you agree to at the appointment.

No, you don’t have to if you don’t want to!  An internal pelvic floor muscle exam is an optional part of a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment and only done with your consent. If you’re not comfortable or interested in this part of the exam, we can discuss other options to determine how well your pelvic floor muscles are working. You can definitely get some help and support without an internal pelvic exam so please do not let this stop you from booking an appointment with me!

I’m located in the west end of Toronto at 309 Jane Street, Toronto ON M6S 3Z3 (inside Wellness Acupuncture).

Yes, of course! Physiotherapy can be really helpful for managing back and pelvic pain and addressing pelvic floor issues like leaking, pressure, and constipation. I also suggest a session before 37 weeks for birth prep where we can discuss how to protect your pelvic floor during labour and birth, pain management, pushing strategies, and planning for postpartum.

You can come as early as you feel like after you have your baby. Many new moms experience aches and pains and postural dysfunction with this new change in their bodies and caring for and breastfeeding/bottle feeding a newborn. I can help support you through this new period. I wait until 6 weeks postpartum (and until you’ve been cleared by your OB/midwife) to perform an internal pelvic exam. We can start retraining the pelvic floor right away after birth, but it does need to be done correctly, so an appointment at 6 weeks postpartum or before is beneficial.

Yes, in most cases, you can continue your regular workouts. We will discuss any exercises that you should avoid (for now) until you recover a bit more. We will also discuss any modifications you can make so you can stay active but not aggravate your issues.

Absolutely physiotherapy can help! It’s very common for women to leak when they cough or sneeze after they’ve given birth, but common doesn’t mean normal! Working with a pelvic floor physiotherapist and doing  the right type of pelvic floor muscle training (it’s not always kegels!) will be instrumental in solving your leaking issues

Yes, it’s still a good idea! Some women will feel fine and symptom-free after giving birth and even a few months postpartum. With pregnancy and birth though, the pelvic floor has undoubtedly gone through a lot of stress. Many times, the lucky few who are symptom-free initially will remain symptom-free but only until they return to a more active lifestyle or when they are pregnant again - then they experience the common leaking or pain symptoms.  Seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist to ensure the pelvic floor muscles are optimally functioning is a great idea so you don’t experience issues down the road. 

Sessions are anywhere from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. I will advise you at your first appointment how much time we will need for our subsequent sessions. The longer (60 minute) appointments are sometimes needed so you get a comprehensive session where you feel heard and receive the proper care without being rushed.

Of course! Pelvic health physiotherapists are more than comfortable with menstrual blood and fluid. But if you’d prefer to not have an internal pelvic exam while you have your period, I can still carry out your assessment and treatment without the internal portion. We can always do the internal pelvic exam at a subsequent appointment if you wish, so we can have a more comprehensive idea of how your pelvic floor is functioning.

If you need to cancel, I ask that you let me know 24 hours in advance so I can make the time available for someone else. If your appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours advance notice or it’s a no-show, you will be charged the full fee of your appointment.

It will depend on various factors like how long you’ve had your symptoms, how severe it is, how consistent you are with your treatment plan, and your overall health. Many people experience some relief after their first session and after a few days of starting some exercises at home. For others, it may take longer, especially if the issue is more complex or long-standing.

It depends on the severity of your symptoms, how well you can manage your treatment at home (such as exercises), and what your goals are. Some people may benefit from weekly visits in the beginning as we address the symptoms head on and then have sessions that are more spaced out. Some people will be okay to have the sessions with less frequency. We will discuss the frequency of sessions that would work best for you after your first appointment.