Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is no. In North Carolina, we have what’s called “direct access” to physical therapy. That means we can work with you without a referral.
After your initial evaluation, if your concerns are musculoskeletal in nature (that is, they fall within the scope of physical therapy), then we can continue working together towards your goals. If you have medical needs, we’ll make sure to send you in the right direction to get those addressed.
Even though a doctor’s referral isn’t necessary, we always support you sharing your PT plan and results with your physician and their information with us.
In addition, if you will be submitting your bills to insurance, they may require a referral, you will need to ask your insurance company.
The entire driving force behind our clinic is to help people. We wouldn’t be doing this work if we didn’t think it could make a difference and help you get back to the activities and life you want to lead. You deserve to feel better, and pelvic PT has a proven track record of helping people recover, feel better in their body, and achieve their health goals. I see the proof of this every day with current clients.
It is never too late to get started on your recovery. The best time to make a PT appointment is whenever you are ready — whether that’s today, next week, or in three years. We want you to be ready to participate in the work so that you can find success and meet your goals.
That said? The sooner the better. The longer you wait, and your body integrates what becomes a long standing problem, the longer it will take to resolve, and the longer you are living with frustration and limitations.
Success isn't found by following your "should's." It is found by following your "can's." Let us show you what's possible.
It depends on what you’ve got going on, and what your goals are!
But seriously? We can’t “make” you do anything, and will not try. Instead, we act as a guide, a teacher, a health “consultant.” In this role, we provide education and coach you through making the changes that support your goals. We will always work together on your goals in a way that helps you feel comfortable, understood, and supported.
Anything you do — including drinking coffee — is ultimately up to you. Just know that what you choose to do (or not do) can impact your progress and recovery journey.
Full transparency? For me, I drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day. At your appointment, I’ll share my secret for how I still drink coffee and stay symptom-free.
How long your plan of care lasts depends on three things: where you currently stand, where you want to be, and what resources (time, energy, finances, support at home, education etc) you can bring to the table . With our approach, your symptoms will decrease significantly and often totally disappear in the first phase of PT, which tends to be 6-10 sessions, based on the above factors.
One of the most impactful of these is your ability to extend the benefit of each session with a home program crafted uniquely for you. Sometimes the most a client can do is make it to their appointment once a week. Yes, they do get better, it just takes a bit longer.
The second phase, which usually takes another 6-10 sessions, involves directly addressing whatever is influencing your problems. This is where we do a deep dive into fascial mobility, alignment and motor control. At the end of this phase, you will have a good understanding of your pelvic floor and how to use it, and you’ll notice a significant difference in your strength and connection to your body.
The third phase is as long as you want it to be, based on your goals and resources. Some clients prefer to see me on an ongoing basis, with progression towards more and more core strength and functionality as they are able to do so. This is where we can fully integrate your gains into whatever activity you participate in for fitness.
Inside Out Physical Therapy practices as a direct care model provider. As an out-of-network provider, we will provide superbills as requested and you can submit to your insurance company if you wish. We will not bill your insurance company directly. As so many Pelvic Health PT’s are practicing under this model, more insurers are becoming open to this.
Practicing under this model gives you and your therapist so much more freedom to customize your treatment plan and make sure you’re actually getting the care you need and deserve. It allows us to spend 100% of your appointment time meeting your individual needs and goals, rather than addressing an insurance company's requirements.
This can significantly shorten the length of time it takes to meet your goals, as we can be more efficient in your treatment plan.
I understand that recovery requires a resource challenge for many people, and I want to make your goals accessible. Please schedule a consult so that we can discuss all the options you have with us.
In the meantime, we recommend you call your insurance company to determine what your deductible, copay, and out-of-packet max are. Then call a PT clinic that accepts your insurance, and ask them these questions:
How often you might be expected to come in?
What their average total visits are for a case like yours?
How long it might take to reach your goals?
When you see how those numbers aren't much different from going to a cash-based practice, I invite you to book an appointment with us so that you can get started on your path to recovery as soon as possible. We look forward to the opportunity to help you in a way that helps you best.
Payment is due at the time of service. We accept payment via cash, check, credit/debit card, or HSA/FSA card.