Mission + Values
Liberate Pelvic Health aims to help anyone struggling with pelvic health concerns to optimize their functioning and quality of life within the context of bladder/bowel functioning, sexual health, reproductive health, and daily living using trauma-informed and holistic occupational therapy.
Embodiment: (noun) The act of being in one’s true nature in their body.
Getting into our body safely and confidently is what it’s all about. Pain, distress, conditioning, and the activity demands of our daily life can all interfere with embodiment. As a therapist, it’s of the utmost importance to stay grounded in my body while helping to facilitate a safe environment for clients to experience their bodies during the healing process.
Diversity and Inclusion (two interconnected concepts) Diversity is the make-up of an entity representative of the social and ethnic community at large. Inclusion is about how well the contributions, presence, and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into an environment.
Although pelvic floor therapy is most readily thought of for postpartum people, it is also an invaluable service for a larger breadth of the population. Women who have never given birth, men, non-binary people, menopausal people, people suffering from sexual pain or healing from sexual trauma, and people struggling with functional GI disorders and eating disorders all have the potential to make wonderful improvements to their quality of life in response to pelvic health rehabilitation. Research has also shown that there is a higher disparity in black and other women of color compared to caucasian women regarding knowledge of pelvic floor dysfunction and preventative strategies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4556138/
At Liberate Pelvic Health, I am dedicated to the practice of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized. Gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, profession, body size, and race can impact how a person is received by their healthcare system.
Compassion: (noun) Genuine appreciation for the lived experience which involves a conscientious suspension of judgment and a desire to alleviate distress.
Compassion is queen. Receiving compassion from others and developing self-compassion are important for the nervous system to heal; however, it is easier said than done. Trauma-informed care should be non-negotiable when it comes to pelvic health care. The abdomen and pelvis are some of the most intimate and guarded areas of a person’s body, and it is imperative to honor the body and keep your experience central to the process while addressing pelvic health.
Empowerment: (noun) The process of becoming more capable through self-determination, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.
It can be hard to know where to start and to keep going on a road that may have led to confusion or dead ends. Everyone experiencing pelvic dysfunction deserves to reclaim their pelvic health with skilled support and guidance. It is your right to experience optimal pelvic health and be able to do all the things that matter to you in your life.
Curiosity: (noun) A strong desire to know or learn something.
I am a lifetime learner and seeker. You are the expert of your own body and I am here to guide your curiosity and find effective strategies to help you along the way to improved pelvic functioning and quality of life. My nine-year journey healing my own pelvic health dysfunction has ignited my quest for knowledge. The only being I know who is more curious than me is my dog Henry. Curiosity, self-reflection, and compassion are instrumental in healing pelvic dysfunction and maintaining health.
“Rachel's energy is magic- gentle but so powerful, and that's exactly how my session was. After just one, I noticed a big shift. I started to relax almost immediately in her grounded presence, even though I went in as a ball of nervous energy after a tough week at work. Rachel was conscientious and very easy to talk to, and I really appreciated her holistic approach, including massage and breathwork. I experienced a traumatic hospital event that left me with numbness in my lower half and anxiety. With Rachel's help, I was able to experience a lot of emotional release that continued for several days, as well as more physical awareness and some cramping to continue the healing process. I cannot recommend Rachel enough.”
— Sylvia
Definitions
Liberate: (verb) To be freed from a state or situation that limits thought, behavior or action; to be freed from domination by a foreign power, imprisonment, bondage, or an oppressive environment.
Pelvic: (adjective) Having to do with the pelvis. The pelvis refers to the area where the legs connect to the torso and include all the reproductive organs, the bladder, parts of the bowel and intestines, the bones of the pelvis, ligaments, muscles, and connective tissues.
Health: (noun) A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (World Health Organization)
Liberate Pelvic Health is a minority woman-owned company that works with clients to restore and reclaim their pelvic health. Pelvic health is important for quality of life and optimal physical, mental, social, and sexual well-being. Although the functioning of our pelvic area is integral to our vitality as humans, it is often misunderstood, stigmatized, or suppressed.
Occupational Therapy: A holistic therapy with a foundation in physical rehabilitation and mental health. Occupational therapy helps people to engage meaningfully in what they need, want and are expected to do.
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
— Maya Angelou