Resources Quiara Mentioned In the Episode:

• Beyond Behaviors:  Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges  by Mona Delahooke 
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. 
• Kelly Mahler's Website

Quiara's Website
Quiara on IG: @alohaintegrativetherapy
Quiara's Course for OTs - "A Holistic and Integrative Approach to Pediatric Pelvic Health"

• Grab Lindsey's  9 page OTs Map to the World of Pelvic Health.
• Meet Lindsey on the OTs for Pelvic Health Facebook Group!

Check Out More OT Pelvic Health Content here.
Find Lindsey on IG! @functionalpelvis

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

• Lauren Ohayon's Restore Your Core program
• Goal Setting Cards from Entropy 

Some Outcome measures that I love to use with these clients are:

• ICSI/ICPI (IC symptom index)
• BPIC-SS (bladder pain IC score)
• PUF (pelvic pain and urinary frequency patient symptom scale)
• Likert scales 0-10 urgency, bladder pain, overall pain
• GUPI Genitourinary Pain Index 
  With men :
• NIH_CPSI 
• PPIQ pelvic pain impact questionnaire (quality of life)
• CSI central sensitization inventory 
• DASS depression, anxiety stress score
• PCS pain catastrophizing score
• ISI insomnia severity index
• PSEQ pain self efficacy 

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

• Private Pay MBA
• Get my 9 page OTs Map to the World of Pelvic Health.
• Meet me on the OTs for Pelvic Health Facebook Group!
• Check Out More OT Pelvic Health Content here.
• Restore Your Core Teacher Training
  
  
• Find me on IG! @functionalpelvis

--Transcript--
Such an important part of being a pelvic health OT is making sure you have clients! And this is a topic I am very passionate about because as OTs, we are innately good at building relationships. And that’s all, at it’s core, marketing is. So let’s build relationships within our community with ppl who interact with our clients and can send them our way!

I wanted to dig deep so in preparing for this podcast epi, I reflected back to what I’ve done over the past 9 years with the Functional Pelvis (ya know, what worked, what flopped) in order to share my top tips in today’s talk.

We are going to talk about how to authentically hustle. The sales and marketing aspect is hard for so many of us, which is why I use the word “authentically hustle.” And what’s authentic for me may be different than what’s authentic for you. So after we discuss some key ideas today, spend a few mins brainstorming and jotting down some ideas that inspire you. What feels right for you? How can marketing feel less salesy? Only you can answer this question but I hope by hearing my stories, you will see that the authentic hustle is entirely possible.

Ok so let’s get into it now.

My first tip -- Start getting your name known. Whether you have a strictly online business, or you offer in-person services, you should have an on-line presence that helps people meet you and get to know your personality and brand. This means making yourself visible and showing up with consistency. It’s important for you to be seen as the expert where your client and/or referring parties hang out.

Here is an example of this in the virtual world.

Join FB groups where your potential clients or potential referring parties are. For me, this meant a doula FB group for the NYC area, a perinatal connection networking FB group, some popular fitness programs FB groups such as RYC, Mutu, etc. Join them and listen. Listen to their needs, pay attention to the specific language they are u

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

• OT Elevate: The Biopsychosocial Approach to Colorectal Conditions
• OT Pioneers: An Intro to Pelvic Floor Therapy for Occupational Therapists
• Bristol Stool Scale
• Lindsey's Favorite Laminated Portable Pelvis (use code "OTPIONEER" for 10% off)

--Transcript--

Let’s discuss 9 uncommon questions that make a huge impact on healing. Why are they uncommon? Because they aren’t typical, you won’t find them in most intake questionnaires and well because….. they are all about bowel habits.

Here’s why this matters….The majority of our clients who come to see us, they are often coming due to urinary issues, painful intimacy, pelvic stability issues, prolapse, abdominal wall concerns…..often not directly concerning their bowel habits. 

But most of these issues often come back to a healthy relationship with bowel movements. Even if it wasn’t the primary reason they came to see us. In fact, it may not even be something that they flagged on their intake forms. So how does this affect our session with our clients? How does this affect their outcomes?

Let’s focus on our ability to ask quality questions and develop the rapport we have with our clients. These two powerful things enable us to see if there is a relationship there between the symptoms they are coming to see us for and what's really driving it. Very often it comes back to bowel issues.

As Jane Kauffman said, my mentor from biofeedback training and incontinence solutions, the poop drives the pee.

We just mentioned that the majority of our clients come to see us for anything other than bowel movement issues  so I have learned to be a bit of a detective to find out what's really going on.  I have learned to ask better subjective questions, even if the intake didn’t direct me there. and maybe even especially when the intake doesn’t bring me there.

I am going to tell you what I have learned to do…

I use the Australian pelvic floor questionnaire as one of my evaluation forms that our clients fill out. There are sections devoted to urinary fx, sexuality, bowel function. Many of us, including myself, will kinda glaze over asking more in-depth questions about bowel function if there are no red flags on the form. Notice I said I used to do this. 

So much of pelvic floor function is not discussed in everyday life so our client

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

• Get my 9 page OTs Map to the World of Pelvic Health.
• Meet me on the OTs for Pelvic Health Facebook Group!

Check Out More OT Pelvic Health Content here.
Find me on IG! @functionalpelvis

--Transcript--
We are going to be talking about getting centered through interoception today. I love this topic because it really highlights our strengths as OTs and as holistic thinkers. This type of perspective helps the nervous system feel supported, and the longer I am a pelvic floor therapist, the longer I see the benefit of starting with this.

We are going to kick off this topic with discussing permission vs informed consent – Permission is simply, may I touch you? Can I do an internal exam now? They reply yes or no. Informed consent is a bit different – its  sharing with them what you are going to do, and where you will touch them so that they are fully aware of what they are agreeing to. 

Everything is an invitation – this is what creates a feeling of being empowered – we can do this right from the beginning—starting with where they have to be in your space – such as saying “make yourself comfortable” sit wherever you’d like. Instead of “you can sit right there.” Even the physical space can create a feeling of safety – we can do tangible things like this to encourage them to connect to their nerv system – by responding to you and the environment. And just by walking in, and choosing where to sit, they  already feel empowered. They start their experience this way. Many of our clients have had too many experiences of being disempowered. And that stops with us. Practice in a way that fosters a sense of ownership of their own body – empower through choice by using the language of invitation and cuing.

Here are few other examples of how Safety begins with the phy envt – we always ensuring clients are not on display, they are in a private space both so they aren’t seen but also aren’t overheard talking and sharing their story with you, also ensuring no one will interrupt the tx while in progress. Consider things like Do you answer the door during tx? Esp while the client is laying face down.

We should be Mindful of our fascial expressions and the position of our body. This is even more impt with covid and us all wearing masks. We need to be mindful of our eyes and they convey safety and trust.

Also, Let the indiv know where you are in the room. If you are moving around (esp if they are lying prone, or if approach from behind). Think about

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

I am so excited to introduce you to my husband, Doug Vestal! We co-own  "The Freedom of Practice."

Download our 13-point "OT Freedom Practice Foundation" Checklist on our website!

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

• Yoga Tune Up Ball
• Jill Miller Yoga Tune Up Sternocleidomastoid Release
  
  
• Get my 9 page OTs Map to the World of Pelvic Health.
• Meet me on the OTs for Pelvic Health Facebook Group!
• Check Out More OT Pelvic Health Content here.
• Find me on IG! @functionalpelvis

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

• OT Empower Hour where I Talk with Tiffany Lee about Certifications in Pelvic Health.
• Get my 9 page OTs Map to the World of Pelvic Health.
• Meet me on the OTs for Pelvic Health Facebook Group!

Check Out More OT Pelvic Health Content here.
Find me on IG! @functionalpelvis

-- Transcript --

Let’s get right into it… this is a common question for anyone interested in becoming a pelvic health OT. What courses do I take?  What trajectory do I follow to become the best practitioner I can be?

The truth is that there is not one right approach for anyone, and this especially applies to us as we take more and more specialized courses. 

Let’s face it, the world of pelvic health is a bit of the wild west. Especially  as OTs, there is not a linear path we have to take. This of course can cause confusion for us as we learn about the field and it can be confusing for our clients as well because it's hard to put an experience in a box when we all take diff paths to get there. And all the paths are ok… I encourage you to take the one that resonates the most with you. How awesome is it that we can be in a field where we can literally carve out our approach to helping clients? You can do this through taking a fitness based approach, a hands on approach some as visceral manipulation, a trauma based approach (which I think all pelvic floor therapist's should have, but that’s a topic for another episode), a behavioral based approach, an educational based approach, etc. Take the courses that speak to you and you will create a practice that is deeply authentic to you. Your bag of tools will be plentiful and you can customize the treatment session to the client in front of you. I don't know about you…. But does it get any better than that?

So back to being a beginner in pelvic health… what steps can you take? I suggest Taking a foundational course or 2. 

I started offering OT Pioneers: an intro to pf therapy for OTs in 2018 and I have had the honor of supporting over 500 OTs at the time of this recording. This is a self paced online course with group mentorship and you have lifelong access to the material and updates. 

Another introductory course that I recommend after OTP is fellow OT Laura Rowan’s PRmatt course, it’s a 2 day in person lab where you get to practice your hands

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

Join my OTs in Pelvic Health Facebook Group
Check Out Pelvic Health HQ
My Most Favorite Recommendations For Clients

-- Transcript --
You’re ready to start serving your people! You are ready to get a j-o-b as a pelvic floor OT. Let's talk about the how's now. I have been offering ot pioneers my online intro course since 2018 and my students tell me this is one of their biggest questions, so I thought let’s kick off our third episode spot lighting it!

I want to share the story about how I got my first job as a pelvic health ot.

1 year job open.

HR denied it.

Went to office administration…. Met director. 

Shadowed…. Stayed out of the way, while being attentive. Asked questions after (appropriately).

Many realize after shadowing it isn’t right for them.

Breath of fresh air…

“You really enjoy this,” your energized and it’s infectious.

2 weeks later -- full time job offer.  

Things I learned:

1. Gatekeepers (in my case, this was HR but it really be anyone in the process) - don't let them slam the door in your face.

Find a creative way around them.

Be respectful of the process but don’t be shy about kicking down whatever doors stand between you and the opportunity.

1. Passion will take you far. Remember what Erika said to me… your energized and it’s infectious. People crave to be around people who are inspired and who inspire. You are no doubt one of those people. So show up, ask questions, add to the conversation and demonstrate why you should have a seat at the table.
2. Move on if it’s not a match. Not every open job out there will be a match for you. That's 100% ok. Just like you aren't a match for every potential partner you may have dated, or a match for every potential client, it’s all good to recognize when it’s time to move on. In the case of dating, this means it’s time to have the it’s not you, it’s me conversation. For clients, it’s when you refer them to another caring practitioner that may be a better fit due to their expertise, their approach or their style. And in the job market, it’s about recognizing that the environment may not be one where you will thrive. Unfort, there are probably more like this than not.  While it’s fantastic to shine a light for those who simply may not know that OTs are incredible fits for ph, it’s not up to you to fight a battle when you are not seeing eye to eye or not getting the support you need, or having to constantly prove yourself. In these case

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!

Get my 9 page OTs Map to the World of Pelvic Health.
Meet me on the OTs for Pelvic Health Facebook Group!

Check Out More AMAZING OT Pelvic Health Content here.
Find me on IG! @functionalpelvis

-- Transcript --
I love today’s topic. I think it’s essential for us in pelvic health to have a framework that we can feel grounded in, one that we can come back to when we can see multiple ways that a treatment plan can go. When we get analysis paralysis and are just not sure where to go. This is when it’s helpful to come back to our model or our framework.  It my opinion, if I had to sum up the framework of a pelvic floor OT, it’s 2 fold:

We embrace a facilitator vs a fixer mentality
We take a Whole person/BPS approach

Now there’s a lot more that goes into it than just these two things but keep in mind this a podcast not a dissertation, so give me some slack. Also, this framework is not exclusive to OTs. Many PTs have this same approach. It’s just that I am a proud pelvic health OT, and underdog most of my career and I am so firmly rooted in supporting and encouraging OTs to get out there.and strut their stuff.  

Let’s kick off today’s episode with a  quiz! Here’s the Question: How do you view your role with your client?

While some of us listening to this episode are newer OTs and some of us are more seasoned, I think no matter where you are, it's extremely relevant to stop to check in and ask yourself this question.  We all have an internalized viewpoint of how we see our role as the OT.  This viewpoint is usually unarticulated, it's usually subconscious, but here is the thing - this internalized viewpoint is going to have an immense impact on our words and actions and our relationship with our client.    

So How do you view your role with your client? There are 3 options to this multiple choice quiz.

Option A: I carry my clients up the mountain

Option B: I lead the way and they follow. 

Option C: I walk alongside my clients. 

Full disclosure: Standardized tests have never been my strong suit. Good thing we’re not grading this one. Let’s review each of these options.

Option A: I carry my clients up the mountain. 

If I carry up my client - I am thinking of them as weak, I am doing for them, I am doing all the hard work and they are being passively transported.  I am not educating, I am accomplishing the task (getting up the mountain) but here I am t

____________________________________________________________________________________________
Pelvic OTPs United - Lindsey's off-line interactive community for $39 a month!
Inside Pelvic OTPs United you'll find:​

• Weekly group mentoring calls with Lindsey. She's doing this exclusively inside this community. These aren't your boring old Zoom calls where she is a talking head. We interact, we coach, we learn from each other.
  ​
• Highly curated forums. The worst is when you post a question on FB just to have it drowned out with 10 other questions that follow it. So, she's got dedicated forums on different populations, different diagnosis, different topics (including business). Hop it, post your specific question, and get the expert advice you need.

More info here. Lindsey would love support you in this quiet corner off social media!