Frequently Asked Questions

To start, all new patients are seen by one of our incredible pelvic health therapists. You can decide between scheduling a 90-minute evaluation or a 30-minute consultation online or in-person.

The Pelvic Health Evaluation comprises a comprehensive review of your health history, an examination, and the development of a detailed care plan designed to address your pelvic and sexual health concerns.

During a 90 minute evaluation, your pelvic therapist will:

— Take ample time to listen to your story, understand your concerns, and address any questions or apprehensions you may have.

— Conduct a thorough pelvic health exam which could include checking the external genitalia, assessing the pelvic floor muscles, and possibly performing an internal rectal or vaginal exam.

— Discuss the assessment of any findings.

— Work collaboratively with you to set personalized goals and develop a comprehensive plan of care that addresses your specific needs.

We understand that your pelvic health may be sensitive and personal, and want to ensure that you feel comfortable and heard throughout the entire process. Our priority is to support your emotional and physical well-being, and we are dedicated to providing trauma-informed care that is sensitive to your unique experiences and needs.

The Pelvic Health Consultation is a conversation that helps you decide if our clinic or pelvic health therapy is right for you.

During a consultation, you’ll:

— Share a brief summary of your concerns.

— Ask questions about your pelvic or sexual health and potential treatment options.

— Learn about pelvic health therapy and how our clinic uniquely brings together pelvic therapy, sexuality counseling, mental health therapy, and nutrition therapy.

— Receive advice based on your unique situation.

Please note that a consultation doesn't establish a patient relationship and our pelvic therapists will not be able to diagnose or create a comprehensive treatment plan during a consultation.

If you’d like longer than 30 minutes to discuss you concerns, you can schedule an extended consultation by emailing us at support@drsusieg.com or calling the office at (828) 545-2996.

Pelvic health physical or occupational therapy, also known as pelvic floor therapy, is a form of medical therapy that focuses on improving the function of the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support the bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs like the prostate. The pelvic floor muscles play an important role in bladder and bowel control and sexual function. Factors like muscle tone, scar tissue, nerve injury, poor coordination and communication between muscles and nerves, nutrition, psychological and social factors can all impact pelvic and sexual health. Check out this video to learn more about pelvic floor therapy for men.

Common conditions treated in our practice include:

• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome

• Sexual pain

• Urinary urgency and frequency

• Urinary and fecal incontinence

• Constipation

• Post-prostate cancer sexual recovery

• Peyronie's disease

• Sexual dysfunction related to spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, or other neurological disorders

• Erectile dysfunction

• Ejaculation issues

Sexuality counseling aims to deepen your understanding of your sexual health challenges and the multifaceted causes behind these issues. This client-centered approach is short-term, approximately 4-6 sessions, focusing on the immediate concern or problem. It involves a thorough sexual health intake, sexual health education, collaborative problem-solving, and personalized strategies and exercises. Sexuality counseling does not take the place of sex therapy as this can only be provided by a licensed mental health provider and is focused on addressing the psychological and emotional factors that are driving your sexual challenges.

Sexuality counseling does not involve touching or getting naked as part of the counseling process. However, in cases of specific concerns like sexual pain or urinary incontinence, a pelvic floor examination and treatment by one of our pelvic health specialists may be recommended based on the complexity of your health concerns.

Somatic-based sexuality practitioners that focus on touch or provide sexual surrogacy, sexological bodywork, or sexual healing touch can be an important healing modality for some individuals. Our practice does not provide sexual surrogacy, sexological bodywork, or sexual healing touch but can offer recommendations.

You can opt for sexuality counseling alone, no pelvic therapy required. It's open for individuals and couples seeking insights into their unique sexual challenges.

Schedule a 30-minute consultation to discuss whether sexuality counseling, pelvic health therapy, or a combination of both is a good fit for you.

According to the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), sexuality counselors “represent a variety of professions, ranging from medicine to the clergy. Counselors assist the client to realistically resolve concerns through the introduction of problem solving techniques of communication as well as providing accurate information and relevant suggestions of specific exercises and techniques in sexual expression. Sexuality counseling is generally short term and client centered, focusing on the immediate concern or problem.”

In addition to their licensed credentials, sexuality counselors complete extensive training to become certified to offer counseling for sexuality support. Sexuality counselors are trained to recognize when a referral for intensive psychotherapy is needed.

Sex therapists are “licensed mental health professionals (or the equivalent in approved countries), trained to assess, diagnose, and provide in-depth psychotherapy, who have specialized in treating clients with sexual issues and concerns. Sex therapists work with sexual concerns, including, but not limited to: sexual function and dysfunction; sexual pleasure; sexual variation; sexuality and disability; sexuality and chronic illness; sexual development across the lifespan; sexual abuse, assault, and coercion; sexual orientation; gender identity. In addition, where appropriate, are prepared to provide comprehensive and intensive psychotherapy over an extended period of time in more complex cases.”

No. Our practice does not provide sexual surrogacy, sexological bodywork, or sexual healing touch.

Somatic-based sexuality practitioners that focus on touch or provide sexual surrogacy, sexological bodywork, or sexual healing touch can be an important healing modality for some individuals. For more information about surrogate partner therapy visit the International Professional Surrogates Association and Surrogate Partner Collective. For more information about sexological bodywork visit the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers.

We understand that your pelvic health may be sensitive and personal, and we want to ensure that you feel comfortable and heard throughout the entire process.

Your pelvic therapist will conduct a thorough exam which could include checking the external genitalia, assessing the pelvic floor muscles, and possibly performing a rectal exam. Our priority is to support your emotional and physical well-being, and we are dedicated to providing trauma-informed care that is sensitive to your unique experiences and needs.

Watch this video to learn more about what to expect during the exam.

A lot of men have this question. Don’t panic. Due to the intimate nature of pelvic health therapy, physiological responses like an erection or spontaneous ejaculation may occur. Our pelvic health therapists are equipped to handle these situations in a professional and compassionate manner. In some instances, spontaneous erections during an exam or treatment can be useful for diagnostic purposes like Peyronie’s Disease or painful erections.

No. An internal pelvic exam or treatment is not necessary to feel better. Our practice offers multiple options to address your pelvic and sexual health concerns that aren’t intimidating. You have permission to refrain from any part of the evaluation or treatments offered at any time during the course of your care. Our practice values a shared decision making process to address your concerns in an evidence-based, effective, and safe way.

We offer online services to support your pelvic and sexual health needs worldwide. You can access online services for pelvic health therapy, sexuality counseling, nutrition therapy, and mental health therapy in the comfort of your own home.

In-person appointments at our clinic are available to everyone.

Some online appointments are only available to patients in certain states. This is due to medical licensing requirements.

We accept patients who reside in:

— Arkansas
— Arizona
— Colorado
— Delaware
— Georgia
— Iowa
— Illinois
— Indiana
— Kentucky
— Louisiana
— Maryland
— Missouri
— Mississippi
— Montana
— North Carolina
— North Dakota
— Nebraska
— New Hampshire
— New Jersey
— Ohio
— Oklahoma
— Oregon
— South Carolina
— South Dakota
— Tennessee
— Texas
— Utah
— Virginia
— Washington
— Wisconsin
— West Virginia

In the next few months, we’ll also be able to accept patients who reside in Alabama, Kansas, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

If you’re located in another state or country, please call our office at (828) 545-2996 or email us at support@drsusieg.com for options that could work for you. Our clinic has supported patients as case managers and advocates, connected patients to trusted local providers, coordinated cohesive communication for a plan of care established by a local provider, and provided mentorship to local providers.

Yes. People travel worldwide to work with our practice. If you’re interested in working with our practice, please call our office at (828) 545-2996 to discuss a customized care experience tailored to fit your needs.

You can learn more about our in-person appointments here.

You can learn more about our online appointments here.

Telehealth (online) rehabilitation for pelvic health offers equal benefits to in-person care, providing expert guidance within the comfort of your home. Through an at-home assessment, we evaluate your concerns in your familiar environment, examining body movement, functional activities, and environmental factors influencing pelvic health. Depending on your technological comfort and accessibility, a virtual external pelvic floor muscle exam might be conducted. All video sessions are recorded, allowing you to review them at your discretion. Together, we create a personalized treatment plan with ongoing follow-up care to track your progress toward your goals. However, it's essential to note potential differences, such as computer glitches and the inability to conduct hands-on pelvic floor muscle examinations in Telehealth (online) sessions.

We genuinely care about your health and well-being.

Here are some immediate resources we’d like to offer that are available in the US:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273 TALK(8255)

• Suicide Hotline: 800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

These helplines provide confidential and compassionate support, and trained professionals are available to listen, offer guidance, and connect you to local resources. Remember, reaching out to a helpline can be a crucial step towards getting the support you need.

If you live outside the US, here are some immediate resources we’d like to offer:

• Samaritans (United Kingdom and Ireland): 116 123

• Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14

• Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868

• Lifeline (New Zealand): 0800 543 354

For other International helplines: Visit www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres for a list of helplines by country.

Yes. You can bring a friend, a family member, or anyone else who would make you feel safe and comfortable during our time together.

Yes! We offer compassionate and affirming care to all people with pelvises.

Our clinic is out-of-network. This means that we are not contracted with any insurance companies including Medicare and Medicaid. Out-of-network does not mean no coverage. Every insurance company’s out-of-network policy is different and you’ll need to check with your insurance company to determine your out-of-network benefits and reimbursement requirements. Third-party companies, like Reimbursify, can make this process painless.

We offer appointment packages priced as low as $157 per appointment. After your initial pelvic health evaluation or consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for a package that fits your financial needs. Packages can be used with all providers across our interdisciplinary care team for both in-person and online appointments.

If you’re already a patient in our clinic, send us an email at support@drsusieg.com to purchase a package.

No. You do not need to see your Primary Care Provider to be referred for pelvic floor therapy. North Carolina is a direct access state for physical and occupational therapy services.

An initial pelvic health evaluation is $319.

A single follow-up appointment is $179.

We value and believe in the power of an interdisciplinary approach. That’s why we offer discounted wellness packages to help you put your care plan into action. Wellness packages can be used with multiple providers across our multidisciplinary care team including: pelvic floor therapy, sexuality counseling, nutrition therapy, and mental health therapy. A shared decision making process with your pelvic health therapist is used to determine which combination of services are right for you.

Wellness packages may be used for both in-person and online services. Enrollment in wellness packages are available after an initial pelvic health evaluation or 30-minute consultation. Wellness packages are non-transferable and non-refundable. They expire one year after purchase.

Wellness package 1:

6 sessions discounted @ $167/appointment

$1,002 ($72 off)

Wellness package 2:

12 sessions discounted @ $157/appointment

$1,884 ($264 off)

The initial pelvic health evaluation is up to 90 minutes. Follow-up appointments range from 50-60 minutes.

Depending on the complexity of your health concerns, a session may be extended to support your needs. If a session extends beyond its scheduled time and lasts for an additional 15 minutes or longer, it will be prorated based on the session rate. We kindly request that if you have a tight schedule or financial concerns regarding this policy, please notify us before your session so that we may honor your situation.

Our clinic does not follow protocols or set a generic number of sessions. Your health blueprint is unique and we believe in an individualized care plan based on your specific needs, goals, and resources.

After your initial evaluation, you and your pelvic health therapist will discuss an approximate number of sessions that are informed by the complexity of your health concern.

To cancel or reschedule your appointment, you must notify us at least 48 hours in advance. You can do so by emailing support@drsusieg.com, sending a message through the patient portal, or calling (828) 545-2996. If you fail to give a 48-hour notice or miss your appointment, you will forfeit the payment (or appointment) made for the scheduled appointment. The full appointment fee will be charged to your credit card on file. Make-up appointments will be at an additional cost.

If you are late more than 15 minutes for your scheduled appointment, this will be considered a missed appointment and you will be charged the full rate of the appointment to your credit card on file. If you choose to use any remaining time left in your session, you will still be charged the full rate of the appointment.

Our physical office is located at 56 Central Avenue, Suite 103 in Asheville, North Carolina. Our hours are by appointment only.

Although we have a physical location, we offer pelvic health support and guidance virtually, worldwide.