Photos by Emerita Wheeling
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“This isn’t exactly what I was expecting when coming to physical therapy.” A comment I hear frequently from past and current patients. I assure you, all meant in a positive way. Admittedly my passion and focus of Therapeutic Somatic Processing (TSP),™ a blend of somatic (mind-body connection) and pelvic floor therapies, often feels like quite the diversion from the traditional medical model. This process of TSP™ centers upon a few foundational components, that you are actually the most knowledgeable about your own body, you are integral to the healing process, and that your pain or discomfort is often based upon the internal, unseen connection between emotions and physiology.
My role as your provider then becomes one of facilitator, educator, and supporter, as opposed to a practitioner that you are reliant upon. Together we collaborate to create a plan of care that will give you the tools to manage and mitigate your symptoms and pain. This will look drastically different for every single person that walks through my door, and is by no means a quick fix, but it ultimately will replace the sense of hopelessness with control.
My journey into this methodology has been winding and adventurous. I didn’t begin here, and I certainly didn’t know where I would end up, but I am incredibly passionate and unwavering in my belief that is the future of healthcare. This work combines learnings from a vast array of educational sources such as human sexuality and somatic sex education with emphasis on trauma and gender, neurobiology/neuroscience of chronic pain, Somatic Experiencing Therapies and Internal Family Systems, pelvic floor physical therapy, and other mind-body approaches.
At my core I am a total nerd, who will geek out endlessly over my field, especially subjects of anatomy and neuroscience. However I also have a carefree spirit with a first career, and continued love, for dance and theater. There is less time to explore those hobbies these days as I am also a mom to two kids who keep life incredibly fun, but sleep deprived.
Please note that if you are looking to schedule with me I no longer perform traditional and regular manual therapy of the global body and/or pelvic floor. I will include some manual therapy with TSP methodology, when it feels appropriate in both your body and my own, however if you are seeking this type of regular care, I highly suggest reading through the bios of my other wonderfully skilled providers to see who feels like the best match to your needs.
Credentials:
- Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Doctorate in Human Sexuality (DHS) from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, CA
- Board certified sexuality specialty from the American College of Sexologists (ACS)
- Pelvic floor training under my mentor Kathe Wallace (equivalent to Herman & Wallace or APTA Levels I-III pelvic floor coursework)
- Certified as a Sexological Bodyworker from the Institute of Somatic Sexology in Australia
- Continuing Education Focus: Somatic Sex Education from the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education in Vancouver Island, BC Canada; Clinical Applications of Internal Family Systems (online; please note Dr. Fiacco is not a licensed mental health practitioner as is the common practice for this type of therapy route); Neurobiology and neuroscience of chronic pain
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Relaying what I do for a living is often met with shock or disbelief, which is quickly followed by the question of why?
My answer is that I do this work because I find it incredibly meaningful to assist others in finding ways to live with their bodies in a compatible or loving way. Too often we feel our bodies have betrayed us with the pain that they feel, or that our bodies are failures because of their inability to function in the ways we want.
Because after the birth of my daughter, I felt like healthcare providers didn’t care about my body or the concerns I was experiencing. I want to provide a better space for postpartum folks to reclaim their new bodies.
Because I want to support my queer family in a radically inclusive way, encouraging conversations that are integral to caring for the whole body.
Because too many times people have seen multiple medical providers that wrote them off or invalidated their bodily experience.
Because, as bizarre as it might seem, I love talking about and normalizing bowel, bladder and sexual function.
Because I’m finally in a clinic environment where I feel professionally supported to step outside of the traditional medical model when working with individuals on their journeys to recovery.
My areas of expertise include treating people of all genders with concerns of bowel, bladder and sexual function. I am passionate about peri- and postpartum rehabilitation, including diastasis recti. I am STOTT Pilates Trained. I utilize exercises and techniques of Pilates during treatment sessions. I obtained my Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Gender Studies from University of Oregon and received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.
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How many times have you left a doctor’s appointment feeling completely defeated? How many times have you felt anxiety prior to seeing a new provider because you know you have to tell your story all over again? For me, both have been countless. I can’t promise to rid any anxiety before coming to see me, but I do promise to listen and work with you to come up with a plan to allow you to feel more in control of your body and its functions.
Healing and recovery are personal journeys, and as your provider, I'll tailor a plan of care based on your lifestyle and unique needs. I also recognize the innate power dynamic that is present during medical appointments and therefore will emphasize consent every step of the way by communicating clearly and asking permission for touch via words or signals. While I may suggest exercises or other interventions during treatment, I don’t expect them to be treated as “homework.” Healing is a partnership, so we'll work together to find what works best for you both in and out of the office. My treatment philosophy is that everything is connected and even small symptoms can be a clue, so I encourage you to share everything with me and I offer that if I don’t have the answer, I will do my best to invest in finding the answer.
Whether you’re struggling with pelvic pain, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or another issue, I’m dedicated to empowering you throughout every step of your healing journey. In treatment, I often use manual therapy, cupping, exercises, pain neuroscience education, and occasionally will utilize dry needling, a technique that targets muscle trigger points with thin needles to reduce pain and tension. Together, we'll work toward your goals to bring you to your highest level of function.
Originally from Richmond, Virginia, I received my Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences at James Madison University in Virginia and graduated with my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at High Point University in North Carolina. When I’m not in the clinic, you can find me exploring the PNW with my partner and our puppy, Rue, or baking a fresh loaf of sourdough bread. With a passion for empowering patients to take an independent role in their care and healing, I am excited to bring my knowledge and dedication to TPHC while learning from my patients and fellow practitioners. Let’s unravel the mystery together and unlock your path to healing!
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When human beings think about their healthcare it is often met with anxiety, when that should not be the case! In finding The Pelvic Health Clinic I was immediately drawn to their mission and compassion when it came to all thing’s health. I believe strongly in being a champion and advocate for your own journey and joining this clinic is a breath of fresh air. You can find me in my office to help in any way I can, from appointment scheduling to suggestions on where to grab a bite. When I am not at the clinic, I am running my gallery, Whippersnapper located in Georgetown, Seattle or camping all around the PNW. Please don't hesitate to stop by and say hello, anytime.
Additional Community Providers & Services at our Clinic:
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I am a firm believer that our bodies are our original homes. They story our relationship to pain and pleasure, isolation and connection, grief and joy. I am here to help facilitate and hold non-judgmental space for interrelation, presence and ultimately your own autonomous healing and empowerment.
I am a curious and empathetic bodyworker, but also a friend in the unknowing. During our sessions, unexpected feelings and needs might arise that guide our work together, and I am here to listen. Since each of our bodies and the stories within them are wholly unique, no session will ever be exactly the same. You can expect each treatment to be tailored to your individual needs, desires, and concerns. Whether you are looking for therapeutic pain relief from chronic illness, therapeutic relaxation, assisted stretching, or if you are working through an injury, I incorporate a variety of techniques best suited for your wellness. Some of the modalities I utilize include deep tissue, myofascial release, Swedish, cupping, as well as neuromuscular and craniosacral therapies. This type of mixed modality work feels slow and intuitive and inherently helpful in regulating the nervous system.
You know your body best. Your autonomy and agency are paramount in our sessions. I will always follow your lead and offer the best support I can, within my scope of practice. Consent and communication are crucial in our time together. Prior to every session, I do a thorough intake to build a holistic understanding of you as a person, the feelings you might be bringing in with you, and how you hope to feel after. I have a big laugh and deeply cherish connection in our time with each other. It is an honor to do this work, and I look forward to collaborating with you.
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Victoria is a certified SPRe Somatic Educator and Bodyworker as well as a certified GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS trainer. She has been teaching embodied practices in New York and Seattle since 2004, including contemporary and classical dance, improvisation, somatic writing and artmaking.
Victoria’s work begins with anatomy understood as an interconnected fascial system where all the parts affect one another. From there she layers how emotional and historical patterns also shape our moving, feeling bodies. She will work with you to create language that accurately expresses your own body’s sensations/emotions. This process can help you make more sense to yourself and feel equipped to speak and act on your needs, wants and desires. The bodywork is our way of attuning to the sensations of your tissue, as well as updating your structure to match your emotional understanding. SPRe Somatic Education and Bodywork creates dynamic and lasting shifts in the way you move and interact in the world.
There is nothing she loves more than coming to understand your story as your body speaks. She approaches each client with gentle, abundant curiosity about how your body is communicating your history, your feelings, your ambitions, and your blocks. Structural anatomy is the blueprint for all of our work, whether it's movement-based rehabilitation, or emotionally intelligent bodywork. She is always working with all the parts of you.
“I believe that movement is life, and where there is flow there is pulsation, abundance, creativity and growth. Where there is tension or a lack of movement, there is information about our experience. “
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Dr. Natalie Wong’s journey towards supporting others in their health and wellness began in Vancouver, BC, where she discovered the profound impact of chiropractic care from a young age. Through her own encounters with sports injuries, car accidents, and post-surgery rehabilitation, chiropractic care became integral to her healing. Dr. Wong’s early encounters with chiropractic care drives her dedication to offering personalized treatment, as understanding each patient's distinct needs is at the core of her practice.
Her goal for care is to empower patients with the knowledge of their bodies, enabling them to recognize signs when something isn't aligned. Dr. Wong aims to guide patients towards self-reliance in understanding their body's signals and fostering an active engagement in their own path to wellness.
Dr. Wong has a special interest in women’s health, prenatal and postpartum care, and pediatrics.
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Sybil Besheer, LMHC, is an integrative psychotherapist whose aim is to facilitate a person's capacity to listen, feel, express, and respond to parts of self that are currently lost or stuck. She helps folks unwind the knots or blocks that result from wounds/trauma through embodied grounding and movement, creative expression, curious exploration, play, and step-by-step psychoeducation. She works with adults, adolescents, and inner children.
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I am a Naturopathic Physician that specializes in all things related to a healthy and vibrant sexuality, as well as a Certified Community Health Education Specialist with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ issues.
I have been a sex geek for as long as I can remember. I think touch and pleasure are critically important and often overlooked areas of our health and vitality. I have always been that friend where people felt comfortable sharing about their sex lives, so it was a natural extension for me to offer this professionally. Many providers get little to no training in sex medicine, so people live their lives without solutions to why sex isn’t working well for them. Some of the conditions I treat include: menopause and andropausal symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis/chronic prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease and dermatological condition of the vulva. I primarily work with members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as kinky, polyamorous, queer and other sexual minority populations.
My philosophy of medicine puts me in a unique crossroads between conventional medicine and all that holistic hippy stuff! Too often, I have seen medical doctors deliver sloppy medicine in their 7-minute appointment times, a time frame that pretty much only allows drug prescribing and is at high-risk for errors. Likewise, I have been nauseated by seeing patients leave their naturopath’s office with thousands of dollars worth of supplements with questionable efficacy. And on both sides, I have seen patients blamed and shamed and had their diagnoses taken out of context of society at large. Inequalities, discrimination and the determinants of health cannot be ignored when developing each individual’s treatment plan. I use the best of conventional medical science, integrate natural modalities whenever justified and practice informed consent if my recommendations venture into experimental territory. My treatment plans are incremental, reasonable, tailored to you, compassionate and often times, fun!
In addition to being a physician and a health educator, I am an eight-time participant of Burning Man, an ecstatic dancer and a devoted spouse. I identify as a queer, kinky woman who is the proud parent of two young children, both of whom are being raised in a gender-neutral fashion (until they tell us otherwise, of course!). When I am not with patients, I am often found playing in the woods.
My pronouns are either she/her or they/them.
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Anna is a certified reiki practitioner, yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, and intuitive empath. Anna was first introduced to mindfulness when she studied Positive Psychology in Denmark in 2015, and has since devoted herself to living and studying in accordance with mindfulness philosophy. Anna is a certified member of the International Reiki Healing Association and strongly believes in a whole-body holistic approach to wellness and that our spiritual/energetic health is deeply connected to our physical, emotional, psychological health and overall well-being.
Anna is passionate about helping others and is devoted to helping her clients heal through mindfulness, movement, and energy work. Her goal is to help her clients connect deeper with themselves and empower their bodies to heal. Anna caters to individuals from all walks of life and is dedicated to helping you on your personal healing journey.
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I am Greta (G/she/they) I’m a Certified Somatic Intimacy Educator, and I help people to live more fully in their bodies. I hold containers for self discovery, where one can listen to and be led by the wisdom of the body. My practice is grounded in enthusiastic consent, trauma informed touch and pleasure focused healing. Utilizing breathwork, movement, client guided touch, somatic inquiry, rituals of co-creation and embodiment practices, I welcome clients to experience their own unfolding with curiosity, compassion and self love.
I believe that our sensual selves hold the key to our wholeness, to our belonging to each other and this planet. I offer private sessions and workshops for erotic wellness for people of all gender identities, expressions and sizes. Empowering voice and choice, each session is tailored to the individual needs and desires of the client. I honor that everyone will have a different definition of erotic wholeness and I am honored to hold the space for that journey.
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Carey is a certified Somatic Sex Educator and a long-time consent educator. Carey works with individuals, couples, and communities for the last 10 years to embody consent culture as an antidote to individual and collective sexual trauma and neglect. In Carey’s work, she reminds clients that accessing our own pleasure is critical for our healing. Carey believes in a world with less sexual harm, more choice, more safety, and more erotic aliveness.
Carey works with all genders and all genital configurations and supports clients in consent & communication, getting in touch with pleasure as a healing force, setting life-serving boundaries, letting go of shame, and increasing erotic embodiment. Carey utilizes somatic coaching, client-guided touch, and intuitive ritual to co-create sessions that meet each person where they are on their journey to sexual wholeness.