The Gold Standard for Pelvic Health Education: Are We Training Therapists the Right Way?

Internal pelvic health work can be incredibly valuable – but are we truly teaching clinicians how to do it safely, skillfully, and effectively?In this candid conversation, Lynn Schulte, PT, and Laura Rowan, OT, challenge the way pelvic health clinicians are being trained and explore what the gold standard for intravaginal education should really look like.In this episode, we explore:What success with internal work looks likeThe importance of trauma-informed education and true consentThe must-haves in intravaginal education that every practitioner needsWhy knowing how to assess is only half the equationWhat to treat beyond the pelvic floor musclesHow to turn clients from passive recipients to active participants in their treatmentThe Clinical TakeawayInternal work is a tool – not the entire treatment.The real skill is knowing when to use it, how to create safety, how to interpret what you find, and how to turn those findings into effective treatment.If you've ever taken a pelvic health course and thought, “I know how to assess it…but what do I actually DO with it?” – this episode is for you.Press play and rethink what is needed to support a gold standard in pelvic health education.About the Speaker: Laura Rowan, OT/L, is a Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist, educator, mentor, and advocate dedicated to advancing Occupational Therapy and expanding access to pelvic health care.As founder of Essential Pelvic Health, LLC, an Upstate New York pelvic health practice, Laura takes an innovative, collaborative, whole-person approach to helping people of all gender identities experiencing persistent pelvic pain and bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunction return to meaningful activities.Laura also advances the field through clinician education, mentorship, and advocacy. Essential Pelvic Health offers continuing education courses, including PR-MATT and Cr-MATT, as well as workshops, free resources, and EPH Mentor Creative, a mentorship community supporting ongoing professional growth.Speaker’s Website: https://www.essentialpelvichealth.com/Speaker’s Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/27VFGUfoj3XbVtXMZ8LbMEEssential Pelvic Health Education FB group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DMxYG7U8y/Visit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE