Collaboration with Virago Wellness, a local mental health resource that may help improve your pelvic floor dysfunction
One of my main missions at Root to Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health is to strongly connect with the community. That means in addition to supporting our patients I want to forge a strong bond with practices and providers that support our mission for truly better healthcare. Sometimes this means providing free resources and education to the public which we do through organizations like Restore the Floor; or, joining local networks like the Kennebunk business group that Dr. Daisy and I attend monthly. Other times it means shining a light on a local practice that I’ve connected with that goes above and beyond expectations. That is the case with Virago Wellness, a women's counseling center in South Portland.
When I first met Nikki Yardy, I felt an instant connection and in the past few months I have been nourishing our relationship by meeting her team and learning more about the practice. Nikki is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified EMDR Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and the owner and founder of Virago Wellness which specializes in therapy geared toward the unique needs of women.
Last month I went to Virago to meet the team and present a bit about Root to Rise’s approach to physical therapy. I spent some time covering what the pelvic floor is, how it functions, and peppered in some fun facts about intra-abdominal pressure management. We also chatted about the influences on the pelvic floor including postural patterns, hormonal fluctuations and chronic stress on the nervous system. This is where there is such overlap between our work and where we can learn from each other.
Earlier in the year, Nikki had presented to our team at Root to Rise to explain Virago’s offerings and approach to tackling nervous system dysfunction and trauma response. She gave us a much better understanding of EMDR treatment, something many of the practitioners at Virago provide. It was fascinating to learn that this technique can be useful in unpacking trauma that may be too difficult to remember or talk about in traditional talk therapy. Because the pelvic floor can be greatly impacted by chronic stress on the nervous system we know that trauma response and pain response are greatly bound up together and the underlying root cause of this stress is critical to understand and heal from to achieve lasting progress.
Nikki also assured us that she has seen results in situations where the chronic stress isn’t necessarily resolvable. For example when one is dealing with a chronic illness.Their tools can help individuals find moments of ease and relief. This translates to better emotional and physical outcomes.
We feel a deep kinship too with Virago’s mission to educate, support, and empower women with tools, information, and resources to reclaim their lives and heal from negative experiences and mental health concerns. They are broadening our understanding of what counseling can be by utilizing their skills, expertise and experience to provide services uniquely tailored to women. We are so grateful to have this resource in our community and want to shine a light on the beautiful work their team is doing!
~Dr. Jenn
Want to learn more? Connect with Virago Wellness.
At Root to Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health, we believe in a holistic approach to physical therapy. Our Doctors of Physical Therapy are specialized in treating both orthopedic and pelvic health conditions. Our practice also integrates acupuncture and yoga and we are always excited to be a resource for the community we practice in. We are located in Scarborough, Saco, and Bath, and are here to support you!
