Different by design, not by accident. Here’s what an hour with me looks like compared with the way much of physical therapy is delivered today.
Most physical therapy in the US is delivered in a model built around insurance reimbursement. It works well for many people, and many excellent therapists practice in it. It also has predictable features: shorter visits, several patients at once, assistants who supervise exercises, and plans shaped partly by what an insurance plan will pay for.
I chose a different model so I could practice the way my training taught me to: with time to think, with my hands on the problem, and with the same person every time. Many clinics simply don’t have the time to assess someone thoroughly and choose the right level of exercise. I built my practice so that I do.
| A typical high-volume clinic | Working with me | |
|---|---|---|
| Visit length | Often 30 to 45 minutes, sometimes shared | 60 minutes, every visit |
| Who you see | Your PT for part of the visit; an aide or assistant for exercises | Wendy, the whole hour, every visit |
| Patients at once | Often 2 to 4 | One: you |
| Continuity | You may see different therapists | The same therapist from your first visit to your last |
| Hands-on care | Varies; often limited by time | Central to treatment, including joint mobilization, manipulation and dry needling |
| Exercises | Often a longer program, repeated in the clinic | A few, chosen to fit your day, pain-free, and progressed as you improve |
| How often | Often 2 to 3 visits per week | Usually weekly or every two weeks |
| Explanation | Varies | You leave knowing what we found and why we’re doing what we’re doing |
| Clinician training | Licensed physical therapist | Physical therapist since 1994; three-year orthopaedic manual therapy residency; Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists |
| Payment | Billed to insurance; the plan is often shaped by what’s covered | Cash-pay, HSA and FSA accepted; a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement |
The left column describes a common model, not any specific clinic.
It doesn’t mean conventional physical therapy is wrong, or that I can fix what nobody else could. It means you get more time, more of my attention, and more of my training focused on your specific problem. For many people, that changes how the whole experience feels.
Already been through PT and still dealing with it? Read why another round might be different.
“She is thorough and analytical at figuring out what’s wrong and what I need to do to fix it, and she explains everything clearly.”
Bruce B.
“I have done several PT “stints” in my 72+ years and I’d put Wendy quite high on my list of best practitioners… she assigns a very manageable number of exercises.”
Sara J.
Book a 60-minute first visit at my Fremont clinic, or call or text me with questions. I reply by the end of the workday.
