Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City, Utah
When I announced I was moving to Salt Lake City, I got this question A LOT: “Why Utah??” The person asking look mystified and confused. Partly, I understood their confusion because I had an incredible life in Tucson. I had a lovely house, friends, and a thriving practice. But I was mostly confused with their exasperated disbelief that I would move to such a place. In my head I would think, “why NOT Utah??” I would reply that I am elated to be in a place with mountains, snow skiing, trees, rivers, lakes, 4 seasons, cooler weather, new friends, & new experiences. They then would ask the question everyone wanted to know: “Are you mormon? Are you LDS? Why would you move there if you’re not?” I grew up with several mormon friends and continued to have mormon and ex-mormon friends throughout my life. I don’t know why everyone thinks they are scary and should be avoided, I personally think they are really welcoming and friendly people.
And all I can think now as I have lived here for a few months is that I am right! Most people I have experiencing in UT are all really welcoming and friendly people and I like being a place where kindness and love is a clear message.
I want to be very clear, however, that there are practices in religious communities that I whole-heartedly disagree with. I am a queer woman and a strong ally to the LGBTQ community. I strongly support a woman’s autonomy over their own bodies and I am extremely and proudly pro-choice. I also care deeply about destigmatizing sexual health and wellness.
Sex is always an avoided topic in religion. Growing up catholic I was taught that sex was just as terrible a sin as murder. Can you even imagine the type of shame that is instilled in a young person’s body when they are taught that? It is a recipe for complete disconnection to our genitals and our sexual energy, which is really important for overall health and wellness. This instills fear in people’s lives to not talk about sex and never acknowledge it. It can lead to a lack of education resulting in teen pregnancies, increased STDs, and can prevent children and young adults from telling someone if they are being sexually abused.
As a young kid, I was sexually abused and I was not believed when I told someone. These messages and traumas recieved as young kids can have a lasting, physiological impact on our bodies, mind, and our pelvic floor.
If we are taught to avoid the topic of sex, our pelvic floor muscles will quite literally tense up and shut off. Then when we reach the time we want to be sexual, our body is not responding well. This is what I specialize in — Sexual dysfunction after sexual trauma and purity culture.
Women in particular are taught to prioritize men’s pleasure. How many Cosmo articles growing up did we read saying “10 ways to give a mind blowing BJ” or “how to know if he likes you.” WTF?? Where are the articles stating: “10 ways to experience self pleasure” or “how to know if your partner is meeting your sexual needs and what to do about it.” This is also my speciality. Helping women understand their bodies and senses so they are able to experience pleasurable sex with their partners. Because sex should be prioritized for everyone’s pleasure, not just men’s.
So for me, Utah, seems like a perfect place to land. In a place where there are a lot of women having a lot of babies, I am here to help make their sexual experiences enjoyable, their pregnancies smooth, and their postpartum journeys as seamless as possible. And let’s not forget our menopausal queens who need support in their sexual and reproductive wellness as well.
Anyone growing up with a religious influence is going to be impacted by these negative messages around sexuality. It doesn’t mean the religion is wrong or bad for the person who finds comfort there, it just means we are going to change the narrative around female sexuality, care, and pleasure.
Thanks for reading,
xoxox
Dr. Laura
