Frequently Asked Questions About Physical Therapy
No referral needed. Dedicated one-on-one care. You can book in-person PT directly with Dr. Emily Warren, DPT, Cert. MDT, our McKenzie-certified Doctor of Physical Therapy. Your individual appointment is one-on-one with Dr. Emily, with time to listen, assess your movement and practice your plan together.
Looking for the next step? Request a free 15-minute consultation or call/text (385) 332-4939. No referral needed in Utah.
Insurance and Appointment Questions
How Do I Arrange a Physical Therapy Appointment?
Contact Mindful Movement PT to discuss your goals and the right appointment type, or call/text (385) 332-4939.
New patients typically start with a 60-minute evaluation to allow time for a thorough McKenzie Method mechanical assessment, diagnosis, and initial treatment. Follow-up sessions can be 30 or 60 minutes depending on your needs.
Your number of visits depends on your goals, assessment and response to treatment.
Learn more about the advantages of cash-pay physical therapy.
Does Mindful Movement Accept Insurance?
We are a cash-pay practice and do not bill insurance directly. You pay Mindful Movement for your appointment. We provide a superbill—an itemized clinical receipt—that you can submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Before booking, ask your insurer whether your plan covers out-of-network physical therapy, whether a deductible applies and what documentation is needed. Your insurer determines any reimbursement.
What do I receive with out-of-network care?
You work one-on-one with Dr. Emily, with time to explain your concerns, practice your plan and ask questions. We choose follow-up visits around your needs and progress, and help you build skills to use between appointments.
Our out-of-network care guide explains payment, superbills and questions to ask your insurer. You can also discuss these during a free 15-minute consultation.
Can I Use My HSA or FSA to Pay?
We accept HSA/FSA cards for eligible physical therapy expenses. Check your account’s requirements and keep your receipt. Ask about eligibility separately for coaching or classes.
What to Expect
What Happens During My First Physical Therapy Visit?
Your initial 60-minute evaluation follows the McKenzie Method framework:
- Comprehensive history — Dr. Emily discusses your symptoms, how they started, what makes them better or worse, your daily activities, and your goals
- Mechanical assessment — you perform specific repeated movements while Dr. Emily observes your symptom response to identify your mechanical classification
- Directional preference testing — systematic loading strategies to find the movement direction that reduces or centralizes your pain
- Initial treatment — hands-on care and/or guided exercises based on your assessment findings
- Home exercise prescription — a specific, simple program (usually 1–3 exercises) tailored to your mechanical diagnosis
- Treatment plan — expected number of visits, frequency, timeline, and total estimated cost
You’ll leave your first visit with a clear understanding of what’s causing your pain, a plan to fix it, and exercises to start immediately.
What Should I Wear to Physical Therapy?
Comfortable clothing you can move in freely. Athletic wear, leggings, shorts, or loose-fitting clothes are ideal. You should be able to bend, squat, and lie down comfortably. For neck assessments, a shirt that doesn’t restrict shoulder movement helps.
How Long Is Each Session?
You choose: 30 minutes or 60 minutes. Initial evaluations are recommended at 60 minutes. Follow-up visits can be either length depending on your treatment needs. Every minute is one-on-one with Dr. Emily — no shared time with other patients.
How Many Visits Will I Need?
Many patients at Mindful Movement need 4–8 visits. The McKenzie Method’s diagnostic specificity means treatment is targeted from day one, reducing the total number of sessions needed.
Some conditions resolve faster:
- Simple mechanical back pain: 2–4 visits
- Disc-related symptoms with centralization: 4–6 visits
- Chronic or complex conditions: 6–10 visits
- Post-surgical rehabilitation: varies by procedure
Dr. Emily provides an estimated visit count at your first appointment so you know what to expect financially and time-wise.
Meet Dr. Emily: an introduction to online care and coaching
Get to know Dr. Emily through her introduction to hybrid care and coaching. This is an overview of an appointment format, not a demonstration of treatment for a particular condition.
Conditions and Treatment
What Conditions Does Mindful Movement Treat?
Dr. Emily specializes in musculoskeletal conditions including:
- Back pain — acute, chronic, and recurring
- Herniated and bulging discs — McKenzie directional preference treatment
- Sciatica — centralization techniques for leg pain
- Pinched nerves — cervical and lumbar radiculopathy
- Neck pain and headaches — mechanical assessment and manual therapy
- Osteoporosis — safe progressive loading programs
- Shoulder, hip, and knee pain — joint and extremity conditions
- Post-surgical rehabilitation — return-to-function programs
- Ski and hiking injuries — activity-specific rehabilitation for Utah’s outdoor lifestyle
Can Physical Therapy Help Me Avoid Back Surgery?
In many cases, yes. Research shows that 70–90% of disc herniations resolve with conservative care, and the McKenzie Method is specifically designed to identify patients who will respond to non-surgical treatment. Patients whose symptoms centralize during the McKenzie assessment have excellent prognosis without surgery.
Dr. Emily has helped many patients in Salt Lake City, Holladay, and surrounding communities avoid unnecessary back surgery through targeted mechanical treatment.
What Is the Difference Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture?
Dry needling uses thin monofilament needles inserted into muscular trigger points to release tension, reduce pain, and restore function. It’s based on Western neuroanatomy and muscle physiology — targeting specific dysfunctional muscles identified through physical therapy assessment.
Acupuncture is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and targets meridian points to balance energy flow. While both use thin needles, the theoretical framework, point selection, and treatment goals are different.
Dr. Emily uses dry needling as one tool within a comprehensive treatment plan, often combined with McKenzie exercises and manual therapy.
McKenzie Method
What Is the McKenzie Method?
The McKenzie Method (Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy) is an internationally recognized assessment and treatment system for spine and extremity problems. It classifies your condition based on your symptom response to specific repeated movements, then prescribes targeted exercises based on that classification.
Key features:
- Diagnostic accuracy in the first visit — your pain is classified mechanically, not just described symptomatically
- Directional preference — the specific movement direction that reduces your pain
- Self-treatment emphasis — you learn to manage and prevent recurrence independently
- Evidence-based — supported by extensive peer-reviewed research
Why Is McKenzie Method Certification Important?
Dr. Emily Warren holds Cert. MDT in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy. This McKenzie credential follows foundational coursework and the credentialing examination. It informs her assessment and exercise selection; a credential does not guarantee a diagnosis or treatment outcome. The plan should reflect your findings, goals, and response to care.
Scheduling and Access
Do I Need a Doctor’s Referral to See a Physical Therapist in Utah?
No. Utah’s direct access law allows you to see a physical therapist without a physician referral. You can contact us or check the booking calendar for available appointments. This saves you the time and cost of a separate doctor’s appointment.
If Dr. Emily determines during your evaluation that imaging or physician consultation is needed, she’ll refer you appropriately.
How Do I Schedule an Appointment?
Visit the contact page to book online or call the clinic. Check the booking calendar or contact us for current availability. Mention if you prefer morning, afternoon, or evening availability.
Do You Offer Virtual Appointments?
Virtual coaching appointments are available for general movement education, wellness goals and accountability. Clinical physical therapy is a separate service; contact the clinic to confirm eligibility and suitability before booking.
Where Is the Clinic Located?
Mindful Movement PT is in Holladay, Utah — centrally located for residents of Salt Lake City, Millcreek, Murray, and Cottonwood Heights. The clinic is easily accessible from I-215, Highland Drive, and 4500 South.
What Are Your Hours?
Contact the clinic via the contact page for current availability. Dr. Emily offers flexible scheduling including some early morning and evening appointments.
Dry Needling
Does Dry Needling Hurt?
Many patients describe a brief deep ache or muscle twitch when the needle reaches a trigger point — this is actually the therapeutic response. The needles are extremely thin (much thinner than injection needles), and the sensation is typically well-tolerated. Some muscle soreness for 12–24 hours after treatment is normal, similar to post-exercise soreness.
How Many Dry Needling Sessions Will I Need?
Dry needling is typically used as part of a broader treatment plan, not as a standalone therapy. Many patients notice improvement after 2–3 sessions of dry needling combined with McKenzie exercises and manual therapy. Dr. Emily integrates dry needling when the assessment indicates muscular trigger points are contributing to your symptoms.