FAQs
I already did physical therapy and it didn't help. Why would this be different?
I hear this often, and it's usually not because the therapist was bad. It's because of how the visit was set up. In a busy clinic a therapist may be covering three patients at once, the visit runs 20 or 30 minutes, and the number of sessions is decided by an insurance reviewer who has never met you. That's not therapy built around you.
What I do is different in structure, not just attitude. One patient. A full 45 minutes. In your home, using your stairs and your furniture. A plan that ends when you've reached your goal, not when an authorization runs out.
Who is this service actually for?
Most of the people I work with are between 65 and 85. They still live at home or in a senior community, they've always been active, and something has changed. Maybe you're holding the counter more than you used to. Maybe stairs feel different, or you've stopped going to things you used to enjoy because you're not sure how you'll do. You don't need to have fallen. You don't need a diagnosis. If you've noticed you're not moving the way you did a year ago, that's exactly the right time to call.
What happens during the eval?
I come to your home for a full hour. We start by talking — what's changed, what you've stopped doing, and what you'd most like to get back to. Then I assess how you actually move: balance, strength, walking, getting up from a chair, stairs if that's relevant. I look at your home too, because the environment matters. By the end I'll tell you plainly what I found, what's causing it, and what it would take to change it. You'll leave that hour with a written plan, whether or not you decide to work with me.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No. New Mexico allows you to see a physical therapist directly, without going through your physician first. If you'd like me to send my findings to your doctor I'm glad to, and I often do — it keeps everyone on the same page. But you don't need anyone's permission to get started, and you don't need to wait for an appointment that's six weeks out.
Do you take my insurance?
No — and that's deliberate. When insurance runs the plan of care, a claims reviewer decides how many visits you get and how long each one lasts. As a private-pay practice, I answer to you instead. That means a full uninterrupted 45 minutes, one patient at a time, a plan built around what you want to get back to, and no visit that ends because an authorization ran out. We accept HSA and FSA cards, and I'll always tell you the total cost before you commit to anything.
Can I use my HSA/FSA account?
Yes! We accept payments from HSA/FSA accounts.
Do you see patients in assisted living or independent living communities?
Yes. I work with residents in independent and assisted living communities across Albuquerque, with the community's permission — which is almost never a problem. Many communities offer group exercise, and that's genuinely valuable, but it isn't the same as one-on-one therapy built around your specific balance, your specific strength, and your specific goals. If you're not sure how it works with your community, call me and I'll handle that conversation for you.
Can my spouse or my daughter be there?
Please. I'd rather they were. Family members usually notice things the patient doesn't, and they often have questions of their own. If your daughter lives out of state, she's welcome to join by phone or video — several of my patients' families do exactly that. And if you're the son or daughter reading this: you can call me yourself. You don't need your parent's permission to ask a question.
What if I'm not sure I need this yet?
Then start with a conversation. I offer a free 20-minute call — no cost, no commitment, and no obligation to book anything afterward. You tell me what's changed and what you want back, and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help. Sometimes the answer is that you don't need me yet, and I'll say so. That's a useful answer too.
Most people who wait aren't waiting because they've decided against it. They're waiting because it hasn't gotten bad enough to force the issue — and the things you quietly stop doing in the meantime are the hardest ones to get back.