Meet Dara — Empowered Pelvic Health & Wellness

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Start addressing your physical and emotional well-being today. In-home pelvic floor therapy serving Agawam, the Pioneer Valley, and Enfield, CT. Schedule a no cost, no obligation 15-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and learn more.

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Expand each topic below to learn how pelvic floor therapy can help.

Pregnant women doing pelvic floor exercises

Pregnancy

Together, we’ll work to manage pelvic pain, improve posture, and strengthen your pelvic floor to help reduce the risk of issues like incontinence or prolapse. I’ll also guide you through safe movement patterns and share strategies to ease the discomfort that can come with a growing belly and hormonal changes.

Postpartum

Recovery support focuses on restoring core stability, improving bladder and bowel control, and addressing any lingering pelvic pain or weakness. Education is provided on safe lifting, returning to physical activity, and strategies to support overall well-being during the postpartum phase. With personalized exercises and functional training, the goal is to help you regain strength, mobility, and confidence in your body.

Pain

Through a detailed assessment, I work with you to identify the root causes of your pelvic floor pain and develop a personalized treatment plan. This may include gentle manual therapy, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, posture work, and visceral manipulation to reduce tension and improve muscle coordination. I also provide strategies to manage pain during everyday activities, helping you move more comfortably and feel more in control of your body.

Water droplet symbolizing bladder control and incontinence treatment

Bladder & Bowel Incontinence

Incontinence can occur at any point in our lives and can significantly impact our ability to participate in the things we love. Incontinence can prevent us from returning to an exercise program, our ability to perform our job, care for our children, engage in intimacy, and can significantly impact our social lives. Through a detailed assessment we would look at your daily habits, routines, activities, posture, breathing patterns, as well as strength and coordination assessments to come up with a tailored plan for you.

Painful Intercourse

Painful intercourse is often rooted in stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, or past trauma, leading to involuntary guarding and tightness in the pelvic floor muscles—much like a constantly tense jaw. Through pelvic floor therapy, we use gentle hands-on techniques and nervous system downtraining to release this chronic tension, reduce pain, and restore comfort.

Prolapse

Did you know that prolapse can occur whether or not you’ve had children? It often presents as a feeling of pressure, heaviness, or the sensation that something is “falling out.” Prolapse can also contribute to abdominal or back pain. Through our work together, we would explore and address the underlying factors that may be contributing to your symptoms — including biomechanics, diet, positioning, constipation, intra-abdominal pressure, and visceral mobility, among others.

Confident older woman enjoying active life after pelvic floor therapy during menopause

Menopause Transition & Beyond

During menopause, hormonal changes can lead to problems like bladder leaks, urinary urgency, pelvic discomfort and painful sex, or a new onset of prolapse. We would work together to navigate these shifts with personalized strategies—like targeted exercises, lifestyle adjustments, and education to support bladder, bowel, and sexual health. My goal is to help you feel more comfortable, confident, and in control of your body during this stage of life.

Rainbow pride flag representing inclusive gender affirming pelvic floor care

Gender Affirming Care

Individuals undergoing gender affirming care or gender reassignment surgery would benefit from pelvic floor therapy for preparation, recovery, and function. We provide a safe, confidential practice in the comfort of your home focused entirely on your unique goals for wellness and affirmation.

Helping You Feel Better And Move Better

Dara Clauson, OTR/L, pelvic floor occupational therapist in Agawam, MA

Dara Clauson, OTR/L, Level 2 FPHP/TIPHP
Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner
Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Practitioner

I am an Occupational Therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy, with over 17 years of clinical experience across long-term care, inpatient rehabilitation, and home-based therapy. My holistic approach is deeply informed by both this broad clinical background and my personal experience recovering from a severe birth injury, allowing me to provide highly practical, individualized care in your own environment.

I have pursued a breadth of advanced training including the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Floor Level 1 course, OT Pioneers, and have completed the Level 2 Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner & Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Practitioner (FPHP/TIPHP) certifications. This depth of education supports thorough, evidence-informed evaluation and high-quality treatment.

When I’m not working, I enjoy life with my husband and two daughters, playing board games, curling up with a good book, and knitting. Depending on the time of year you can also see me outside in my dahlia patch and vegetable garden, or spending time on the slopes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages do you treat?

I only treat individuals above the age of 18 years.

Do you treat men and women?

I provide services for vulva owners and individuals undergoing gender affirming care.

What should I expect prior to and during my first visit?

Before your first appointment, we’ll spend about 15 minutes on the phone reviewing your symptoms and discussing your main goals. This conversation helps me choose the most relevant questionnaires for you, which you’ll complete ahead of your visit. This allows us to spend your in-person time focused on understanding you, rather than paperwork.

During your first session, we’ll focus on getting to know each other and gaining a full picture of how your body functions in daily life. This includes looking at posture, movement patterns, breathing, habits, and routines. The goal is to understand the root causes of your symptoms, not just the surface issues.

A pelvic floor assessment is often not routinely performed during the first visit. Many clients benefit from building trust and comfort first. If an internal or external pelvic floor assessment is appropriate, it is always optional and guided by your comfort, consent, and readiness. Could a pelvic floor assessment happen during the first visit? Yes — but it is never required. You are always in control of what happens in your session.

Must you do an internal assessment?

You probably will not get this answer anywhere else: internal assessments are not a given. I pride myself on providing trauma informed care, and offer four different types of assessment:

Feedback Based: clothes on with you providing feedback based on various cues.
External Visual Assessment without touch: clothes off from the waist down, no touch.
External Visual Assessment with touch: clothes off from the waist down, with external touch only.
Internal Exam: internal and external vaginal and/or rectal exam.

All treatment and evaluation decisions are always your choice. Explicit consent is needed for all treatments, and can be adjusted at ANY point in time.

But which one is the best form of assessment?

The short answer? The one that you feel most comfortable with. There is a lot that can be gleaned from feedback-based assessments, as well as from the other gentle, non-invasive options I mentioned above. You can absolutely start with a feedback-based assessment and decide later if you’d like to try an internal one. This process is meant to be flexible and guided by your comfort every step of the way.

Do you accept insurance?

I am dedicated to providing personalized, one-on-one care, focused on helping each client reach their goals at their own pace — without restrictions or outside interference. I believe that decisions about your care — including how often we meet and how long treatment continues — should be made by you and your therapist, not by insurance companies. This approach allows me to focus fully on your progress and provide the quality of care you truly deserve.

Empowered Pelvic Health & Wellness is an out of network, cash based, private practice. Insurance reimbursement may be possible and is the responsibility of the insured (patient). I can, however, provide guidance for the required pre-approval steps and superbill submission for reimbursement.

What is a Superbill?

Superbills are a way to get reimbursed by your insurance for healthcare costs. Often times I can be covered under your insurance at in network rates, and is a quick and easy process.

Here is how it works:

Call your health insurance provider and request a network deficiency due to lack of access to care. Network deficiencies are found in one of two ways:

You do not have any in network providers that are covered under your insurance within a certain radius of your home.
The in network providers have an extensive, months long wait list that makes it an excessive burden to the patient.

After that you would receive confirmation from your health insurance that I would be considered an in-network or out of network provider, and billing submitted by you to your insurance company would go towards your deductible. Then we can go ahead and book!

Following our sessions you submit the costs to your insurance via your health insurance website for reimbursement, which can take just a few minutes.

The content on this website is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or care. Always consult your licensed healthcare professional with any questions or concerns about a medical condition or treatment. Do not ignore or postpone seeking professional medical guidance because of information found on this website. Any use of the information provided is entirely at your own discretion and risk. By accessing and using this website, you confirm that you have read and understood this disclaimer.

My Story and Mission

A Patient-Led Approach

Follow me for Pelvic Wellness Tips!

Expand each topic below to learn how pelvic floor therapy can help.

Pregnancy

Postpartum

Pain

Bladder & Bowel Incontinence

Painful Intercourse

Prolapse

Menopause Transition & Beyond

Gender Affirming Care

Helping You Feel Better And Move Better

Dara Clauson, OTR/L, Level 2 FPHP/TIPHP
Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner
Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Practitioner

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule a Consultation

Quick Reads for Better Pelvic Health

My Story and Mission

A Patient-Led Approach

Follow me for Pelvic Wellness Tips!

Expand each topic below to learn how pelvic floor therapy can help.

Pregnancy

Postpartum

Pain

Bladder & Bowel Incontinence

Painful Intercourse

Prolapse

Menopause Transition & Beyond

Gender Affirming Care

Helping You Feel Better And Move Better

Dara Clauson, OTR/L, Level 2 FPHP/TIPHPFunctional Pelvic Health PractitionerTrauma Informed Pelvic Health Practitioner

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule a Consultation

Quick Reads for Better Pelvic Health

Dara Clauson, OTR/L, Level 2 FPHP/TIPHP
Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner
Trauma Informed Pelvic Health Practitioner