Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Achieve Therapy Services? We are a unique, privately-owned physical therapy practice founded by Denise Johnson, PT, CLT. Denise has over 30 years of experience treating the breast cancer and women’s health patient. We converted a small house into a clinic to surround you with a pleasant ambiance that supports our treatment approach of being a home for healing.
Who May Benefit From Therapy at Achieve? As you are recovering from breast cancer surgery and related treatments, you may find you have difficulty with range of motion due to scar tissue or fascial tightness and pain with movement. In some cases, you may experience swelling of the arm or breast known as lymphedema. You may have tissue hardening after radiation known as fibrosis. Because of the cancer treatments you’ve been through, you may not have the endurance you once had or are unable to complete activities that you used to do.
Physical therapy treatments are very beneficial in such cases. Manual therapy techniques including myofascial release, scar and soft tissue mobilization, functional dry needling, manual lymphatic drainage and medical compression bandaging for swelling are all treatment techniques that may be used in our sessions. Strengthening and endurance exercises are also key components of treatment.
While breast cancer physical therapy is our specialty, we also treat other women’s health issues such as SI joint or back pain with pregnancy, and pelvic health issues such as incontinence or pelvic pain.
Male or female, cancer-survivor or not, if you experience soft tissue/muscle pain, poor range of motion, scar pain, lack of endurance, loss of strength, or inability to perform daily activities, we can help.
Why Choose Achieve? Simply stated, You want the best care at a time that works for you.
Personalized Attention: We prioritize individualized care. Our treatments are unique because you are unique. While you may be experiencing pain or muscle restrictions similar to another person, the cause could be quite different. We take the time to listen to you about your experiences, your challenges, and your goals. We strive to understand your entire condition because we know that rehabilitation is often not just physical; it can also be emotional and spiritual. At Achieve, you know you will have a caring, experienced therapist for your entire journey.
Flexible Scheduling: You have a busy schedule and we understand that. We will work with you to find a time that is convenient for you. We structure our schedule to allow us to see you within days of your request rather than the weeks it can take to be scheduled at some practices. This structure and flexibility get you on your way to recovery quickly.
Extended Treatment Sessions: Our experience shows that, in most cases, one-hour sessions allow the appropriate time to provide the care you need. Even the one-hour session durations may be adjusted if specific needs warrant. Since our pricing is session-based and not time-based, you will not be charged more for longer sessions. These extended sessions allow us to address multiple aspects of your condition in each session which leads to fewer sessions needed to achieve recovery.
Customized Treatment Plans: We do not have, nor are we forced to have, a one-size-fits-all treatment plan which can be found in large practices. We will design a treatment plan that caters specifically to your needs, goals, and progress. This can lead to faster recovery and better outcomes.
Experience: A degree and license provides a therapist with the required paperwork to legally treat you. Thirty-plus years of experience in women’s health and breast cancer rehabilitation sets us apart from the crowd. Working side-by-side with thousands of patients, leading and mentoring therapists, developing cancer rehabilitation programs from the ground up: these are the experiences that have formed Denise and enriched her treating insight.
How Long is Each Session? Each appointment is a one-on-one session with the therapist in our private setting with the initial evaluation lasting 90 minutes to allow time to uncover and understand your unique needs. Additional sessions generally last 60 minutes but may vary based on your needs. The frequency of treatments is determined based on the results of the initial visit/evaluation and adjusted as treatment progresses.
Does Achieve Accept Insurance? Achieve is a cash-based service provider meaning we are considered out-of-network with all insurance companies. We made this decision based on the fact that, with physical therapy, insurance often dictates how and when care is provided and puts limits on the time therapists can spend with patients or directs the care that they approve to pay. These limitations take the focus off of the care you, the patient, need. Because we do not go through insurance, we are able to simply focus on the healing process, putting you first.
While we do not bill insurance, we will provide a receipt for services that you may submit directly to your insurer for reimbursement if you desire. In addition, we can also provide helpful tips and guidelines for insurance submission.
What is the Cost of Each Session? We want to make exceptional care attainable for you when you need it. We assume you did not budget for this illness or pain, so please call us for pricing.
Payment is collected at the time of service. We accept cash, check, debit and credit cards, HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) payments.
We will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Feel free to Contact Us.