Some people come to physical therapy after an acute injury or surgery; many people benefit from treatment for a chronic or nagging pain that is holding them back. If you think you may have a problem that is affecting your movement or activity level, you can send an email or set up a free phone/video consultation.

Nope! Maryland is a state that has full direct access to physical therapy, meaning that there is no restriction on patients coming without a referral.

Ascend is an out-of-network provider, meaning that I do not bill insurance directly. Should you wish to request reimbursement from your insurance company, I will provide you with the documentation to do so and can assist you in navigating that process. You CAN use an HSA or FSA to cover the cost of your visits.

Being out-of-network helps me to offer you the best care possible, and allows us to avoid restrictions from insurance companies that affect the types of treatments you can receive, how many visits you can be seen for, and how much one-on-one time you have with your therapist. Out-of-network PT means that your treatment can be dictated by your own goals and needs, not by your insurance company.

A link to your online medial history and consent forms will be emailed to you before your initial appointment; you may either submit it online, or print it and bring it with you. Your initial assessment will involve discussing the history of your current problem, assessing your movement and other clinical tests, establishing a plan together, and initiating the treatment plan. It’s best if you wear comfortable clothing that you are able to move in. If your visit is a virtual consult, find a place where you have space to move, a good internet connection, a place to set your phone/tablet/computer, and access to any exercise equipment we might use during the session.

It depends on your goals and on our findings at your initial assessment. Some patients have as few as 1-2 sessions, while others benefit from regular sessions for a period of weeks. We’ll work together to come up with a plan that makes sense for you!

Dry needling is a technique used by physical therapists and other healthcare providers to assist in the treatment of muscle pain and tension. It involves insertion of a thin, monofilament needle into the muscle, which often elicits a “twitch” or small cramping response, and can help relieve pain. There is no injection in dry needling (hence the name.)

Dry needling works best when used as part of a comprehensive plan that includes movement assessment and exercise programming.

In the state of Maryland, physical therapists are required to perform at least 80 additional hours of specialized continuing education beyond their entry-level coursework in order to obtain certification in dry needling.

Yes! Ascend also offers wellness visits, running assessments, run coaching, and strength training options to help you establish a training program or work on fitness-related goals.

Training and run coaching are offered on both a per-session basis (45-55 minutes), and a monthly basis, which involves a consult and 4 weeks of individualized programming delivered via an online training log.

Monthly plans are offered for running, strength training, or running + strength training combined. First, new clients are sent an online questionnaire in order to get some initial information on your running and/or strength training history, goals, and preferences. Next, we’ll schedule an initial consult. Your initial consult is between 45-55 minutes and can be done either online or in-person; we’ll discuss your goals, talk through components of the training plan, perform a treadmill running assessment (for running clients), and assess/review/practice the strength training movements that will be in your program (for strength clients). Then, four weeks of programming will be delivered to you via your online training log. We’ll touch base via email at least once a week to review your training log and make any adjustments for the following week, but email communication is encouraged as often as desired. We’ll set up another consult (in-person or online) at the beginning of each new four-week block of programming.

Yes! Much like a monthly plan, we’ll start by communicating to get a full picture of your training history, goals, schedule, and preferences, and will deliver a training plan that’s individualized to you. Send me a message if you are interested in a custom plan.

Ascend operates out of a private clinic space in North Laurel, located 1/2 mile from the North Laurel Community Center (convenient to Columbia, Elkridge, Fulton, and the surrounding area).

Yes! Ascend offers video-based virtual sessions for both injury consults and training/coaching appointments.

There is no charge for canceling or rescheduling appointments up until 24 hours in advance; for missed appointments or non-emergency cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, there is a $50 cancellation fee.

Currently, mask-wearing is optional for patients/clients; I will wear a mask with all in-person patients. All equipment is cleaned between each patient. If you have additional concerns around mitigating the risk of transmission, don’t hesitate to reach out. Please get in touch prior to your session if you have had any known or suspected exposure to COVID-19 or if you are experiencing any symptoms, so that we can reschedule your visit.