Colorectal is 50% of the pelvic floor. Most pelvic health training skips it.
OT Elevate: The Biopsychosocial Approach to Colorectal Conditions
Enroll NowSelf-paced · 8 chapters · 11+ hours · 1.2 AOTA CEUs · Lifetime access · Your tuition credits toward Level 1
OT Elevate is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 0000004450. This blended/hybrid course is offered at 1.2 CEUs Beginner Level, OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge.
Most pelvic health training stops at half the pelvic floor.
When OTs discover the world of pelvic health, many of them feel like they are finally at home in a subspecialty.
After all, pelvic health clients present so many opportunities for us as OTs to continually be challenged. All the taboo topics we get to deal with (intimacy, urinary issues, bowel issues) are best solved through a multifaceted, biopsychosocial approach, which OTs absolutely rock at.
Many OTs start to feel comfortable discussing urinary issues or intimacy concerns after taking introductory pelvic health courses.
But for some reason, many are uncomfortable with bowel and colorectal conditions.
They feel unprepared for what to say, what to look for, and what to do with clients who have them. They worry their client will be embarrassed. They worry their client will be uncomfortable. Heck, in many cases the OT themselves may be embarrassed or uncomfortable.
It doesn't have to be this way. Bowel and colorectal conditions are so closely associated with shame, guilt, hiding, and quietly suffering that as OTs we have an enormous role to play in helping our clients become the guide to their own body.
What if there was a way to...
Discuss common, and uncommon, colorectal conditions with your client without hesitating
Feel like an expert in motivational interviewing when it comes to asking specific questions related to colorectal conditions
Know just what to do when your client presents with a specific colorectal condition
Build a "Choose Your Own Treatment Plan" with a plethora of bio, psycho, and social tools to pull from
Know how to confidently assemble a team of practitioners for complex cases
If you had the kind of step-by-step guidance that would give you the ability to treat the other 50% of the pelvic floor…
Would you have the confidence to add bowel and colorectal treatment and serve your clients as full human beings, so they can get back to loving life again?
"I'm giving you all my bowel clients."
After becoming a pelvic floor therapist, I was on the hunt for my very first job. In a field dominated by PTs, it was tough as an OT to get hired. Hiring managers were looking solely for PTs (thank goodness that's changed!).
But I don't get discouraged easily, and I found the perfect job advertised. Like all jobs at the time, it was advertised exclusively for PTs.
With grit and perseverance, I got in front of the hiring manager. She was impressed with my enthusiasm and invited me back to shadow her in client sessions. We'd leave a session and I'd pepper her with questions and my thoughts. After about the third session she interrupted me and said, "Wow, you really love this stuff, don't you? I've never had someone shadow me before who was so invested and present in the sessions."
Then she offered me the job, and I'll never forget what she said:
"I'm giving you all my bowel clients because they can benefit SO MUCH from your mental health training."
From that day on, I saw bowel clients exclusively in the practice. I had taken specialized bowel courses before, and all of that continuing education focused on the physical conditions and treatment. Understanding the physical side is incredibly important, but I kept feeling like the most critical part of treating colorectal clients was missing.
The problem is that there hasn't been a clear place to focus on the biopsychosocial side of colorectal conditions.
As OTs we've had to cobble together training from different sources. Experiment on our own to devise treatment plans that address the entire person. Guess at how to do motivational interviewing for clients who are silently suffering. And never feel fully confident that what we were doing was the best we had to offer.
So I gathered just about everything I've learned about treating colorectal conditions from a biopsychosocial perspective over the past decade and put it in one place. Now OTs who want to work with colorectal clients have the training I wish I'd had years ago.
Introducing...
OT Elevate
The Biopsychosocial Approach to Colorectal Conditions
Is OT Elevate right for you?
OT Elevate isn't an introductory course, and it isn't only for seasoned practitioners either.
If you've had introductory pelvic health training — whether that's OT Pioneers or another program — you're ready for OT Elevate. Most introductory courses don't cover colorectal work at all, which is exactly the gap this course fills.
It's a fit if you:
Have introductory pelvic health training and want to treat the whole pelvic floor
Keep meeting clients with bowel and colorectal concerns and aren't sure what to do next
Want a biopsychosocial approach rather than another purely physical protocol
Don't perform internal exams, or can't in your setting, and want to know how to help anyway
You don't have to be an OT. PTs, doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, osteopaths, and other practitioners take this course too. We just ask that you make sure pelvic floor therapy is within your scope of practice.
What's inside OT Elevate
8 chapters. Over 11 hours of content. 30+ treatment tools. Embedded knowledge quizzes so you know it's sticking.
Welcome to OT Elevate
How the course is structured, how to earn your CEUs, and how to get the most out of the treatment toolbox.
Lesson 1: Colorectal Anatomy Made Easy
The anatomy you actually need in the treatment room, taught in plain language, so you can picture what's happening when a client describes their symptoms.
Lesson 2: Physiology of the GI System
How the GI system works as a whole, and why what happens upstream so often shows up as a pelvic floor complaint.
Lesson 3: Defecation + Continence: The Science of Flowin' While You're Goin'
The mechanics of a normal bowel movement and continence, and the many points where that process can break down.
Lesson 4: Deep Dive Into Colorectal Conditions
A detailed look at the common and uncommon conditions you'll meet, what each one looks like in real clients, and when to refer out.
Lesson 5: The OT Way of Colorectal Therapy
Motivational interviewing for clients who are silently suffering. How to raise the topic, hold their dignity, and build the trust that makes everything else possible.
Lesson 6: The Rectal Exam
A step-by-step walkthrough of the rectal exam, plus clear guidance on when it's helpful, when it isn't, and what to do when it isn't an option.
Lesson 7: Your Toolbox: Never Run Out of Treatment Ideas
Over 3 hours of treatment tools: 13 manual, 14 behavioral, and 6 psychosocial, ready to mix and match into a plan for the client in front of you.
Lesson 8: Keys to Success: From Treatment Plan to Discharge
How to build, adjust, and complete a treatment plan, including complex cases and assembling a team around your client.
Plus these bonuses
A private community reserved just for OT Elevate students
Nervous system downtraining audio guides to use directly with colorectal clients
A deep dive into (Un)Taboo topics
Biofeedback and its role with colorectal clients
The OT scope with ostomy clients
Understanding periods and poop
And more
Never reinvent the wheel on a treatment plan again
Each of our clients is different and unique. But that doesn't mean you have to constantly reinvent the wheel when it comes to treatment.
In the course I'm giving you over 3 hours of tools, more than 30 individual ones, to mix and match into a "Choose Your Own Treatment Plan."
Not only will you be able to build your own treatment plans with ease, you'll know you're pulling from behavioral, manual, and psychosocial tools, so you're treating the entire client.
In 6 weeks of leisurely study, you could go from 0 to rockstar with your colorectal clients
Learning the biopsychosocial approach to colorectal health doesn't mean spending tens of hours a week studying in an already hectic life.
I've kept the course succinct and grounded in the concrete things you need to know. No fluff, no filler, just highly actionable teaching from someone whose first job in pelvic health was treating bowel and colorectal clients.
In fact, you can finish in six short weeks at a pace of less than 2.5 hours a week.
Want to go faster? Great, you can. Want to go slower? Perfect, you choose the pace that works for you. OT Elevate is 100% online and self-paced, with lifetime access to the course and every update.
Planning on Level 1?
OT Elevate is part of the Level 1 Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner™ program: the complete guided path for OTs, with a cohort, live mentorship, a hands-on technique lab, and a skills-based assessment, leading to 5.1 AOTA CEUs.
Your OT Elevate tuition is credited toward it. So you can start on colorectal today instead of waiting for the next cohort, and arrive at Level 1 already through this part of the curriculum.
Choose your plan
Either plan gives you forever access to OT Elevate.
Pay $547 Today
- Entire 8 Chapter Course (Self-Paced)
- Over 11 hours of content
- 3 hours of tools to use with clients: 13 manual, 14 behavioral, 6 psychosocial
- 1.2 AOTA CEUs (12 contact hours)
- Private community for OT Elevate students
- Embedded Knowledge Quizzes
- Lifetime Access to All Content, Including Updates
- Your OT Elevate tuition is credited toward the Level 1 Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner program
- Exclusive Bonus Content: nervous system downtraining audio guides, (Un)Taboo topics, biofeedback, the OT scope with ostomy clients, periods and poop, and more
- 30 day money back guarantee
3 Payments of $215
- Entire 8 Chapter Course (Self-Paced)
- Over 11 hours of content
- 3 hours of tools to use with clients: 13 manual, 14 behavioral, 6 psychosocial
- 1.2 AOTA CEUs (12 contact hours)
- Private community for OT Elevate students
- Embedded Knowledge Quizzes
- Lifetime Access to All Content, Including Updates
- Your OT Elevate tuition is credited toward the Level 1 Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner program
- Exclusive Bonus Content: nervous system downtraining audio guides, (Un)Taboo topics, biofeedback, the OT scope with ostomy clients, periods and poop, and more
- 30 day money back guarantee
Here's what OT Elevate students are saying
"Lindsey's OT Elevate Course is a course that I would recommend to all therapists looking for tons of easy to use tools and an in-depth understanding of colorectal conditions. She developed an extensive toolbox that is easy to use and a breeze to refer to again and again. This course made me feel confident treating both simple and complex clients with colorectal conditions."
Jessica Lynne
"One thing I appreciate is that this course is less focused on the volume of material and more so on the treatment techniques and clinical reasoning process that is so often left out of CEU courses. I often feel bombarded with information and techniques, and this course offers a balanced approach to complex conditions. The course structure and delivery really do remind me how valuable it is to learn from a fellow OT."
Kiyoko Williams
"As an OT of 7 years, I have always had an interest in pelvic floor therapy but it always felt intimidating to pursue. Lindsey makes the info profession-relevant and super easy to digest (see what I did there?). Cannot recommend enough."
Ali Vandeloo
"After recently taking OT Pioneers I wanted to further my knowledge of pelvic floor conditions and how I can offer support, particularly colorectal conditions since so many patients and even family/friends discuss these concerns with me. Lindsey provides so much valuable information and resources in an easy to learn format. More importantly I love this is from the OT perspective!"
Katrina Johnson
"I love that we are able to talk about the mental health component for these clients because we all know how embarrassing some symptoms can be and we want our people to be heard!"
Sunni MenDell
"The poop drives the pee! I won't forget that phrase. I wanted holistic education specific to the pelvic floor, inclusive of bowel health as I work toward certification. Lindsey is the REAL DEAL, if you're on the fence, know it's 100% worth it."
Jess Nakos
You've got 30 days to put OT Elevate to the test
Go through the first lessons, try the tools with a client, and see how it feels. If OT Elevate isn't right for you, just email me within 30 days and I'll refund your tuition. No hoops.
Your instructor — Lindsey Vestal, OTR/L
I teach other OTs how to become rockstar pelvic health therapists.
I founded the first in-home Pelvic Floor Therapy practice in NYC run by an OT, and since 2018 I've taught more than 3,000 OTs how to specialize in Pelvic Health.
I also created the Certified Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner™ credential — the only pelvic health certification for OTs aligned to over 200 knowledge, skills, and abilities in our OT Practice Framework.
I host the popular podcast "OTs in Pelvic Health," now past 150 episodes, and run my Facebook Group "OTs for Pelvic Health" which has over 8,800 members.
Before graduating from OT school I knew I wanted to specialize in pelvic health. My father had developed bladder cancer and suffered from incontinence. Here was a former Marine who raised four independent daughters, suddenly unable to control the most basic of body functions. For an immensely proud and independent person, this took a huge mental toll. But the treatment he was receiving didn't address him as a whole person, and he was quietly suffering as a result.
I knew that Occupational Therapy could heal pelvic health dysfunction more completely than a purely physical approach.
As OTs we get the amazing opportunity to consider the entire person, and to bring our biopsychosocial training into our treatment sessions. For bowel and colorectal clients this matters even more. Our clients underreport their colorectal conditions to their providers in staggering numbers, which makes our ability to connect, to listen, to perform motivational interviewing well, and to have a deft hand in treatment all the more important for these clients to feel they have a safe place.
Questions your fellow practitioners asked about OT Elevate
Can OTs really work with colorectal clients?
Absolutely! In fact, OTs are uniquely qualified to. Many of these clients are experiencing shame and social isolation on top of their physical symptoms. As OTs we are incredibly talented at combining all aspects of care into our sessions, and nowhere is that needed more than with colorectal clients. Through deft motivational interviewing and creative treatment plans, OTs excel at getting these clients the results they want. OT Elevate gives you the tools and confidence to do it from a biopsychosocial perspective.
I don't want to do internal exams. Can I still help colorectal clients?
This is probably the question I get asked most. Here's the unvarnished truth: a rectal exam gives you key information, but it isn't something you have to do to fully support your client. In fact, there are many colorectal clients where I recommend NOT doing an internal exam. And if you aren't comfortable performing one, or it isn't allowed where you practice, there are still tons of alternative ways to support your client. You'll learn these and more in OT Elevate, so you know what to do either way.
Do I need to take OT Pioneers first?
Not necessarily. You need some introductory pelvic health training, and OT Pioneers is the natural fit, but another introductory program works too. Most introductory courses don't cover colorectal work, which is the gap OT Elevate fills.
Do I have to be an OT to take OT Elevate?
Not at all! Plenty of physical therapists, doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, osteopaths, and others benefit from learning about colorectal clients from a biopsychosocial perspective. As the children's book says, "Everyone Poops," and unfortunately that often comes with a host of issues too infrequently addressed by our clients' care providers. We just ask that you make sure pelvic floor therapy is within your scope of practice.
I don't currently work with pelvic health clients. Would I still benefit?
Absolutely. Even if you don't treat the pelvic floor specifically, your client sees you as an expert who will have a broad understanding, who can sleuth out issues that aren't being talked about, and who knows when to refer out. You are the leader of their treatment team. You'll benefit, and so will your clients, from understanding colorectal conditions, how to bring up the topic, and how to build a support team around them.
I'm very busy with work. Will this take a lot of time?
Basically, as much time as you're willing to put into it. That's the beauty of an online course: no travel required, no hotel costs adding up, and you go at your own pace. And unlike a live class, you don't have to rush to take notes. Just back the video up and re-watch as many times as you like. At a leisurely pace, six weeks does it.
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends. It's completely self-paced, so you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access?
Lifetime access, across any and all devices you own, including every future update.
Does this course offer CEUs?
Yes. This course is approved through AOTA for 1.2 CEUs (12 contact hours).
What if I'm unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy. If you're unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us within the first 30 days and we'll give you a full refund.
Our clients deserve the whole pelvic floor.
They benefit the most when we approach things from a biopsychosocial perspective. And when we treat the entire pelvic floor, which means having the confidence to work with colorectal conditions.
OT Elevate is the only course that gives you the skills and confidence to work with colorectal clients from a biopsychosocial perspective, and it will help you build treatment plans with ease.
Isn't it time YOU became #1 at #2?
Choose your plan
Either plan gives you forever access to OT Elevate.
Pay $547 Today
- Entire 8 Chapter Course (Self-Paced)
- Over 11 hours of content
- 3 hours of tools to use with clients: 13 manual, 14 behavioral, 6 psychosocial
- 1.2 AOTA CEUs (12 contact hours)
- Private community for OT Elevate students
- Embedded Knowledge Quizzes
- Lifetime Access to All Content, Including Updates
- Your OT Elevate tuition is credited toward the Level 1 Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner program
- Exclusive Bonus Content: nervous system downtraining audio guides, (Un)Taboo topics, biofeedback, the OT scope with ostomy clients, periods and poop, and more
- 30 day money back guarantee
3 Payments of $215
- Entire 8 Chapter Course (Self-Paced)
- Over 11 hours of content
- 3 hours of tools to use with clients: 13 manual, 14 behavioral, 6 psychosocial
- 1.2 AOTA CEUs (12 contact hours)
- Private community for OT Elevate students
- Embedded Knowledge Quizzes
- Lifetime Access to All Content, Including Updates
- Your OT Elevate tuition is credited toward the Level 1 Functional Pelvic Health Practitioner program
- Exclusive Bonus Content: nervous system downtraining audio guides, (Un)Taboo topics, biofeedback, the OT scope with ostomy clients, periods and poop, and more
- 30 day money back guarantee
