Hi, I'm Dr. Ilse Garcia — Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist for Women

I grew up in a Hispanic household where pelvic floor issues were just… part of life. I vividly remember watching my mom cross her legs to sneeze, then rush to the bathroom to change. She’d look at me and say,
“This is what happens when you get older—just you wait.”

At the time, I didn’t question it. But I was already dealing with symptoms myself—like leaking when I laughed and recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs). It was confusing, frustrating, and honestly, embarrassing. I felt like my body was letting me down, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

No one talked about pelvic floor therapy. My parents didn’t know it was an option. And the doctors I saw only offered antibiotics or vague advice like “just pee more often.”

Why I Became a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

That experience is exactly why I’m so passionate about helping women with pelvic floor dysfunction.
I became a pelvic floor physical therapist because I understand how it feels to have your symptoms dismissed or masked with medication that mask the symptoms but never really solves the problem.

I wanted to be the kind of provider I wish my mom—or even younger me—could’ve gone to:
Someone who listens, who understands, and knows how to actually help your body change for the better.

I earned my Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2015, and began specializing in pelvic health in 2018 through the American Physical Therapy Association. I later worked in a clinic focused on John F. Barnes Myofascial Release (JFB MFR) and pelvic floor dysfunction. This opportunity to experience myofascial release in a dedicated setting helped me get through my own pelvic floor issues and experience firsthand how the body functions as a whole and specifically how the pelvic floor is deeply interconnected to your whole body.

Today, I work with women in all stages of life who are ready for real answers and lasting change—whether that’s finally stopping the leaks, getting rid of bladder or pelvic pain, relieving back or hip pain, or just feeling like yourself again in your body.

My approach is different on purpose.

You won’t find quick fixes or generic plans here. Every session is one-on-one and tailored to you—your body, your story, your goals.

I take a full-body approach because your pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. We look at how everything connects so we can treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. Our approach combines manual therapy to release muscle imbalances followed by specific repositioning exercises to help the manual work hold and introduce different movement patterns to your body.

This Work Is Personal to Me

I’ve been the woman who laughed too hard and leaked.
I’ve skipped workouts because I was afraid of making things worse.
I’ve felt frustrated and confused when no one had answers.

Now, I’m grateful for the healing I’ve experienced and my ongoing journey—and the chance to walk alongside other women on their own journeys.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, please know:

You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep living this way.