The questions people ask before they call.

Straight answers, before you call.

Most people arrive here with the same three worries: whether they need a prescription, whether their insurance covers any of it, and whether it will be worth the time.

Here are the answers, in plain English. If yours isn’t below, ask us on the phone. A real person picks up during business hours.

Do I need a doctor’s prescription to start physical therapy?

No. California’s Direct Access law lets you be evaluated and treated by a licensed physical therapist without a doctor’s prescription, for up to 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first, before a physician sign-off is needed. If your insurance plan asks for a referral anyway, tell us and we’ll help you track down the paperwork so it doesn’t hold up your care.

What actually happens at the first visit?

It starts with a cause-first evaluation. That means we look for what is driving the problem, not only the spot that hurts, and we watch how you really move. You spend the visit one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist. You walk out knowing what is wrong, how long it takes, and what happens next.

How long is each session?

Sessions typically run 30–60 minutes, depending on what we are treating and where you are in your plan.

How many visits will I need?

That depends on you, so treat this as a general guideline and not a promise: many people attend 2–3 visits a week for 4–6 weeks to get the most out of care. Your therapist gives you a plan with an endpoint at the evaluation and updates it as you progress, so you are never on an open-ended string of appointments.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable clothing or athletic wear you can move in. Bring a list of your medications, your symptoms and any conditions you have. If you have had surgery recently, have your surgeon or referring physician send over the surgery report. Write your questions down so you do not forget them, and feel free to record your home exercises on your phone before you leave.

Will I see the same therapist every visit?

Yes, and that is the whole point of how we run a visit. One therapist owns your evaluation and your plan, one-on-one, every visit. Nobody has to be brought up to speed while you sit and wait.

Does physical therapy hurt?

There is often some discomfort and sometimes a bit of pain, because we are asking a part of your body to do something it has been avoiding. It should never be more than you agreed to. Tell your therapist the moment something feels wrong and the plan changes.

Who will be treating me?

A licensed physical therapist. A California license means an accredited degree and a national board exam, and you get that clinician one-on-one rather than shared across three tables. Our co-founder is a Board-Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist, which is why so much of our work is balance, gait, stroke and Parkinson’s.

Do you take Medicare?

Yes. We are specialists at working with Medicare, and that is not a throwaway line: it is the part of the paperwork we know best. Tell us your plan and we will find out what it covers before you book anything.

I have finished my rehab. Will Medicare still cover therapy that keeps me steady?

Often, yes. That kind of care is called functional maintenance: treatment that keeps you well after the recovery is over. The Jimmo Settlement Agreement of 2013 obliges Medicare to cover skilled therapy that maintains a condition or slows decline, which means you do not have to be improving to qualify. Whether your own plan pays is still a question for your plan, so let us check it for you first.

Do you take my insurance?

We are in network with local Southern California IPA groups including Optum, ADOC and Regal, and we accept United Healthcare, Healthnet and Cigna. All PPOs are welcome. The full list is on our insurance page. If you do not see your plan there, call us and we will help you determine your eligibility and costs before you book.

Do you accept worker’s compensation?

Call us and ask before you book. Worker’s compensation cases run on their own rules and their own paperwork, and we would rather give you a straight answer on the phone than have you drive out here and find out at the front desk.

How much does physical therapy cost?

The honest short answer is that it depends on your plan, your deductible and what you are being treated for. That is why we check your benefits before your first visit and tell you the number. We will never guess at your coverage, and we will never let you find out at the desk.

I have tried physical therapy before and it did not help. Why would this be different?

You’ve maybe done PT before. Not like this. A lot of people land here after somewhere handed them a printout and a heat pack. Here one licensed physical therapist owns your whole visit, the evaluation hunts for the cause instead of the sore spot, and your plan moves through four phases: Pain, Prime, Perform and Prevent. Each phase has a job, a timeline, and a way to know you have earned the next one.

Where are you, and when are you open?

We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and closed on weekends. The clinic is on South Street in Lakewood, at 3300 E South St #203, Long Beach, CA 90805. Both city names are correct: South Street is the border between the two.

Still have a question?

Ask it. Call us during business hours, email frontdesk@theptpeople.com, or request a time and a real person calls you back.

Nobody regrets starting too early. Plenty of people wish they hadn’t waited.