Supporting My Clients as a Physical Therapist Fills My Cup Every Day
- mandy6222
- Oct 4, 2024
- 4 min read
Happy October!
October is National Physical Therapy month so I thought this would be a great time to share my journey to becoming a physical therapist and why I love the profession so much.
It all started when I was a freshman in college pursuing my journalism degree and it suddenly hit me- this wasn’t what I wanted to do. Originally, I wanted to get the hell out of Iowa, move somewhere like Chicago and write editorials for a fashion magazine. I realized our media forms were quickly changing; this was a time when the internet was booming, social media was emerging (that makes me feel somewhat old) and media was trending in a totally different direction. When I asked myself the “what am I going to do with my life” question, I knew I wanted to work with people, and I was very passionate about exercising and overall health and wellness so I wanted to incorporate that into a future potential career. I started noticing this guy at my gym taking people through exercises, but hey wasn’t a personal trainer—turns out he was a PT! I did some observation hours with him and saw the impact he could make on his patients and the level of satisfaction and overall gratitude he seemed to have for his job and I knew I wanted to become a physical therapist.
As I switched majors, I also transferred schools which was a huge adjustment for me and I quickly realized, the biology, pre-physical therapy track I was on was COMPETETIVE. Nothing like my journalism path I was on prior; it was a huge undertaking to sort of switch my brain from a literature and writing stand point to a more scientific and math based mindset. I ended up graduating with my bachelors degree in Health and Human Physiology and got my first “big girl job” as a Health Coach. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. Something was missing—that direct ongoing patient interaction was not happening and my cup was dry. I decided to go back to school to become a physical therapist assistant which seemed more doable and less competitive at the time. I really enjoyed the curriculum and did well (probably because I enjoyed it and wasn’t having to take classes like chemistry and statistics to weed people out). But again… something was missing. I was able to have that direct patient care and relationship building I craved, but yet did not feel fulfilled. So I made the decision to finish what I originally started—I was going to go back to school AGAIN, to become a physical therapist. During my time as a PTA, I realized that I was carrying out someone else’s plan of care for the patient, even if I didn’t fully agree with it. There were things that legally, I couldn’t do as a PTA. I wanted to have the autonomy to treat patients how I thought they should be treated, do what I thought was best for the patient and be able to see a patient from start to finish (and beyond) while giving them the best care they ever had! Fast forward 5 years as I enter my first semester of graduate school… now married and 7 weeks pregnant… during COVID. I just can’t seem to take the easy route ever in life… that’d be boring! I prefer the scenic route always.
Graduate school required a level of hard work, dedication, sacrifice and commitment that I had never endured before and I’m a better human for completing my degree even though I’m SOOOOO glad to be done. As I got out to the workforce as a PT, I felt a sense of pride and leadership—something that I had been needing my entire adulthood and professional career… but, there was something missing yet. I was beginning to wonder: “will I ever feel satisfied, complete, like my cup is full?” I was treating people how I wanted to and what I felt like was best for them, but I wasn’t. The insurance companies were telling me when and how often and what I could treat. I wasn’t treating a human being, I was treating a low back, a hip or total knee replacement. Knowing that the insurance company would not change and that I could not change it, I decided to go around it and branch out onto my own to be able to treat my patients or clients as they are: a human being. In November of 2023, I opened Renew Physical Therapy & Wellness as an out of network clinic. That was the best decision I’ve made in my professional life. Not only do I get to call all the shots, I get to work with the BEST clients. I know I know, I’m biased and everyone says their clients are the best but mine really are the best. They come to me wanting to live a healthier, more active life to bulletproof their foundation in order to live their life the way they want. They come to put in the work; they get my guidance and expertise, but they come to have the AUTONOMY to make their lives better. I joke around and tell people:
“ You are in control of your health; not me, not your doctor, not insurance companies—you. I’m just here riding shotgun telling you when to turn left, when to pump the brakes and when to go full throttle.”
Most people laugh but it’s true. Lots of people are so grateful and thank me for “helping them” my response: “You did the work. You should be proud of yourself” and I thank them. And that is my favorite part about being a PT. I get to help people become the best version of themselves and walk along side them on their wellness journey. My cup overflows everyday now.
About Our Practice: At Renew, we specialize in advanced physical therapy techniques, including functional dry needling, to provide effective and personalized care. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health and wellness through innovative and evidence-based treatments. Contact us today to learn more about how functional dry needling can benefit you.
If you would like to know more about services offered, or would like info on working with us here at Renew, Book a FREE 15 -minute Discovery Call to chat with Doctor of Physical Therapy (it's me, Mandy) to see if we are a good fit for each other!😊
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