I Wrote A Book for PT Students Serious About Their Career | Tactics That Work - Strength Resurgence (2024)

If you want to download one of this book’s tactics for free, see the end of this post!

Well, in true form, I’m up to more shenanigans with creating various forms of content for those interested in becoming a physical therapist. And if you know me (if you don’t, hi, I’m Jim!), you know I’ll create any content I can that offers any insight that can help others live stronger, more meaningful lives.

My latest release involves a book (some 30,000 words) I typed up on helping those interested in becoming physical therapists get the most out of their academic endeavours. Niche topic? Quite. But I’m okay with that. (Click here if you want to download the book and support my humble content creation pursuits)

Why type up a niche topic and do so in an unconventional way? Because someone needed to, and I am too passionate about my line of work to sit back and merely hope someone else does. I also love what I do too much to not give back my knowledge and expertise to those looking to become physical therapists themselves.

As a practitioner and ambassador to the profession of physical therapy, I’m called to do more than serve patients in the clinic; I am called to help those next in line looking to enter the profession, and this book is one of the many efforts I’ve undergone to do so.

A small request: If you find this article to be helpful, or you appreciate any of the content on my site, please consider sharing it on social media and with your friends to help spread the word—it’s truly appreciated!

Background: What’s the deal with this book?

This book is about believing we’re meant to get more out of physical therapy school than merely a transactional academic experience. You know, the one where you give your school money, you get some grades in return, and then saunter along until you find a clinical job that seems to work.

This book was written for those who have a clear vision about what they want their clinical future to look like and those who are bold enough to believe that they can craft the clinical career of their dreams — one filled with meaning and the power to turn heads along the way. If you believe it’s important to have passion for what you do (in this case, physical therapy), adopting a mindset that supports this belief is essential.

Think about it: if you’re going into PT school in the US (as an example), the average DPT student walks away with $80,000 in student loan debt. If you’re going to go through with this, do you really want to walk away from your program with marginal, stunted personal or professional growth? Is a purely transactional experience going to offer you deep satisfaction and fulfillment and allow you to become the best practitioner you can ultimately become?

What if, instead, throughout your program, you framed your experience around a mindset that allows you to cultivate a stronger vision for the future you’re after? What if it’s not purely about grades but rather about fostering the mentality and belief that your clinical future is yours for the taking? That’s the theme of this book.

This is not a book that offers traditional walkthroughs and study tips for academic programs — that’s been done a million times before, and I have no interest in regurgitating what already exists in abundance.

Related article: You’ll Survive PT School if You Develop THESE Five Traits

I am interested in writing about a topic that hasn’t been discussed and presenting it with a unique flavour. So, in this book, you get a breakdown for building a framework for adopting a mindset that can help you grow to a maximal extent (personally and professionally) throughout your days and school and then carry it on to clinical practice.

Assuming you believe it’s important to have passion for what you do, the result of adopting a mindset is the ability to acquire mental tools that help you carve out a career that is more than just personally and professionally fulfilling; it will help you build a legacy that changes the lives of those around you.

The breakdown: Contents of the book

PART I
Chapter 1: What’s Covered Within This Book
Chapter 2: Three Things You NEED To Know Right Away
Chapter 3: Why You Need to Adopt A Mindset
Chapter 4: Don’t Think Twice
Chapter 5: Going All-in
Chapter 6: The Winds of Passion
Chapter 7: PT Students: Who Struggles & Who Doesn’t

PART II: THE BATLE PLAN
Tactic 1: It All Starts With “Why”
Tactic 2: Befriending the Unlikely Ally
Tactic 3: Sweeping for Landmines
Tactic 4: Dissecting the “Big Three”
Tactic 5: Attention to Detail
Tactic 6: Strength in Numbers
Tactic 7: Operate from a Zone of Passion
Tactic 8: The Anchor of Ownership
Tactic 9: Practice What You Preach

How to: downloading the book

If you want to download the entire book, you can do so on my buy me a coffee page. For the price of a latte, you can download all 30,000+ words in their glory in a PDF and ePub format.

If you want a free snippet, you can click below to download Tactic 7. This strategy deals with finding or creating the opportunities required to maximize your personal and professional growth and find meaning in what you’re pursuing throughout your time in physical therapy school.

Click here to download Tactic 7: Operate from a Zone of Passion for FREE!

I Wrote A Book for PT Students Serious About Their Career | Tactics That Work - Strength Resurgence (1)

Jim Wittstrom

Hi! I’m Jim Wittstrom, PT, DPT, CSCS, Pn1.

I am a physical therapist who is passionate about all things pertaining to strength & conditioning, human movement, injury prevention and rehabilitation. I created StrengthResurgence.com in order to help others become stronger and healthier. I also love helping aspiring students and therapists fulfill their dreams of becoming successful in school and within their clinical PT practice. Thanks for checking out my site!

I Wrote A Book for PT Students Serious About Their Career | Tactics That Work - Strength Resurgence (2024)

FAQs

What skills do you need to be a good PT? ›

Important Qualities
  • Communication skills. Physical therapists must clearly explain treatment programs, motivate patients, and listen to patients' concerns in order to provide effective therapy.
  • Compassion. ...
  • Detail oriented. ...
  • Dexterity. ...
  • Physical stamina. ...
  • Resourcefulness. ...
  • Time-management skills.

Do PT have a good work life balance? ›

Physical therapists work with people who have injuries or illnesses, getting them back to function. Both are very rewarding, require people skills, the ability to motivate people. You can support a family, have a good work- life balance with both.

How can I be a better PT student? ›

Keys for Success in Physical Therapy School
  1. Make Sure You're Passionate About Physical Therapy. ...
  2. Stick to the Plan. ...
  3. Actively Participate. ...
  4. Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others. ...
  5. Be Prepared for Extra Work. ...
  6. Participate in Group Activities. ...
  7. Soak Up As Much Knowledge As You Can By Attending Events. ...
  8. Stay Organized.

Why do you want to be a physical therapist? ›

#3: Help Improve Lives

Why become a physical therapist? You can impact the well-being of others. Practicing PTs connect with patients to establish a treatment plan, help them learn or relearn tasks and identify ways to modify movement and environments to facilitate their needs.

What are the core values of the PT profession? ›

7 Core Values for Your PT Practice
  • Accountability. The first core value PT professionals must adopt to achieve top-tier patient care is accountability. ...
  • Altruism. ...
  • Compassion and Caring. ...
  • Excellence. ...
  • Integrity. ...
  • Professional Duty. ...
  • Social Responsibility.
May 3, 2022

What is the hardest part of being a physical therapist? ›

Significant Physical Demands

A physical therapist is often tasked with physically supporting the patient as they complete their therapy. As a PT, you can be required to lift patients out of their beds and help support them as they walk or perform floor exercises during their treatment.

What is the biggest issue in physical therapy? ›

The 3 major issues in physical therapy and rehab

But these issues matter and directly impact your outcome. The major issues in physical therapy fall into 3 critical areas: Process, Patient-Provider Relationship, and Clinical Skill.

Is physical therapy harder than nursing? ›

Physical therapy is typically regarded as the more challenging option for the education level required to begin a career in these two fields. Generally, to become a physical therapist, you must complete various degrees, including a doctoral one.

How does PT improve quality of life? ›

Physical therapy is not only effective in helping people recover from injuries or manage existing conditions but is also a powerful preventive measure. Physical therapists work with individuals at all stages of life and activity levels to help them strengthen their muscles, improve balance, and enhance flexibility.

How can I be a successful PT? ›

Here are some ways to help you improve your skills as a personal trainer:
  1. Earn new certifications. Gain new skills by earning new certifications. ...
  2. Consider training people for free. Consider training other people for free to help you develop your skills. ...
  3. Develop soft skills. ...
  4. Consider business training.

How do you succeed in physical therapy? ›

The most important tip to succeed in physical therapy is commitment and dedication to your treatment program. Consistent attendance for in-clinic treatment sessions and follow-through with prescribed home exercises facilitate optimal outcomes.

How do I get the most out of my PT? ›

With that in mind, let's look at seven things you can do to get the most out or your sessions.
  1. Speak Up and Ask Questions. ...
  2. Set Goals. ...
  3. Do Your Homework Between Sessions. ...
  4. Follow Instructions. ...
  5. Dedicate Space and Time. ...
  6. Don't Skip Sessions. ...
  7. Don't Overdo It.

What is unique about physical therapy? ›

Based on their distinctive knowledge and training, physical therapists provide a unique perspective on purposeful, precise, and efficient movement across the lifespan and use movement-related interventions to optimize functional capacity and performance.

What is the ultimate goal of a physical therapist? ›

The goal is both to restore physical health, quality of life and overall wellness to the patient, while minimizing the risk of injury or illness in the future.

What is a major goal of a physical therapist? ›

Physical therapists work with patients who have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. They help patients avoid surgery and prescription drugs, maximize mobility, manage pain and chronic conditions, prevent future problems, and improve physical function and fitness.

What are the hard skills of a physical therapist? ›

Key hard skills for physical therapists include understanding human anatomy, creating treatment plans, maintaining technical skills to adapt to changing techniques and software, physical stamina, knowledge of physical therapy equipment, and competence with physical therapy software.

What skills do you need to be a professional trainer? ›

Types of Trainer Skills
  • Problem-solving skills. Problem-solving is a skill that involves identifying and solving unexpected situations. ...
  • Communication skills. ...
  • Active listening skills. ...
  • Management skills. ...
  • Organisational skills. ...
  • Motivation skills. ...
  • Time management skills. ...
  • Sensitivity skills.
Apr 26, 2024

What are the soft skills for a physical therapist? ›

Communication

As a physical therapist, you need to be able to communicate clearly with your patients. You must be able to explain what you're doing, and why, and what you expect of your patients in terms that they can easily understand. Getting your ideas across strengthens your relationship with your patients.

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