Now and again, we screw up. No matter who we are or how hard we try not to, we all make mistakes. That is no different for Physical Therapists. It is usually not noticeable when it happens and can often be missed if not reflected upon after the fact. We may drop someone or reinjure them. But that is usually not the case. Most of the time, it is something we say or how we make a person feel during a session.
Recently, this happened to me. At the end of the session with my client, I realized I had done a really poor job of program design. We are trained to find your weaknesses and prescribe corrective exercises to strengthen them. In doing so, we do our job, but we sometimes forget the mental toll that can take on someone. Constantly being reminded that you are not your usual self, especially after a long road of injury, surgery, and rehab, can be mentally exhausting. As my client looked at me with tears, I realized I had done just that. I had made her feel weak, injured, and less than herself.
So, how did I apologize? Well the first thing I did when she came back for her next session was to acknowledge that I did a poor job. And then, I helped her kick some ass in a wokrout designed to show her how strong she really is! We had a lot of fun and she killed it!
At Whole Health Solutions & Sports Performance, we try and improve along with our clients. Our mantra is “Better Every Day” for a reason. This is not just for our clients, but a core belief that we try to live every day. Although I wish I never made my client feel the way I did, I am happy that I was able to be better because it happened.
#BetterEveryDay