Skip to main content

burnout-header.png

Catherine — not her real name — has never lost touch with the passion that drove her to become a physical therapist. But she also can’t shake memories of what it was like to feel that passion being smothered.

"There were times when I’d get in my car and start driving to work and this feeling of dread would just come over me," she says. "It took me quite a while to realize that, oh my God, this is how work is making me feel."

At that point, Catherine was rehab manager for a company that served SNFs — maybe not her dream job, but an advancement in her career, and the extra money was nice. Still, the productivity pressures, management headaches, and the company’s lack of respect for work-life boundaries were taking a toll.

Log in or create a free account to keep reading.


Join APTA to get unlimited access to content.


You Might Also Like...

News

Physical Therapist Workforce Legislation Introduced in the U.S. House

Oct 2, 2025

APTA-championed legislation, which would help bolster the physical therapy workforce, especially in rural and underserved areas, was reintroduced in the

News

PT For Future Me: APTA’s New National Physical Therapy Month Campaign

Oct 1, 2025

October is National Physical Therapy Month — a time to celebrate the profession, spotlight the many benefits of physical therapy, and showcase the impact

News

APTA and APTA Private Practice Join Lawsuit Over Health Care Price-Fixing

Oct 1, 2025

APTA and APTA Private Practice have joined the MultiPlan Antitrust Litigation as plaintiffs. This federal antitrust litigation alleges a conspiracy to