We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kara Strauss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I used to work in marketing, and met one of my very best friends when I was in a job that would be my last in the field. This friend and I were working in the production room one day, and she paused and asked me, “Kara, do you ever feel like you’re just not where you belong?”

The question took me aback. I was already unhappy in my position. I was struggling with a boss who had a very different work style than me. I had been toying with the idea of finally following my dream to be a physical therapist, but the thought of quitting a job with a steady paycheck seemed like way too much of a risk. On top of that, I’d have to take four more years of school, and there was no guarantee I’d even be accepted into a program!

There was something about the way that she asked though, that forced me to stop and think. It made me realize that settling for safety would never lead to fulfillment. The road towards becoming a physical therapist was still a challenging one, but I can honestly say, it’s one I’ve never regretted.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

As a child, I knew I wanted to be in a field that involved caring for others. As I grew through my education, I also realized that I have a very creative side that I’d also want to express in my work. With time (and a nudge from my mother), I figured out that physical therapy would be a field that would allow me to combine both of those things.

As a physical therapist, I provide guidance to my patients as they regain their whole, functional, human bodies. I treat using a combination of manual therapy, strategic movement (Pilates, yoga, aerial dance, and functional exercise), dry needling, joint mobilization, spinal alignment and decompression, and more. I take an approach that always honors the whole human by allowing their whole combined set of life experiences to be present throughout their care. The fine art of understanding how pain can impact both the chemistry and the psychology of the human is key to our success.

I am very fortunate to have access to an aerial studio, so my work and my creative passion can often combine. I get to treat aerialists, and I also get to introduce non-aerialists to the apparatus. I find that by sparking some joy, we often make breakthroughs that would not have otherwise been possible!

While I treat the whole human, I do specialize in musculoskeletal problems, and pelvic health is one of my favorite areas to treat.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

When treating the chronic pain/pelvic pain population, a level of intuition is necessary for success.

It is my belief that intuition comes from a place of deep knowing. While it may feel magical, it is actually based on the integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical experience. That knowing happens without requiring a conscious level of pausing to think, even though undoubtedly that is going on in the background. This translates into what is often called the “flow” state.

In that flow state, a patient’s facial expressions, muscle contractions, even changes happening on the surface of the skin, can tell the therapist what is going on. The decision in how to respond can be immediate.

Intuition, and trust in that intuition – these are some of the most important traits to guide our patients to better health.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I grew up thinking that I am responsible for other people’s feelings. That the very weight of the world was on my shoulders.

As I have grown older and wiser, it has come to my attention that people are responsible for their own responses and behaviors.

This may sound like old news to many people, but to me, this realization was earth shattering. As a physical therapist, there is a very fine line in how this plays out though. It absolutely is my job to listen, assess, and advise my patients. The difference is in how I now see my patients as empowered in their own outcomes. I am a guide, but the ultimate result is 100% in their hands.

Honestly, this lesson has been even more impactful in my personal story. It has relieved pressure in my personal relationships, and freed up my mental energy in a way for which I am genuinely grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.superhumantherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karastrauss_dpt/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperHumanTherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-strauss-pt-dpt-mba-906a151/

Image Credits
Lizzy Johnson – photographer Robert Paraguassu – Illustrator