Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Jennifer Reed. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. Jennifer, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Taking a chance on myself and my passion was the first step in figuring out my values, purpose, what was important to me, and how I wanted to live my life. When starting something new, you have a clean slate, one that is full of opportunities yet overwhelming at the same time. It’s so easy to get distracted with what “everyone else is doing,” especially when you don’t know what you want for yourself.
Starting a business brings all of your “stuff” beneath the iceberg to the surface. Self-doubt, limiting beliefs, insecurity, triggers from past trauma, whether that be personal or professional in nature, all hit you in the face at one point or another in the journey. You’re in uncharted territory, most likely complicated by stress, pressure, and uncertainty – the perfect environment for imposter syndrome to creep in. That being said, true growth happens outside your comfort zone. It happens at the place where you wanting something badly enough outweighs the fear that it might not work out, you’ll fail, or be judged by others.
I’ve overcome imposter syndrome by recognizing its triggers, and ultimately learning something about myself in the process. For me, I’ve found that it comes in waves, and often at times when I’m taking that first step out of my comfort zone to grow. I also know that it comes on more strongly when I get caught comparing myself to others, or too distracted with what the rest of my industry is doing. Finding the right balance of staying true to myself while being open to learning has been crucial in overcoming self-doubt from imposter syndrome.
While I’ve overcome imposter syndrome so far, I know it will come back, and I’ll welcome it when it does. I’ve learned to view challenges through a different lens, as I know now that imposter syndrome indicates there is an opportunity to grow up ahead.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I became passionate about physical therapy at a young age as a competitive soccer player. I have always been interested in the human body and how it works, and physical therapy was an opportunity to learn specifically about how my body would recover from an injury. I also love to be active, and going through an injury or pain that takes you away from having freedom of movement is very challenging. Physical therapy is a humbling yet rewarding experience, and working with someone knowledgeable that you can trust and connect with makes a huge difference in your overall outcomes.
My practice, Made Strong Physical Therapy & Wellness has been an incredible opportunity to grow my passion for the field, continue to learn and hone my skills as a clinician, and really help my clients on a deeper level when they are at their lowest overcoming pain or an injury. I’ve been through the highs and lows of physical therapy myself, and it’s a privilege to connect with my clients going through a similar experience. I work with individuals who are dealing with chronic pain, nagging injuries, or navigating a complex condition or diagnosis that is hindering their active lifestyle. This often looks like a weekend warrior dealing with plantar fasciitis, a competitive skier recovering from a knee surgery, or a runner with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis working through new symptoms. I pride myself in taking PT a step further, uncovering and addressing underlying causes to why pain or injuries arise or keep coming back. My goal is to get you to a place where you are feeling better and stronger than before pain came on in the first place. This is not a cookie cutter approach, and we will be working to truly prepare you to feel confident in getting back to the things you love!
I’ve recently moved into an awesome space in Wheat Ridge, inside the gym Vantage Movement! Here we have the space and equipment to really carry over and bridge what we work on in PT into your lifestyle, sport, and goals.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First, understand who you are, your purpose and values, and why you are taking on this journey. You have the opportunity to create something amazing, but only if you are authentic to yourself and how you work. It’s so easy to get distracted by shiny tactics, entrepreneurship “methods,” and what others have done before you. Having guidance is super helpful without a doubt, but at the end of the day you have to be true to yourself. Otherwise you’ll get stuck, feel miserable, and have created something you never actually wanted in the first place!
Second, don’t stop learning and being open to opportunities. Especially early on, it’s so important to be a “yes” person. Every opportunity is a chance to learn, grow, or connect with someone that has a chance to help your business. I’ve also continued to grow myself professionally, taking additional continuing education to diversify my practice, and become the best provider I can to my clients.
Third, taking care of yourself and having a solid support system is crucial. Starting a business comes with so many ups and downs, uncertainty about the future, and overall stress about what’s to come. It’s so easy to let your own self-care and healthy boundaries go to the back burner. I’ve found being intentional about my work-life balance, resting, and maintaining healthy habits allows me to have a clearer head moving forward, no matter how overwhelmed or busy I am at the time. Also, having friends, family, a partner, or a mentor that you trust and can rely on to support your passion and vision for your business can make the challenging times much easier.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who is willing to trust the process, motivated to make a change, and eager to learn. Most of my clients love to be active, and are challenged with chronic pain, a recent surgery or injury, or a new medical diagnosis that has impacted their ability to move and live life the way they love. Fostering a positive and lasting change in our bodies takes work, and there are truly no shortcuts. As I mentioned earlier in starting a business, it’s easy to get distracted with quick fixes or unsubstantiated claims for improving pain or healing injury. My goal is to help you understand the specific needs for your body, goals, lifestyle, and movement patterns. Because of this, each client’s treatment plan is unique to them. I LOVE to educate, and you’ll often find me bringing out my anatomy book, models, and diagrams to engage with my clients to help bring a mutual understanding of why we are doing what we are doing. I believe that healthcare is a partnership between the provider and patient, and it is a privilege to navigate together with my clients to help achieve goals they never thought possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madestrongpt.com
- Instagram: @madestrongpt
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/M7hbSAsZLX45PJDP9
