Skipping the friend date by Emily Wilson PT, DPT

Do you ever meet someone and immediately start thinking about how you can scheme to be around them more? It happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I met Keesha. I skipped my usual friend dating tactics of coffee chats and impromptu lunch deliveries and cut right to the chase. I asked Keesha to join me at New Seasons Physical Therapy and Wellness!

So I am here today to introduce you to the newest clinical team member at New Seasons, Keesha Shankle, Doctor of Physical Therapy. Keesha is a pure delight to be around and I am pretty sure you will get that vibe after reading on. I thought the best way for you to get to know her is through an insider's guide to our interview. Enjoy!

What is your favorite thing about being a physical therapist?

I love being able to use my gifts to serve the community and improve the health of people. I also love the ability to build relationships with clients. Many times, I have grown just as much as my clients during our time working together.

Do you have a best moment as a PT? Like a client you were able to help with a major quality of life win?

I think my most rewarding moments as a PT, have been with clients who came to me at their lowest point. Those clients were exhausted by the healthcare system, in significant pain and feeling pretty hopeless. Being able to see their light return, pain decrease, and outlook change was truly impactful.

Tell us a little about your family. Did your journey into motherhood spark your interest in pelvic health PT or was it something else?

My family means the world to me. I met my husband Matt in Kalamazoo and we got married in 2012. Today, we have a cat Lucy, a boxer Layla, a 2.5 year old son Anson and a 9 month old daughter Kenna. I have cherished my journey into motherhood, and it definitely led me to pursue a specialty in pelvic health. I was first drawn to pelvic health PT in PT school, but did not dive in further until going through pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum experience myself.

When did you know you wanted to be a PT?

My journey into PT was definitely a process. It was a field that I was always interested in due to my involvement in gymnastics growing up, but never felt truly committed to. Honestly, I wasn’t too excited about another 3 years of school to achieve my PT degree. However, by my 5th year of college I was double majoring in exercise science and accounting, and realizing that I really did not have a passion for business. My passion was for the world of health and wellness. It was at this point that I started to re-examine the possibility of PT school. I started to observe at a couple PT clinics and fell in love with the field after observing in a pediatric clinic. This clinic opened my eyes to some of the opportunities available as a PT outside of what I had only known PT as in the past. This solidified my plans to go to PT school and it was definitely one of the best decisions I have made. I am lucky to work in a career that I truly love.

Who is your favorite client group to work with and why?

I love working with young athletes and new moms. I think that my experiences really help me to connect with these groups of people. I want to help these clients reach their maximum potential and oftentimes debunk long held beliefs holding them back.

What do you love to do in your free time?

In my free time I love spending time with my family. We love hiking and adventuring outdoors. I also enjoy reading and just relaxing at home.

What are you most excited about as you join our New Seasons PT team?

I am most excited about the potential at New Seasons PT. I cannot wait to grow professionally through increased knowledge and experience. I also look forward to thinking outside of the box and offering new opportunities/services to clients to really service the whole person and create a new, more effective healthcare experience.

What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast?

Breakfast is definitely a favorite in our house. I think the classic eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast will always be my favorite. However, my husband has been making some pretty delicious blueberry pancakes lately that I will never turn down!

Do you have any routines that keep you sane?

Recently, morning coffee and daily walks have become a pretty standard routine for me. My grandparents live in Puerto Rico and send us some strong Puerto Rican coffee to keep me going through the days. Walks with the kids or at the end of the day, always help to keep me sane.

Thank you Keesha for letting us in a bit. I am excited that our clients will have a chance to get to know you. You bring so much value to our community!

If you would like to chat with Keesha further I suggest that you book a free call with her HERE. You could also email her at keesha@newseasonspt.com

She is excited to be accepting new clients and has appointments available starting next Monday, Aug 10th.

Stay tuned for Keesha’s Blog this Friday where she will dive into 3 factors youth athletes should consider (to perform well and stay safe) as they return to the gym after months of quarantine. Girls, parents of girls and coaches, you are going to want to check this out.