APTA Learning Center

Your Access to Trusted Continuing Education

Well-Being: Your Career Depends on It

  • Register
    • Non-Member - Free!
    • PT Member - Free!
    • PTA Member - Free!
    • Student - Free!
    • Post-Professional Student - Free!

    Continue

Being an expert in physical therapy is not enough to enjoy a long, successful, and satisfying career. Physical therapists face numerous obstacles to their professional success like increasing hours, plateauing insurance reimbursements, interacting with patients with chronic pain, and maintaining a work/life balance. Over time, these obstacles erode professional and personal well-being, resulting in lower quality care in patients and career burnout. To overcome these obstacles, a physical therapist needs a holistic system of support. This system includes psychological and social skills like self-awareness, self-compassion, and resilience. Unfortunately, these topics are often absent in physical therapy programs, leaving practitioners unprepared for the challenges facing them. To better equip physical therapists, this presentation will (a) discuss the importance of professional and personal well-being, (b) Identify common obstacles to well-being, and (c) provide practical strategies to increase overall well-being and career satisfaction.

Related Courses:

Working on Well-Being

Improve Your Work Environment

Beyond Physical Therapy

David Schary

PhD

David Schary, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Winthrop University. His mission is to help people understandthe importance of the psychological and social aspects in their everyday lives. Dr. Schary’s research interests include performance, leadership, and well-being across a variety of domains (e.g., medical profession, emergency services, wildland firefighters, and athletics). Currently, he is researching the relationship between well-being and performance. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. Schary is a performance consultant for Winthrop Athletics, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Dr. Schary completed his PhD in Exercise and Sport Science, with a concentration in Exercise and Sport Psychology, and Master of Public Health at Oregon State University. He also holds a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Studies from Smith College and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Davis. Prior to academia, he coached rowing at the high school, collegiate, and masters levels. As a transplant to South Carolina, he spends his free time exploring the area with his wife and twin daughters.

Course Instructions

  1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
  2. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
  3. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 


    Need Assistance?

    For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

    Key:

    Complete
    Failed
    Available
    Locked
    Video
    Open to view video.
    Open to view video.
    You must register to access.
    Q+A Recording
    Open to view video.
    Open to view video.
    You must register to access.
    Evaluation
    12 Questions
    12 Questions Your comments are important to us! Submit your feedback about the course through this evaluation.
    You must register to access.
    CEU Certificate
    No credits available  |  Certificate available
    No credits available  |  Certificate available Please download and save certificate for future use.
    You must register to access.