Physical Therapy in Tennessee

I'm sitting in the waiting room of Star Physical Therapy, while Jeannie gets her workout from Chris, her physical therapist.  He's a handsome, young, tall man with a soft slow southern accent.  His people skills probably started when he was 6 months old, when he discovered his warming eyes and sweet smile endear anyone he chooses to him.  He also has a little raise of the eyebrows and wrinkling of the forehead when he is saying something like, "Ten is just a number, don't worry about the exact amount, the main thing is we're working on the knee."  or  "You're looking great, you are not suppose to feel pain."   He spikes his hair in front and wears his clothes loose.  He wears corduroy pants with buttoned-down dress shirts he tucks in and lets hang loose over his belt.

Why is it that physical therapists are more like a counsellor than a person who works on the body?  As soon as I asked that question out loud I knew.  You can't separate the body from the mind.  If a physical therapist doesn't deal with the emotional-confidence part of the person recovering, they wouldn't be as successful in helping them recover.  

Chris touches Jeannie's knee when he talks to her about it, he sets his hand on her shoulder when he's encouraging her progress.  He smiles and moves closer to her when assuring her she's going to recover and recover magnificently.  His strong emotional presence shouts, "You're not alone, I'll help you!!"  When she asks for clarification he treats each question with importance.  He doesn't act like he's heard that question a million times before and doesn't want her to worry her little head about it.  Respect.  One patient at a time.  Tuned in, yet letting her take control of her progress.

She is taking control.  It's a slow, time-consuming process.  It's uncomfortable, it makes her weary.  Her strength and determination is amazing.  I love and admire her.