This is definitely one of my favorite series’ on my blog, so I am so excited to share a new PT with you all today! Today’s guest is another “non-traditional” therapist, so keep on reading to find out more!

Okay friends, let’s meet Dr. Jen Esquer!

Jennifer Esquer, PT, DPT, FRCms is a private sports therapist that creates programs, hosts workshops, and treats patients one-on-one for a more direct and precise experience. She graduated from Loma Linda University with her DPT degree, and is the creator of The Mobility Method and The Optimal Body. She has been featured on BodyBuilding.com, CBS News, Therapy Insiders Podcast, Grace and Grit Podcast, and so much more!

How did you decide that you wanted to pursue a career in physical therapy?

I have always had a fascination with science and the body. My favorite subjects graduating high school were Anatomy and Biology. I decided to study Kinesiology, the study of human movement, in undergrad as I decided what my career path would be. It didn’t take me long to decide on physical therapy as I would always ask myself why I was taping an ankle for gymnastics or why I was modifying around pain when teaching Pilates. There was so much more I wanted to learn about the body and how I could help people tap back into their own, so physical therapy seemed like the most natural route for me. 

What was your favorite part of PT school?

Honestly, school is not my favorite. It was interesting to learn, but it was actually during PT school that I expanded my own knowledge of movement. I started competing in Calisthenics competitions and learning things like AcroYoga. I even started a workout group during school lunch times where I would have the opportunity to learn from people who did distance running or sprints or lifting. Books are great, but it is what you learn outside of school that truly teaches you how to treat and help a human. 

What type of setting do you work in/What does a typical day look like?

My days are NOT your typical PT days. I now work 1 day/week with patients in person, treating cash-based clients out of a gym space with my own table and my own tools. Outside of my 1 day/week, a typical day is filled with emails, meetings, strategy, content creation and educating the masses through social media and podcasts. 

What is your favorite thing about the PT profession/your job?

I am able to teach people how to have a better relationship with their own bodies. I am not a PT trying to fix anyone. I am merely facilitating the pathway for others to fix themselves. 

What advice do you have for pre-PT or current DPT students?

Continue learning!! And not just from our fellow colleagues, but from Chiropractors, massage therapists, personal trainers, yogi’s, coaches, anyone! There is always more to learn and the more you know, the more you realize you don’t actually know. Though our profession is largely based in the physical, know that the biggest tool we have for actually treating a human is connection. Approach every person with compassion, understanding and be willing to reframe their mindset around movement, their bodies and their pain. We have the power to shift lifestyles, not just injuries. 

Thank you so much to Jen for giving us a little peek into her life as a “non-traditional” PT. She is helping so many people, and really opening up the landscape of PT and what we’re able to do. I think that everything that she is doing with social media and her career is so inspiring, and she is actually one of the reasons I realized that I could do so much more with my future career! For all things Jen, you can connect with her through her website/blog, or on Instagram @docjenfit!

If you are a practicing PT and would like to be featured in my next post (or if you happen to know any PTs that would be interested), feel free to email me at thecurlyclinician@gmail.com! If you missed the last “Life as a PT” post, don’t forget to check that out! Keep your eyes open for the next PT that will be featured!