Why So Many PT Leaders Feel Like Imposters

Most clinicians are trained to treat patients — not lead teams. So when a physical therapist suddenly becomes a supervisor, director, or clinic leader, it’s common to feel unprepared. That feeling often shows up as imposter syndrome. In this episode of PT Pintcast, Jimmy McKay talks with speech-language pathologist and leadership coach Katie Holterman about why imposter syndrome is so common in healthcare and what clinicians can do when it shows up. They break down how leadership roles appear suddenly in clinical careers, how imposter syndrome affects decision-making inside clinics, and practical ways PTs can build confidence while leading teams. If you’ve ever sat quietly in a leadership meeting wondering if you belong there — this episode is for you. Key Insights • Why clinicians often become leaders without leadership training • The five profiles of imposter syndrome in healthcare professionals • How imposter syndrome causes decision paralysis in clinics • Why asking questions actually increases perceived leadership authority • The “Actually Factually Good At” list for building leadership confidence • How shifting from “Do I belong here?” to “What problem am I here to solve?” changes leadership mindset Guest Katie Holterman Sponsors SaRA Health Remote care platform helping clinics automate patient check-ins and meet RTM requirements. EMPOWER EMR An EMR built specifically for rehab workflows with faster documentation and cleaner operations. U.S. Physical Therapy A national network supporting PT clinicians and clinic owners with mentorship and career development.

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Why So Many PT Leaders Feel Like Imposters is an episode from PT Pintcast by Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT | Physical Therapy Podcast.

This episode is 0:27:59 long.

This episode was published on Mar 30, 2026.

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