Hailing from eastern Montana, sister and brother duo Kala Whitworth and Collin Reid are self-professed royalty at Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy – Boise State Street. Their lighthearted sibling banter and propensity for teasing and joking play well within the clinic’s culture, where the whole team recognizes the value of ensuring every patient has a positive experience throughout their physical therapy journey. A sense of humor is an asset that Collin believes can make all the difference in helping people succeed in PT and get back to the things they love. In addition to making therapy fun, Kala emphasizes the importance of customizing treatment plans to each patient.
When they’re not in the clinic, the royal Kala and Collin each pursue their passions with their whole hearts — Collin can often be found tinkering in creative ways, woodworking and metalworking, while Kala is typically seeking adventure with her husband, young daughter and the family dog. Both enjoy the outdoors and the fun options that abound in the Treasure Valley.
Q&A with Collin & Kala
Q: What inspired you to become a physical therapist?
Kala: You know, what inspired me to become a physical therapist, I think is maybe similar to other physical therapists. I was an active kid. Our parents had a cattle ranch, and we were always active on the ranch as well as very involved in sports. So, I did sports all through high school and beyond into college. And so just with the experiences you have, being an active individual, physical therapy can be a very attractive career because it’s moving, you’re moving, you’re being able to apply both things that you are interested in as well as continuing to be active yourself.
Collin: I was inspired to be a physical therapist, unintentionally, because as my sister was a physical therapist. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do. But unfortunately, I just liked it too much, which turned out OK for me as I went to college and explored some of my interests and came back to not only the wonderful aspect of health overall, but I saw how inspiring Kayla was and what she was doing for people. And so, I was like, I want to do that as well.
Kala: I’d like to take all the credit here.
Collin: I’ll give you a little credit.
Q: What is your favorite stressbuster?
Kala: You know, I really enjoy running in the foothills — I use it as a stress relief. I’ve been a runner for years and in Boise, we are very blessed to live in a place where we have some beautiful trails and just some great ways to live both in the city as well as kind of feel like you have a bit of the outdoors.
Collin: I think for me the best way to just relieve stress is turning my mind off a little bit and doing something physical, so that can be something as simple as physical labor. But for me, it’s usually creating something. I enjoy tinkering — woodworking, metalworking. So, anything that allows me to feel creative using my hands is a great way for me to get away.
Q: If you were contestants on the TV gameshow Survivor, what would each of you bring as your luxury item?
Collin: Oh, my luxury item would be Oreos because I would use it against Kala because I know that gluten free Oreos would make her powerless against me and then I could win.
Kala: My answer is much more simple than that. I’d take a water purifier.
Collin: It’s unoriginal.
Kala: I know.
Q: What’s your most memorable vacation?
Kala: I’m going to say my most memorable vacation was when I went to Europe after graduating from physical therapy school and took him with me. And what I remember most about that trip is the friend of ours who went with us … she and I were poring over maps, and he just had his camera out the whole time.
Collin: I got those memories though!
Kala: Yes, you did.
Q: Sounds like a great experience either way! Is there anything you’ve done that you never want to experience again
Collin: I think … it’s kind of funny, but … so, one thing I would love to never do again is try a bus station pizza in Argentina … while I was visiting her, as I do not recommend 0 out of 10 would recommend.
Kala: It’s an acquired taste.
Collin: It’s a very acquired taste.
Q: Europe, Argentina … those are some great travel destinations (maps, photos and gas station pizza aside). What if you could travel to a different time? When and where would you go and why?
Kala: If I could time travel … OK this really like shows my inner geek.
Collin: I like it.
Kala: If I could time travel, I think I would love to go back to homestead times. So, our parents have a cattle ranch, and on their cattle ranch they have multiple old homestead houses where you just see remnants and you just wish you could see the story or meet the people or know what happened there years ago. So, if I could time travel, that’s probably what I would do.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Collin: Probably the best life advice I got was at a time of high stress when I was going through PT school, which is maybe good life advice for everyone and that is: lowered expectations is the key to success. And so, that is not to say to do less or not be as good, but it is a good way to remind yourself to be a little gracious and allow yourself to get to the finish line in your own way.
Q: How has being a part of Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy helped you as you pursue your career?
Collin: I think for me, one of the biggest things I’ve loved about working with Therapeutic Associates is the support they give you. So right off the bat, Therapeutic Associates is very upfront with giving you mentorship and giving you resources to build your education. And as a new grad, you feel like you’ve learned so much and so little at the same time. So, they helped me grow in my reasoning, my skills, my confidence. And I know I’m the physical therapist I am now because of that.
Kala: You know they’re always very supportive. The company just provides a real culture of education and kind of allows people to grow where their passions may be whether it be a specialty or going more toward being a manager or director at a clinic. They really allow people to grow in their passions.
Get moving with physical therapy.
At Therapeutic Associates Physical Therapy – Boise State Street, we are committed to providing effective, efficient, and compassionate care to help patients of all ages and abilities live a pain-free, active life.