Celebrating with Crystal Sennett, PT, DPT, PCS, Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist
Crystal Reflects on APTA Boards, Success, and Failure in the Profession
Celebrating with Crystal Sennett
Crystal Reflects on APTA Boards, Success, and Failure in the Profession
Crystal Sennett, PT, DPT, PCS, successfully passed her board certification examination in 2025 with the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) and is now a Board-Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist (PCS) in Physical Therapy. This credential signifies an advanced level of knowledge and skill in pediatric physical therapy. Crystal joins an elite group of fewer than 20 pediatric specialists in Arkansas as of 2024.
Success is Journeying with Families
Crystal emphasizes the importance of connecting with families, especially those who have experienced difficult journeys. “Being able to sit with a family and share, ‘I know that you wake up at 1 a.m. and I know what you worry about and it’s okay and you’re not alone,’ has been probably more impactful than anything I’ve ever learned in PT school or in my practice.” She continued, “Parents are just looking for someone to help them see what the future looks like, and if we don’t know, we just want to make sure that they’re not having to walk into that future by themselves.”
Failure is Giving Up
For Crystal, “failure would be if a therapist stops trying… instead of saying, ‘Hey, it’s okay, we just have to dive a little deeper and do some more research and navigate and be creative and think outside the box.’ Failure is saying, ‘This is too hard and we’re just going to give up.'”
Crystal’s dedication to her patients and her profession is evident in her incredible journey to achieving her board certification. Crystal shares, “I love treatment, I love seeing kids, it brings me so much joy. I’d been out of school for 10 years and thought I knew so much, but I wanted to be even better. I learned about the PCS certification through Christina Ruby [another board-certified therapist at TEAM] and it just got me really excited to learn something new and to see all aspects of our kids, not just what we see in the clinic.”
Intensive Regimen of Study
Crystal began her intensive study regimen 18 months before the exam. She describes a rigorous schedule: “I set my alarm clock at 4 a.m. and I would wake up with my coffee. It started to be something that I really looked forward to each morning, being able to learn about NICU babies, oncology, and the journey our kids and their families go through before they even come to us. It helped me understand them better, and that translated into the clinic.”
This deep dive into various pediatric conditions not only enhanced Crystal’s clinical expertise but also brought a profound personal connection. Having a child who spent time in the NICU, Crystal shared, “When I was learning all the NICU stuff, my own son was in the NICU, and I knew kind of what he was going through on a really basic level, but once I really dove in, I realized how hard his little body was working all those weeks… these kids that we get the privilege to see are just such little miracles.”
Crystal’s commitment extended beyond early mornings. She dedicated four hours each weekend to studying and met virtually twice a month with a study group assigned by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), connecting with therapists from across the country.
Joining Elite Company
The limited number of professionals holding board specialist certification in Arkansas underscores the extraordinary effort and dedication required. When asked if she knew she was in such elite company, Crystal shared, “Anything that puts me in the same category as Merilee Booker [Children’s Therapy TEAM Emeritus Physical Therapist] is quite the compliment.”
Crystal hopes her journey will inspire others, noting several other TEAM PT’s who are preparing to take the exam. “I’m so excited! We have a lot of positive energy we cultivate here at TEAM.”
A Caring TEAM
Children’s Therapy TEAM recently surprised Crystal with a celebration of her APTA accomplishment. “The whole clinic surprised me,” she recounted, visibly moved. “They got me these beautiful flowers and this amazing portfolio that had my name on it and then the TEAM logo inside… and then they got me this cup that has my credentials on it which was like so cool.” But the most special gift was a card filled with heartfelt messages from her colleagues. “There’s not any white space left and I’m probably going to frame it because it’s just like, you know, you get into your day-to-day routine and you just get so tunnel visioned sometimes, and you forget that there’s just such a community here of people that just care so deeply about each other.”
Crystal’s achievement is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence and her deep empathy for the families she serves. Children’s Therapy TEAM is incredibly proud to have Crystal Sennett as a vital part of our team, enriching the lives of children and families with her specialized expertise and compassionate care.
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