Physical Therapists Aren't Using Their Doctorate | Here's Why

Private practice physical therapy, patient trust, therapeutic alliance, and professional identity — should DPTs introduce themselves as “Doctor”? This episode breaks down new research on whether using the title improves patient trust, adherence, and outcomes for PTs and clinic owners.

Dr. Lance Mabry joins the show to unpack his exploratory study on how often doctorally trained physical therapists use the title “Doctor” — and why only about 20% actually do. We dig into patient perception, legal considerations, gender trends, residency training impact, and what this means for clinic growth and professional positioning.

If perception influences trust — and trust influences adherence — this isn’t a branding question. It’s a clinical and business question.

For busy PTs and clinic owners, this matters because small changes in patient confidence can affect cancellations, follow-through, and referrals.

00:00 Intro And Why It Matters
02:15 Why Study Title Usage
06:30 Patient Trust And Alliance
10:45 Legal And Practice Considerations
14:30 Professional Identity And Change
20:00 What Comes Next In Research

Guest:
Dr. Lance Mabry
High Point University

Research Article:
“Not That Kind of Doctor: An Exploratory Study on Doctor of Physical Therapy Patient Introductions in the United States”
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy