Meet Katherine Potter – AMT Board Member
South Australia-based massage therapist, Katherine Potter, joined the AMT Board in May 2021. Let’s learn a little bit more about Katherine.
What was your journey to massage?
I love helping people. As an IT consultant, I helped people do their jobs with software. Now I’m a Massage Therapist, I help people using massage. I always loved receiving regular massage and when I received an unexpected redundancy, I decided to answer a long unanswered question and started studying the Diploma of Remedial Massage (2017). Halfway through 2017, our family decided it was time to head home to SA (from NSW), so I put my studies on hold to make that happen. I finally completed my Diploma in late 2019 and set up my home-based clinic right in time for COVID ☹
Tell us about a time that made you proud of the work you do as a massage therapist.
A client arrived 15 minutes early for an appointment and was unusually animated and happy. He was bursting at the seams to tell me that he had started a new sport, a sport that he had wanted to try for a long time but that his low back pain had held him back from even trying. He said that he recently realised just how much the LBP had impacted his life now that it was only an occasional issue rather than a constant one. It was so nice to see him go from being withdrawn, quiet and in pain, to animated, happy and trying new things that give him so much pleasure. (The new sport he tried was Pickleball – I had to google it!)
When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?
With two primary school aged boys, I’m not sure I have any of that! Spending quality time with my crazy boys (this does not include home schooling), sharing food (and wine) with family and friends, watching Rugby (Union), reading, and walking my ever present and loyal companion, Gracie (Cavoodle).
What do not many people know about you?
The first time I went anywhere on a plane I was 19 and I went all the way to England and then onto Kenya.
Why did you want to join the AMT Board?
I was so impressed with the AMT Board’s (and Head Office’s) work and support to its members during the pandemic in 2020, having the opportunity to work and collaborate with such an amazing group of people was an opportunity I did not want to miss.
How has it been so far?
Interesting!
What do you hope to achieve during your time on the AMT Board?
I hope to represent my state (SA) well and raise the profile of AMT in SA. If there are any upcoming projects, especially IT ones, I would offer my time and experience with those as I spent 16 years working and consulting in business software prior to becoming a Massage Therapist. I also love facilitating learning (adults, not children!), so I am very excited to be able to participate on the Education and Research subcommittee.
What is your “signature” dish?
Pumpkin Soup.
What wisdom would you like to share with other massage therapists?
Don’t be afraid of technology/software!
