physical therapist

Kessler Rehabilitation Center

I’m sharing this honestly and from the heart because I wish someone had told me what I’m about to write. As a brand new therapist I came into this job hopeful, eager, and ready to learn. Instead, I found myself overwhelmed almost immediately. I was expected to handle complex cases and a fast outpatient workload with very little structured mentorship or guidance. On top of that, new grads are expected to be double booked and eventually triple booked, which is incredibly stressful when you’re still figuring out basic systems, flow, and confidence. Every day felt like being thrown into deep water without a life jacket.  

Looking back the red flags were there from the beginning. I asked direct questions in my interview about mentorship and productivity but the answers were vague and I didn’t yet understand what that meant. Once hired, it became clear that support wasn’t truly built into the role. When I reached out for help, the responses felt more like correction than teaching. Over time I stopped feeling like a new clinician with potential and more like a body placed in a slot to meet productivity needs. 

The emotional toll of that is something no one prepares you for in school. They don’t teach you how corporate healthcare often prioritizes metrics, schedules, and revenue over the people providing care. They don’t teach you how quickly confidence can crumble when you’re working scared, alone, or unsure. It’s incredibly sad to learn these lessons through experience and my hope is that future new grads won’t go through the same.  

I would not recommend this workplace for new grad therapists especially those who value mental health, emotional safety, and true mentorship. New clinicians deserve patience, clear expectations and a safe place to grow; not an environment where asking questions feels risky or where being double or triple booked becomes the norm before you’re even ready.

 Advice to Management: Please invest in genuine mentorship, not just policies that sound good on paper. New grads need clear guidance and protected time to learn - not pressure to hit numbers or manage schedules beyond their readiness. Productivity will always be part of outpatient care but it should never outweigh the well being of the clinicians delivering that care. Treat your new grads like people who are trying their best and not just numbers that fill a schedule.

I worked here as an entry level physical therapist. Shortly after starting, it became clear that this clinic operated as a high volume outpatient PT clinic, with regular expectations of treating 2–3 patients per hour. While rehab aides were available at some clinics, they do not provide assistance with patient care.
PTO accrual and 401(k) eligibility did not begin until 90 days after employment. Employees are required to sign a non-compete agreement with a geographic restriction that remained active for one year after leaving the company. During the interview process, management emphasized mentorship opportunities, networking events, and continuing education support for new graduates. In reality, attending these events was difficult because schedules were rarely adjusted or blocked to allow participation.
Compensation was not competitive compared to workload expectations, especially for new graduates with limited leverage in salary negotiations. Annual raises were minimal (1-2%), and advancement opportunities through the clinical ladder process lacked transparency while often requiring substantial unpaid work outside normal hours.
Overall, I did not feel supported as a new graduate clinician. I would advise therapists seeking structured mentorship, lower productivity expectations, or more competitive compensation to ask detailed questions about these areas during the interview process.


Kessler is a good place to work if you are in upper management or a staff therapist. The work environment can be very busy and fast paced, which makes the 13 hour days go buy really quickly. I worked with Kessler for almost 11 years and I put myself through college, now with hefty amount in student loans, I had to look for other options for employment. I learned a great deal about Customer service while employed at Kessler, and it is their goal to provide outstanding service to patients. I miss the familiarity of the job and my patient population. I met some really awesome people. Kessler has a great reputation for making profound advancements in research and development. It's reputation was made popular by Christopher Reeves (Superman) who spent time after his accident. If you are looking for a safe and secure job with an outstanding reputation, Kessler is a good place to work.

The Ocean Township, Monmouth County, NJ Kessler outpatient location (on Park Avenue) is an extremely fast-paced environment not suitable for interns who do not have experience in a similar setting. During my time here, I was frequently verbally harassed by my supervisor and colleagues. On several occasions, I was publicly humiliated in front of colleagues and patients, including one incident when I was mocked and physically threatened. The front desk staff were extremely overworked, often resulting in them snapping at staff members over minor issues, such as scheduling changes. The front desk staff were further encouraged to over book therapist's schedules due to the high cancellation rate in order to maintain profit margins. This sometimes resulted in therapists having to treat 3 patients at once, which based on the complexity of the patients' diagnoses and needs was highly inappropriate. Staff meetings were often centered around how therapists could help the company profit, regardless of whether this served the needs of patients and staff members.

I’ve heard about Kessler for years. I finally got the job. At first, it seemed okay, but the training is done at a different facility so you don’t really get to learn about your location until your training is done. Overall, my clinics were ok. Riverdale was nice, the staff was nice but everything was also half done. As a float, it’s confusing keeping up with what the person did before you. Each clinic is so different. It wasn’t until new management came in shortly after I was hired that I realized how terrible the place was. you get no support from upper management. Burn out rate is high and I’d you get sick, you get penalized. Management stick together and are against their staff. Which is odd because they are supposed to be supportive. You also will never se them nor do they teach you anything. Honestly, the company is failing. Their processes and protocols are so old. Their EMR system is ancient and slow and doesn’t save thing properly. Everyone is doing something different so good luck asking for help in doing what’s right. It’s just a waste of time to work here. You don’t get paid nearly enough for the abuse you get and you don’t get time off. Go elsewhere. 

Worked for Kessler in Phillipsburg,NJ for 9 yrs. Built a partnership with the CM and we shared the patient caseload. We received good results and positive feedback. Kessler eliminated my position 2weeks before Thanksgiving. Said it was due to low pt volume. Offered only a float PT position in which I would maintain my benefits. I traveled over two counties for work and a different schedule daily. Met other PT’s who were forced into similar situations. Within 3 months I resigned. My direct CM never acknowledged my resignation letter. Very unprofessional.  Stay away from this company as it is unstable and unable to meet its business plan. Kessler does not value its loyal employees. 

I am a Speech Therapist. I was drawn to Kesslers big name and reputation. I can’t figure out how they are still riding on the coat tails of this reputation when management is so incredibly poor. The people in management positions are authoratative and you work to keep their bosses happy. It is a burnout job. Pay is ok but you soon realize you can’t enjoy because you are working tirelessly for management to keep their even higher paying jobs. The last and final straw was when my health and safety as well as patient safety and health was put at risk with no concern and a seriously flippant attitude. Would not recommend to anyone.

Starting with shift review with previous shift Nurse's on patient's. Assisted paraplegic, quadriplegic, and stoke patient's in a rehabilitation processes. Bathe and shower patient's, dressed patient's and gave them meals and helped with ROM exercise's. Co-worker's great to work with as a team, with lifing , rotating, bathing patient's you got more done when you worked together. The hardest part of job was seeing young men with these disabilities from a gunshot wound. Just taking care of a sick one is a blessing.

Kessler Rehab is a great workplace for anyone in the therapy field. The management and therapy staff are professional and supportive, and the work environment is positive and team-oriented. As a Therapy Aide, I felt that my contributions were valued, and I had the opportunity to learn and grow while assisting patients. The facility emphasizes patient care and safety, and the staff genuinely care about the well-being of those they serve.

Overall, Kessler Rehab provides a rewarding and fulfilling work experience for anyone passionate about helping patients in a rehabilitation setting.


A typical day is 9-12 patients with maximum 2 patients /hour. It all boils down to your manager at the location and I have been blessed with that. Company culture had improved before I joined and I have not anything to complain about. Hardest part of the job has been not getting results with some patients or seeing the kind of WC patients who don't want to get better. but overall its a nice place to acquire new skills and have the job satisfaction from patient's improvements.

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