Kathleen (Kiki) Dickinson

Kiki has over 30 years of experience as a physical therapist at St. Croix Therapy (Therapeutic Services for Children and Adults) in Hudson, Wisconsin, serving both pediatric and adult clients. Her caseload spans the birth-to-three early intervention population, children with complex neurological conditions, and adults with orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation needs.

She is the founder of North Star Aquatic Therapy, which provides aquatic therapy education for both pediatric and adult populations. Through this work, Kiki has developed and implemented aquatic therapy programs for a diverse pediatric population, as well as for ortho-neuro adult clients.

Kiki is also a senior instructor for Aquatic Therapy University (ATU)—a USA-based continuing education provider that delivers live and online aquatic therapy training for rehabilitation professionals worldwide. ATU is known for its evidence-based, population-specific curriculum and innovative teaching methods, serving physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, recreational therapists, and other rehab providers.

For ATU, Kiki teaches custom aquatic therapy courses nationally and internationally, with a particular focus on the neuro-pediatric population. She has co-authored multiple pediatric aquatic therapy course manuals for ATU and created original courses that she has presented at national and state APTA conferences. She also contributes to the advancement of the Aquaticist? credential, ATU’s recognition of advanced aquatic therapy competency.

Kiki’s clinical and research interests include childhood obesity and its effects on children with special needs. She holds certifications in Halliwick, Bad Ragaz Ring Method, Ai Chi, and Cranio-Sacral Therapy, and maintains her Aquaticist? credentials through ATU. For over 25 years, she has also served as an adjunct professor at St. Catherine’s University, teaching pediatric coursework for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Links:

• North Star Aquatic Therapy: https://www.northstaraquatictherapy.com

• Aquatic Therapy University (ATU): https://www.atuseminars.com

• Aquatic Therapy Network: https://www.atuseminars.com/blog