05/27/2026
Since High School, Rachel Kullas knew she wanted her career to make a difference in others' lives. She started working with the St. David’s Therapeutic Recreation (TR) team as prep for graduate school, but it turned into so much more.
“After helping with TR I decided to become an Occupational Therapist. My work in TR really confirmed how much I liked to work with kids, adolescents and people with disabilities.” Rachel said. “I loved the idea of looking at the whole person, finding out what motivated them – a favorite song to help with a dressing routine, or a game tied to brushing their teeth. Working with kids from the beginning to address their challenges to set them up for success and independence really spoke to my heart.”
Seeing clients find joy and confidence in their lives motivates her. Getting feedback from parents that their kids are happy, thriving, and more confident in their day-to-day lives lets her know that she’s doing something that is truly making a difference.
Her most recent favorite client memory was seeing a client fulfill a goal of riding her bike to the Dairy Queen near Minnetonka Center.
It was the clients’ last day in Rachel’s care before getting discharged.
“She was so nervous about all the bumps in the road, so we took lots of breaks to help her reach her goal,” Rachel said. “I saw her use the skills I taught her to manage her anxiety, take a deep breath, and continue once she felt calm. I learned a lot from her that day about facing my fears and accomplishing something I’d put my mind to.”
