\u2728 OT Entrepreneur Spotlight: Cait the COTA

From career change to creative impact in pediatric OT. There’s something really special about therapists who take their passion beyond the clinic—and turn it into something that helps others show up better every single day. This month, I’m so excited to introduce you to Cait—COTA, school-based therapist, and creator behind @cait_the_cota. Her story is one so many of us can relate to… full of growth, creativity, and finding your purpose in unexpected ways.

\ud83d\udc9b Her OT Journey: Finding the Right Path

Cait’s journey into occupational therapy wasn’t a straight line—and honestly, that’s what makes it so inspiring. She originally earned her degree in social work and spent a few years in that field before realizing it wasn’t the right long-term fit. After connecting with a rehab company through a neighbor and shadowing a COTA, everything clicked. Shortly after, she made the brave decision to go back to school and completely change careers.With the support of her husband cheering her on, she stepped into OT—and never looked back.

“I truly feel like I am where I am meant to be.”

Now, she’s been a school-based COTA for 10 years, and the heart of her work is clear: It’s her students. Building relationships over the years, helping them grow, and getting to “play” while supporting their goals—she describes it as her dream job. And honestly… it shows.

\u2702\ufe0f From Therapist to Creator: How It Started

Like many of us, Cait found herself searching for resources—scrolling through Teachers Pay Teachers, Pinterest, and therapy sites trying to find what her students needed.

And then she had a thought:

“I could make something like this.”

So she did. She jumped into creating resources—without having everything figured out—but with the belief that what she made could help other therapists too.

Her very first product? A Christmas fine motor packet—and she still remembers how proud she felt creating something she was actively using in her sessions. 

That moment turned into something much bigger.

\ud83d\udcc4 What She Creates (And Why It Matters)

Cait creates printable, low-prep therapy resources designed for:

•Occupational therapists

•Teachers

•Parents

Her focus? Making life easier.

Her materials target:

•Fine motor skills

•Visual perception

•Hand strengthening

•Early intervention + elementary needs

But what makes her resources so valuable is this: \ud83d\udc49 They’re made to be grab-and-go

No overwhelming prep. No extra stress. Just practical tools you can actually use during a busy therapy day.

And if you’re like most therapists… you know how important that is.

\ud83c\udf0e The Impact: Helping Therapists Everywhere

For Cait, the most meaningful part of creating isn’t just the sales—it’s the feedback.

The messages that say:

•“This saved me time.”

•“My students loved this.”

That’s what keeps her going. Because she knows how overwhelming therapy planning can feel… and if her resources can take even a little bit of that pressure off, it matters.

“It means the world to me to know that my resources are helping other therapists.”

And the fact that her work is now being used across the country—and even around the world? Still something she doesn’t take for granted.

\ud83c\udf3f Growth Without Pressure

Cait keeps things real when it comes to running a TPT store.

It’s:

•A creative outlet

•A side hustle

•A growing business

But also… something she doesn’t force.

She creates in waves—leaning into creativity when it comes, and allowing herself to step back when it doesn’t.

And that’s exactly how she’s avoided burnout over the years.

Because let’s be honest—between:

•A full-time school-based job

•Two kids at home

•Everyday life

There isn’t always time or energy to create.

But she’s made it work by using the small pockets of time:

•Early mornings

•Naptime

•Lunch breaks

•Late nights

Not perfectly… but consistently.

\u2615 Real Life Balance (And Keeping It Sustainable)

Cait’s story is a reminder that balance doesn’t mean doing everything all the time.

It means:

•Giving yourself grace

•Taking breaks when needed

•Not forcing creativity

•Trusting that slow seasons don’t last forever

And maybe… having an iced coffee in hand while doing it \ud83d\ude09

Her go-to?

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew from Starbucks (honestly… same).

\ud83d\udca1 Encouragement for Other Therapists

If you’ve ever thought about creating resources, starting something, or sharing your ideas—this is your sign.

Cait’s advice is simple: \ud83d\udc49 Just go for it.

You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start.

Because if something helps YOU in your sessions… there’s a really good chance it will help someone else too.

“Your ideas aren’t doing any good just sitting in your brain—bring them to life.”

\ud83c\udf89 A Few Fun Things About Cait

•She loves creating for early learners (especially prewriting + letter formation)

•Her Build-A sets are a favorite (and worth the prep!)

•Her store can be summed up in one word: time-saving

•She’s especially proud of her Year of Push Pin Games—a resource that helped launch her journey and came full circle when it was sold on platforms she once shopped from

\ud83d\udecd\ufe0f Check Out Her Work

If you’re looking for low-prep, functional, and therapist-approved resources, you can explore Cait’s shop here:

\ud83d\udc49 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/cait-the-cota

And follow along on Instagram:

\ud83d\udc49 @cait_the_cota

\ud83d\udc9b Final Thoughts

Cait’s story is such a powerful reminder that:

•It’s okay to change paths

•It’s okay to start before you feel ready

•And it’s okay to grow something slowly, in the middle of real life

She’s not just creating resources— she’s helping therapists feel more prepared, more confident, and a little less overwhelmed.

And that’s exactly what this community is all about.

I’m thrilled to introduce this month’s OT Entrepreneur, Taylor, the founder of TaylorMadeOT. Taylor has blended her love for occupational therapy with entrepreneurial spirit, creating a unique brand that supports both therapists and young learners. At TaylorMadeOT, she brings her clinical expertise to life through interactive children’s picture books designed to build essential skills.

A Passion for Helping Children Thrive

Taylor’s books are a perfect example of how OT can go beyond traditional therapy settings and create a positive impact in children's everyday lives. Her books, Calming My Body is as Easy as ABC and Exercising My Fingers is as Easy as ABC, are not only fun but are packed with practical activities that foster sensory regulation and fine motor skills. These books bridge the gap between therapeutic interventions and everyday learning, helping children understand and master skills in a playful, interactive way.

Taylor’s dedication to her work shines through in her mission to reach children of all abilities. “My goal is to create books that all children will enjoy, regardless of their exceptionalities,” she says, a sentiment that truly reflects her commitment to inclusivity in the world of OT.

Creating Resources That Make a Difference

With every new book Taylor publishes, she is expanding the toolkit for OT practitioners and families alike. In her own words, “I’ve loved the opportunity to network with therapists from across the country, learning from their experiences and sharing insights. It has been incredibly rewarding to connect with fellow authors as well, and they’ve taught me so much throughout my journey."

But her work doesn't stop with books. Taylor is constantly creating and sharing new ideas with her audience. Whether it's a fresh OT tip, an inspirational quote, or a simple yet effective intervention idea, her platform is a hub of knowledge and creativity. As a self-published author and OT, she’s paving the way for future OT professionals to combine their expertise with entrepreneurship, offering inspiration and advice along the way.

The Challenges and Rewards of Being an OT Entrepreneur

Running a business while maintaining a full-time job is no easy feat, but Taylor has found the perfect balance by pursuing her passion on her days off. “The most challenging aspect of running my own business is finding the time to dedicate to it,” she shares. “I often end up working on my days off to further grow and develop my business.” But for Taylor, the rewards far outweigh the challenges.

Her greatest satisfaction comes from hearing how her books have impacted children’s lives. The feedback from readers continues to fuel her desire to help even more children develop the skills they need to thrive.

A Glimpse Into Taylor’s Busy Week

A typical week for Taylor is packed with both work and passion projects. As a school OT, she manages a caseload of approximately 100 students, ranging from preschool to high school. She collaborates with IEP teams, works closely with her fellow COTAs, and mentors undergraduate and graduate students. After hours, she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dogs, and continuing to develop her business, all while staying true to her mission to help children and fellow therapists.

What’s Next for TaylorMadeOT?

Taylor has big plans for the future, including more books, a potential doctorate in occupational therapy, and an ongoing commitment to growing her brand. She’s already brainstorming ideas for her third book, eager to continue making a positive impact through her creative approach to OT.

Words of Wisdom for New Grads and Students

Taylor has some valuable advice for those just starting their OT journey: "I encourage anyone interested in a career in occupational therapy to gain as much experience as possible in the field. Shadowing different therapists in various settings—such as schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, etc.—can provide invaluable insights into the diverse approaches and specialties within OT."

Support Taylor and Get Involved!

If you’re as inspired by Taylor’s story as I am, be sure to follow her journey! You can find her on all social media platforms as @taylormade.OT and check out her books and resources on her author website and Linktree.

Taylor is a true example of how passion, dedication, and creativity can create meaningful change within our field. I’m so excited to feature her as this month’s OT Entrepreneur and look forward to seeing how her business continues to grow and inspire!

Author Website    Linktree

Do you have a favorite book or resource for kids? Share it with us in the comments below!

I loved the idea of supporting others to be able to participate in the 'stuff of life' - the everyday tasks and activities that may seem small at first glance, but they're actually huge when you consider them through the lens of quality of life and engagement! The core of what occupational therapy is really spoke to me. I was lucky to have a number of people in my life who pointed me toward OT - I have an aunt who is a school-based SLP and suggested that I shadow the OT she worked with, my college advisor nudged me to get myself an OT internship, and then I met my fantastic OT mentor from there!

What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist? 

I think my favorite thing about being an OT is the variety of settings we can work in, and the variety of populations we can work with! We have such a huge potential for impact through our holistic approach. I love when I can help clients or families feel truly seen and understood, and being able to work with people to meet their most essential needs is so rewarding. 

 What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I started off in hand therapy/outpatient rehab, and then transitioned to school-based OT in 2021. I work with elementary, middle and high schoolers in my current role and I love getting to work with multiple age groups. When I was in OT school, I got to do a level 1 placement in hippotherapy and that was probably one of the coolest settings I got to experience!

 What sparked your idea to start a side hustle?

 I knew pretty early on in my OT career that I wanted to do something that would allow me to work for myself, but it took me a long time to land on what that might look like. After a few years in hand therapy, I experienced major burnout which led me to switch settings. Two years into to school-based OT, I started making my own documentation templates and data tracking spreadsheets out of necessity and decided to make them available on Teachers Pay Teachers - I figured that if I had a need for them, other school-based therapists would benefit from them too. I thought that was going to be my whole business concept...but then I realized that I kept wanting to talk about my experiences with therapist burnout, way more than the documentation supports I was making. It became clear that I needed to shape my business around my passion for supporting other therapists in burnout prevention and recovery, since it's such a pervasive issue and an unspoken battle for so many of us. We're so highly educated and trained as therapists to help and support others, and I saw a significant need to help clinicians support and care for themselves.

 Explain what your business is for those who don’t know!

The Burnout OT provides holistic burnout prevention, management & recovery tips for clinicians! I'm active on Instagram & Tik Tok sharing strategies, tips & support throughout the week. I have a number of free resources including The Clinician's Quick Start Guide to Burnout Recovery and The Burnout Navigator Guide, for those who are considering if a change of setting is right for them. I also have a digital resource, The Burnout Recovery Planner, which I made specifically for clinicians to help them pinpoint precise areas to get started in their burnout recovery based on their individual needs. Later in 2024, I'll be launching a course and coaching program to be able to work with clinicians 1:1 to support their burnout recovery journey!
 How long have you been in business?I'm still in my Newbie Era :) The Burnout OT officially became an LLC in October 2023! It's truly been so much fun getting to build this community and establish the foundations of this business. I have never considered myself to be a business-minded person so it's been one heck of a learning journey, and I'm so excited to keep going!

 What is one long term goal you have for your business?

 The biggest long-term goal I have is being able to run The Burnout OT full time! It feels a little scary to put that goal out there, but that's the dream. I don't have a set timeline for this goal because I don't want to stress myself out unnecessarily (the irony of a burnout-specializing OT burning out is not lost on me), but I want to steadily grow the business at my own pace until it can be my full-time gig. 

 What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

 Phew, there are many challenging things about running a business! I think one of the more challenging things for me has been running the business around my full-time job in school-based therapy. I often start the day thinking I'll get all sorts of things done for The Burnout OT when I get home, and then by the time I get home I have to reassess the original to-do list. Another big challenge for me has been learning about marketing, because I was totally new to marketing anything when I started my business and had to learn from the ground up. It's kind of felt like learning a new dialect of a language!

 What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?

 The most rewarding thing by a longshot has been connecting with other therapists! I absolutely love when someone sends me a DM or comments on social media saying 'OMG, this is me!' or 'so true!'. I love when I can help other clinicians feel seen and understood in their struggle with burnout, as it can often feel pretty isolating in the moment. Social connection itself is really helpful in burnout recovery and prevention, and I love how an online business can help connect us from all over the world. 

 What does a typical week look like for you? 

In a typical week, I'm working Monday - Friday in schools from approximately 8-4. My days are a mix of seeing students, attending IEP meetings, and working on documentation & assessments. I try to get my workout taken care of in my morning routine, because it's my grounding/regulating 'me time' before I do anything else in the day. On evenings earlier in the week, I'll get some work done for The Burnout OT - getting content prepped, writing emails (I send out weekly emails with a quick bit of burnout wisdom), and chipping away at building my upcoming course. Usually by the end of the week I take a break and rest in the evenings after school, and on the weekends I create my social media content for the upcoming week or so. My husband and dog have gotten used to me doing all sorts of things in front of my tripod while I'm making content!

 What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

Pay attention to your own needs while you're learning how to care for and support others. It's so exciting to finish school and start your career, but we can't lose sight of our own needs for rest, boundaries, occupational balance as well. I think a lot of us start our careers with such an eagerness to jump in and soak up as much as we can, and that's amazing, but it's also easy to let some boundaries slip regarding how much we can realistically take on, and that can lead to a slippery slope down the road. I know that when I first started working, I was a total 'yes' woman and I took pride in always being flexible to meet the expectations placed on me. That isn't a bad thing, but I didn't have the discernment to tell when I could realistically say yes to something and when I should have given a polite 'no.' Knowing yourself and having discernment regarding your current capacity is huge!

Jessica is an MOT, OTR/L, she has worked in the school system since graduating in 2010. She has experience in nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and in home health, but working in schools is her absolute favorite!

What led you to choose occupational therapy as a career?

I was a dancer my whole life and in high school I tore my hamstring. It led me to meet a really amazing PT, which led me to thinking that was exactly what I was meant to be. I applied for PT school and just knew I would get in. The summer before the program started, they called and said I didn’t get into PT school, but that they had a spot in their OT program if I wanted it. All I had to do was complete some hours shadowing one. So, I called around and got in to shadow a woman who was working in a nursing home, but who also worked with kids. She let me tag along for an afternoon. Needless to say, I fell in love, and I thanked God for opening the exact right window for me. Helping people thrive in their occupations was exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I had no idea what the profession was until that afternoon, but I was sold, took the spot in the program, and never looked back.

What is your favorite thing about being an OT?

I love how diverse our field is. The idea that you could completely change careers within our field seems limitless. I love that you can drive your career down any path with continued education. I love being a lifelong learner. I personally have no intension of ever switching out of pediatrics, but even within that there are millions of ways to serve and work. I like lots of movement and within my day I am not limited to a desk or a room. I am in different buildings, classrooms, and seeing someone new every half hour. It makes the days fly by all while having fun!

What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I have worked in schools since graduating in 2010. They are my absolute favorite! I have also worked in nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and in home health. I get to spend each summer serving at the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. I create and run self-care and life skills camps for all ages as well as offer outpatient OT to them for the summer months. It’s a really fun change of scene from the schools and something I look forward to all year long.

What sparked your idea to start a side hustle?

As a new grad working in the schools, I always wished I had fun themed resources to incorporate with my students. I felt like I was majorly lacking, and all my sessions looked the same. So, I took a course from some SLPs on creating digital products and started selling them on TpT. Then the pandemic hit, and I was desperately missing my students and connection with other people. I have a deep desire for connection and being creative. I usually fulfil that at work with creating engaging sessions or activities for my students and helping teachers thrive in their roll of supporting the students I work with. So, I created an account to connect to other OTs and to share fun therapy ideas. It gave me that creative outlet I was missing while our schools were closed, and my job quickly turned to paperwork. During that time, I dreamed up the EnthusiasticallyOT Card Club.

Explain what your business is for those who don’t know.

EnthusiasticallyOT Card Club and Irresistible Printables are my two main resources. IP is a digital download resource only. It requires some leg work to prep the materials, but it is at a much lower price point. Card Club includes the digital Irresistible Printables but comes completely prepared for you with a storage bag and themed manipulatives. It was dreamed up for the busy OT or COTA, or homeschooling parent that wants ways to address a variety of skills in a fun and cohesive way with these materials. The idea is to be able to print and go do your thing easily without a lot of thinking and prep work.

How long have you been in business?

This is school year 2 for Card Club. I only offer my products August through May. I take the summers off to recharge and plan for the next school year.

What is one long term goal you have for your business?

My long-term goal is to be able to cut back at my day job and still be able to provide my income for my family. I would love more time flexibility to enjoy watching my kids do all the things!

What is the most rewarding thing about owning your business?

I love seeing my products out in the world be enjoyed by others and know it has made more students than just mine love coming to OT!

What does a typical week look like for you?

I work 35 hours a week in the schools, shuttle kids to all the practices and lessons, and work my business after everyone goes to bed usually. Really every week looks different. Some weeks I spend my evenings in the floor prepare to ship the months materials, others in bed with my computer making the resources.

What advice do you have for Occupational therapy students or New Grads?

My best advice is don’t be afraid to go where your heart and your interests lie. Take the classes, gain the knowledge, explore the options, and if there is something you are passionate about find a way to make it happen. Don’t let anyone put you in a box and tell you how to do your job. We have one of the most beautifully diverse skill sets and have so much to offer and each one of us brings something so different to table. My other advice is, it’s never too late to pivot! :)

You can find me on Instagram @enthusiasticallyOT or visit my site www.enthusiasticallyOT.com

1. What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

My grandmother had a stroke during a time I was still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I took her to her therapy sessions, and she had such a fun time with her OT, I found myself thinking, “I could totally do that!”

2. What is your favorite thing about being an COTA?

I love seeing the progress our patients make when they really dig deep and work hard. There is no doubt in my mind God made me for occupational therapy because He gave me big and cheerful personality. I know that most patients don’t WANT to be in our hospital. They are often forced into our world, but I want to make sure it the best experience as possible. I used to tell them, “I’m either your biggest cheerleader or nag. It all depends on how you view me because I’m coming for you for therapy no matter what!”

3. What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I’ve worked with peds in a public school district and adults in inpatient rehabilitation.

4. What sparked your idea to start a side hustle?

Patients in IPR have 3 hours of therapy a day and while that sounds like a lot of therapy it leaves A LOT of downtime. I would leave “homework kits” for many of my patients to work on fine motor and cognitive tasks during their downtime in their room. Families would often ask where they could purchase something similar to work on at home after discharge. There was no go-to product to refer them to, so I created one.

5. Explain what your business is for those that don't know!

Therapy Busy Boxes are therapeutic toolkits filled with over 50 activities and exercises used to improve fine motor coordination and hand strength. It comes with a printed instruction manual that guides the user through each of the activities found within the Box while also pointing out therapeutic tips a therapist may give.

6. How long have you been in business?

3 years

7. What is one long term goal you have for your business?

My dream is for Therapy Busy Box to be the go-to product therapists, teachers, and family members think of when attempting to help a patient/student/loved one improve their fine motor function.

8. What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

I would have to say wearing ALL the hats. Marketing, product development, purchasing, shipping, bookkeeping, inventory, etc. It can be a lot some days.

     9.What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business? Knowing that people see the value in the product when they purchase it as a gift for a loved one or when a customer messages me and thanks me for having this type of product.

      10. What does a typical week look like for you?

I still work part-time at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital 3 days a week then work on my side business each of the others. Some days are 10 hours, others may be 3. I’m still figuring things out, so I don’t have a set workflow quite yet.

11. What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

• If you’re wanting to work with geriatrics or the adult population at all, PLEASE spend some time in inpatient rehab! The value of the fast pace and numerous diagnoses you’ll see will reply help you gain a great deal of knowledge and experience.
• You THINK you’re an OT or OTA going into the field but that’s not all. You’re also a salesperson. One of your hardest jobs will be to sell the idea that therapy will help that patient feel and do better IF they participate with you. You’ve got to convince someone who doesn’t feel good, is in pain, may be depressed, and quite frankly at times, just doesn’t want to participate that working with you WILL make them feel and move better overall.
• Please remember you have chosen a profession that allows you to be with people during some of their darkest days. YOU can be the ONE positive in their day. Be kind. Be patient. And ALWAYS treat your patients as though they are your family member because someday that patient could be you, your husband, daughter, brother, or mom.

Connect with Amanda!

Website:
https://therapybusybox.comFacebook:
https://m.facebook.com/100063472717504/Instagram:
Instagram.com/therapybusybox.com

1. What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

I wanted to find a career where I could help people but didn’t necessarily want to be a nurse. When my grandmother had a knee replacement, I took her lunch one day to the SNF she was receiving rehab at and went to her OT session with her (at this point, I had never heard of OT) and knew after her treatment session, I wanted to pursue OT as a career.

2. What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

This career is SO MUCH FUN!!! Being an OT is so rewarding that it doesn’t even feel like a job! You know you’re in the right profession when you love what you do!

Helping others increase independence or regain independence so they can live their life to the fullest and achieve quality of life.

At the Play Hut we offer Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and feeding therapy with picky eaters. Seeing the emotions from the parents when their child eats something new for the first time, zips their jacket for the first time, says their first word, walks for the first time etc. is so rewarding.

3. What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I have experience with geriatrics and pediatrics. I love working with both ends of the spectrum!  Of course, the baby cuddles, toddler giggles, and funny kiddos are wonderful but it’s also hard to beat the sassiness and spunkiness of the 80-year-old ready to get back to her weekly Friday beauty shop appointments post stroke!

4. What sparked your idea to start a side hustle?

I am constantly searching for ways to help others in my community and to offer needed services where there is a need. In my small town, children’s services are very limited.

I also love to keep adding to my plate and challenging myself to try new things and push myself out of my comfort zone. We never know what we are capable of until we try!

5. Explain what your business is for those that don't know!

Pediatric Outpatient Therapy Clinic and Kids Play Gym (offers open play to the public, developmental play groups, birthday parties, special holiday events, etc.)

6. How long have you been in business?

1 crazy wild adventurous year

7. What is one long term goal you have for your business?

Of course, there are many goals you want to achieve for your business to be successful and to grow, however, the most important goal for my business is to help as many kiddos as possible to reach their fullest potential through all aspects of life despite obstacles that come their way.

8. What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

Accepting insurance! Dealing with insurance would be the most challenging part of owning a therapy clinic. However, accepting insurance allows all children to benefit from needed services.

      9. What does a typical week look like for you?

No week looks the same as a business owner! Between being a mom, wife, and business owner, life is very busy! Most of my time is spent dealing with insurance. We have a great team at The Play Hut who keeps everything running smoothly!

11. What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

Reach past the stars! This career allows you so many opportunities! Never did I think I would be owning my own business and especially a pediatric therapy business, but here I am! Do not be afraid to ask others for help! As a new grad OT and even after 6 years of experience, I learn new things from the COTA’s I work with every day! Even on the toughest days with the most challenging patients, always be kind and be your best self you can be because you never know what that child is going home to and that hour you just spent with them may be the only hour of love, they receive all week.

Connect with her!

@theplayhutva - Instagramtheplayhut.net - Website

1. What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

I like my OT journey began different than others because I had not heard much of Occupational Therapy prior to college. I was in college pursuing a nursing career I had ran into an old friend who had just completed the OTA program, we began to talk about her getting ready to graduate and how passionate she was to start her OT journey and a spark lit up for me! I lined up some OT job shadowing and then I knew exactly what my calling was and that was the field of Occupational Therapy it lined up so well with my passion for life and helping others in the world feel and know their worth! After all the multiple injuries I had incurred throughout my years (I’ve always been the clumsy/accident prone child). I’ve had numerous injuries including fractured nose and crushed sinuses when my brother & I were sword fighting…lol, fractured coccyx twice, first time when my brother pushed me racing to get to the bus first on a cold winter morning and the black ice got me, second time when I was pregnant with my oldest son, fell backwards and couldn’t catch myself, and paralysis/paresis of R UE/LE for approximately a year due to again my little brother tripped me down the family home stairs. Needless to say, my brother and I have learnt new boundaries as adults, and we don’t push and fight anymore…lol!!! Also, my brother was younger than me!!! I knew with that experience first-hand that I had a way to help return people back to their healthiest and give them independence in their life as I knew a lot of the struggles they were dealing with every single day. From that point on, I have never looked back and fully invested myself into becoming the best occupational therapist that I could!

2. What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

My favorite part of being a COTA/L is being the one that can be there for my patients when they achieve their goals that they have worked hard to get them back home where they want to be is a huge part of why I love my job! I enjoy building a rapport with my patients, so I get to know them and living in a small community I get opportunities to see them master reaching the top shelf at the grocery store or get out of the car on their own because they crossed my therapy path.

3. What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I've worked in Home Health, SNF/rehab facility and LTC most of my career, I have been in the same skilled nursing facility/long term care for 15 years beginning as PRN and working my way up to Full time. I have worked with all ages of patients from couple hours old to a 101 including during my clinicals and many diagnoses including those listed above however not limited to as in 17 years a therapist can see tons of diagnoses.

4. What sparked your idea to start a side hustle?

I have always had a crafty side and I enjoy making stuff and being creative. I had researched how to start some kind of subscription box for a long time, but never could get it together something always came up to put the idea on the backburner and then one day on lunch at work I was looking on Facebook which is odd because I rarely get on there. And of course, there on the top of my feed I saw Holly's post on an OT-side hustle group that I follow inquiring about selling the Purpose business and that was it, my reason for it not working out all those times before.  I was super excited I messaged Holly immediately and we had several conversations and zoom calls and to this day I still message her in Ali often they have been amazing in this transition, they have helped me in ways that I couldn't have been successful if I was learning alone.

5. Explain what your business is for those that don't know!

I hope all of you know what my business is but for those that don’t it’s called Purpose Therapy Box! I am so very thankful for Holly and Ali for building this business from the ground up and allowing me the opportunity to continue to build it! I firmly believe we all have a PURPOSE in this life and advocating for OT, connecting with other therapy squad peeps and designing awesome apparel and accessories for my fellow therapy squad will allow me to have more of an opportunity to advocate for the career that we love so dearly. I truly enjoy the opportunity and who knows where #taking a therapist centered approach will take us! I have tons of ideas and plans I am working on but in due time, I hope to not overwhelm myself, take my time, and build Purpose Therapy Box! I hope all love my new designs and that I can be a path of education and help for any therapist that needs help along the way!

6. How long have you been in business?

I acquired the Purpose business in the middle of January 2022. I have been working behind the scenes while Holly & Ali have been amazing by helping me through every step of the way, they have taught me everything that they knew to help me to grow with the Purpose business I cannot say how grateful I am for them and their passion for OT and the geriatric population!

7. What is one long term goal you have for your business?

I want to continue to build with Purpose Therapy Box and I would like to see it reach every therapist that needs encouragement to keep going because working through this pandemic has proven to be very difficult, for some it's been more difficult than others and we've had the power to push through and it's been a crucial part for our patients for us to have been able to hang in there. I can speak for the geriatric population at times we were all they had, especially when family had to visit through the windows and then some didn’t even come at all when they thought mom or dad couldn’t hear them so what was the point, and us knowing if they could’ve just seen them, it would have kept the fire burning in their heart to keep moving forward!  As OT practitioners we are a huge part for our patients’ lives being their encouragers/cheerleaders so, Hey! Why not do it stylishly? I have ideas galore, including to open up more variations of OT therapy apparel to incorporate all the disciplines and I would like to add new lines for different therapy scopes of practice. If you have ideas or requests send me a DM on Instagram and I’ll see what I can do! I would also like to be a source of information to help upcoming and new grad OT practitioners, because I know not only our small children in schools have had trouble learning but you as adults in college through this pandemic you have had it tough too and I'm sure you didn't get the learning opportunities as we did before the pandemic. We have to help each other learn what we can so we all can be the best therapist as we can be!

8. What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

Having enough time in the day & time management is such a huge part of our everyday productivity selves but we all know what it's like to get lost on Pinterest, on our favorite blog, Etsy and Lord knows TikTok and that takes valuable time, but I am always looking for inspiration and ideas to help my other OT practitioners and to help me to grow in my OT practice. The most challenging part right now in the beginning is that it all relies on me to get it done and learning the social media aspect and balancing my work/life/entrepreneur balances! I want to be a super consistent blogger/Instagram content creator; however I’m just doing okay with managing my website and Etsy shop and making sure my customers are satisfied and that I put out great products.

9. What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?

Being a girl boss and knowing it’s my designs people want to rep OT. I enjoy getting reviews or notes from someone that ordered something from my shop.  I enjoy seeing people learn from information and I plan to put more info out there when I finally figure out my work/life balances with a new side hustle in my life!

10. What does a typical week look like for you?

I typically work 4-5 days a week at SNF, the hours vary depending on the case load typically work at least 6 1/2 to 7 hours a day.  I commute 30 minutes to/from work!  I take my youngest kid to school each morning on my way so we get more time together! I am 1 of 3 COTA/L’s in my facility. I have spent a lot of my time researching, seeking advice, and preparing for my new designs to launch. On the weekend I love to make memories with my son, we spend a lot of that time on the soccer fields, go camping with my in-laws and attend church !

11. What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

You should always be ready to learn something new every day! Know your worth and don't be afraid to explore ideas!  Find your niche, find what you're good at! Be open minded because I felt for sure I would work in peds going through my clinicals however once going through my clinicals working in the school system, out-patient peds, in-patient peds, and the NICU as well as home health peds. I quickly realized I couldn't handle all that came with work/home life managing kiddos and their difficulties navigating through this world because I was dealing with it at work and at home! I wasn't able to work with peds, so I work in geriatrics and I love it!  Geriatrics is my specialty, it's my place, my spot in this little tiny world where God designed me to be! Me and my coworker plan to work together, retire together and be in wheelchairs in SNF together just so we can be best friends again over and over each day when we don’t know who the other is..lol

Connect with her!

 purposetherapybox.com -Blog & Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/purposetherapybox - Etsy
@purposetherapybox - Instagram

I want to go into a little background about me, but if you’re not interested in my story, you can jump down about three paragraphs to where I say “I want to detail…”.

Three years ago I made an influential life decision. I was just about half way through my five year Master’s in Occupational Therapy program and was contemplating how I wanted my post-collegiate life to look. I pondered practice areas and did my research. I asked questions, talked with friends, and reflected on my clinical experiences. I realized I wanted something fast-paced; acute care maybe?  I also wanted something unique; do OTs practice in the emergency room?  Should I have gone to school to be a physician’s assistant? I was getting a little concerned because most of my peers seemed to have found their OT niche and I still had no idea where I wanted to practice. But then I found military occupational therapy. I knew almost instantly that this was a perfect fit. I’ve always been an athlete and I love fitness. I’m stubborn, determined, and adore challenges. Yep, the military lifestyle had everything I wanted. And how could it be boring? So I researched a bit more and found that three branches offer occupational therapy: Air Force, Navy, and Army. I decided on the Army. This decision was reinforced when I spoke to a recruiter who detailed the various opportunities an Army career could give me. I also knew the Navy was out because I am absolutely awful at swimming.

I then spent the next 2 years focused on school, work, and fitness, while further researching OT in the Army, talking with my recruiter, and trying to orient my clinical experiences around my career goals. I began my graduate year in the Fall of 2019. I envisioned myself presenting my graduate research in front of a big audience, completing my last clinical in Texas at an Army hospital, and working part time until I could begin training in the Spring of 2021. Then March of 2020 hit and like many others, my life changed. School went virtual, my clinical got cancelled, I moved back in with Mom, and I’ve spent the last seven months nannying my nephews. 2020 left me feeling utterly deflated. Nothing went according to plan. I’m 24, living with Mom, and working as a nanny. I have a Master’s degree, in health care, in the middle of a pandemic! Why aren’t I working????  I felt stuck.

But through this process, I truly learned what it meant to adapt.

I want to detail some of my experiences from the past year and how they shaped into my top tips for improving adaptability. I truly believe the following principles can be generalized to personal and professional life scenarios to not only improve overall adaptability, but also relieve stress, anxiousness, and any negative emotions that seem to persist in the face of change.

Tip 1: Learn your weaknesses

2020 brought a lot of my weaknesses to the forefront, but one of the biggest weaknesses that was highlighted was my fondness of structure. When everything originally went virtual in the Spring of 2020, I felt lost in the lack of structure. I no longer had a set routine on my college campus. I could no longer escape to the gym when I was overwhelmed or needed to clear my mind. All of my graduate work transitioned to an online software I wasn’t that familiar with (not to mention my professors were lost, which made things infinitely more challenging). My planner had more crossed off than not.

I had always been one to plan everything to a “T”, but every time a plan changed, it brought on feelings of anxiousness and, at times, failure. It really dawned on me that scheduling my whole life (ie. meetings, get togethers, gym time, hobbies, etc) for exact dates and times was setting myself up for disappointment when things didn’t go exactly to plan. If, or more accurately, when things popped up out of the normal routine, I felt overwhelmed with trying to “fit it in the schedule.”

I always thought that adding structure to my life was a strength. Scheduling was something that allowed me to manage my time effectively, it allowed me to get more done, and it allowed me to excel in leadership. What I didn’t realize was that it was slowly sensitizing me to change. My life had been so structured for so long that I was losing my ability to adapt to sudden schedule changes. But, 2020 was so unpredictable. Through repeated disruption to my daily schedule, I learned that my tendency towards structure, which I always thought made me a good leader, could really be detrimental to my mental well-being when taken to the extreme. Because I was forced into working on this weakness and developing a strength out of it. I found a new way of organizing my daily life, that allowed for abrupt changes and doesn’t sacrifice productivity. I eventually transitioned from a weekly schedule to a weekly to-do list. Through removing structure, I discovered how to maintain productivity, while also leaving time for spur of the moment events. All of that said, deadlines are still important; I would not advise missing those.

Whether you weakness is the need for structure, time management, disorganization, inability to take risks, lack of focus, stubborn, overly critical, or something else, taking the time to work on your weaknesses over time can not only lead you to an innovative solution, but also help manage the negative health effects of living life within the constraint of your weakness. Lastly, it is important to remember that improving a weakness takes time. Personally, the pandemic made me slow down and continue to work on my weakness over many, many months.

Bottom line: Gradually, but repeatedly, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone creates accumulative positive effect on your overall life.

Tip 2: Accept an unknown timeline

For some of you, Tip 1 may be closely linked with Tip 2: Accept an unknown timeline. While I struggled through improving my need for structure, I realized that 2020 brought on increasing feelings of anxiousness because I wasn’t where I “should be” in life. As mentioned above, I moved back in with Mom and started working as a nanny straight out of finishing my master’s program. I felt stuck in a routine that I did not envision for myself 5 years ago. Even a year ago, I thought I would be in a much different place right now. But 2020 made me accept that the timeline I had envisioned for myself was not a “sure thing.” In fact, 2020 opened my eyes to the fact that there are circumstances out of my control that influence my life plan.

When my last clinical rotation got cancelled in the Spring of 2020, I began worrying about my graduation being postponed from August to December. Long story short, if graduation was delayed, I wouldn’t be able to submit my Army application in time to be accepted in the 2021program (they only accept applications once a year). I needed a new placement ASAP. But, as a student, I wasn’t allowed to contact clinics and secure my own placement. I needed to wait for our clinical coordinator to find one for me. I felt helpless. I felt the career timeline I had so carefully planned slipping away and there was nothing I could do about it.

So what could I do? As I explored this question a little more, I realized I was searching for a way to gain control. I wanted a way to control the situation. But when it came down to it, I couldn’t control the situation. I had to accept that I didn’t know when I would achieve my goal of becoming an Army OT. Once I was able to accept that, I found a new question to focus on: “How can I achieve my end goal within my current circumstances?” In other words, what do I have control over right now to put me closer to my end goal? Once I faced the fact that my clinical placement was out of my control, I was able to fully recognize what was in my control. Spoiler, my coordinator found a new placement for me and I did, in fact, graduate on time.

Bottom line: Accept that there are things out of your control in order to focus on the things that are.

Tip 3: Read books

I cannot stress this tip enough. Read read read. How many of us get out of high school or college and pack the books away? Think back to some of your classes in school. How well did you do in the classes that assigned mandatory reading? Or the classes where you read more on your own volition? I know I [almost] always did better in the classes when I read more. After finishing school, I took a 3-month hiatus from reading. I think I was burned out from all the reading I did to pass my board exam. Now that I have gotten back into it, I realize how thought-provoking reading is. Growing up, I enjoyed reading fiction, but recently, I have been reading self-development books. I’ve noticed that even the books, or parts thereof, that I don’t personally agree or identify with are incredibly insightful. Since reading more regularly, I’ve identified several positive benefits to the habit: I look at things from multiple perspectives, I challenge the “norm” more, I spend more time being present in the moment, and I have more thoughtful conversations with my family and friends. I could go into detail about why all of those things have improved my adaptability, but it boils down to improvements in: problem solving, creative and logical thinking, the ability to see multiple paths to the same end, and the ability to generalize situations to new scenarios. These skills have improved my personal relationships and I strongly believe they will generalize to many other areas of my life, including my work life.

I wouldn’t only recommend reading self-help. Different book genres will have different benefits. For example, fiction books allow adults to improve their creativity and imagination. This may generalize over to their ability to solve an unforeseen issue at work. Political books (all throughout the spectrum) allow one to think about social and financial concerns from a perspective much different from those of one’s parents or caregivers, who have often ingrained political opinions in their children from a young age. In turn, this improves relationships with friends, family, and coworkers, who may see things differently. This is particularly important when changes occur at work. For example, a person may not agree with the decisions a new boss is making, but is able to recognize the difference in perspective and be more inclined to learn about it instead of opposing it from the start. Detective or mystery books promote problem solving and can improve mindfulness and relaxation. Think about it as an exercise. Every time your heart rate goes up from reading the suspenseful story, or you feel a little “on edge”, your body needs to practice relaxation to return your central nervous system to a resting state. You may take some deep breaths to calm down or practice visualization of a “happy place”. Each time you do so, your body gets better at managing stressful situations. Think about how valuable that is in the face of change!

Bottom line: Read. Read a lot because it improves mental functioning and challenges the body and mind similarly to the way changes in life do.

Tip 4: Ask for help

Are you guilty of wanting to do everything by yourself? Chances are, if you’re in the OT field (or related fields), you probably emphasize independence in your and your clients’ lives. Yeah, me too. I pride myself in being independent and being able to do everything on my own. However, I started nannying a 2-year-old full time during the pandemic. You know…”the twos.” Let me tell you, this little boy is a sponge for knowledge and LOVES doing things on his own. He helps unload the dishwasher, starts the “circle vacuum and square vacuum” (robot vacuum and mop)on his own, and gets his own dishes at meal times. He is absolutely adorable and I often tell his parents how cute he is during the day or what skill he recently picked up on. But through watching this little, independent boy, I realized how ANNOYING it is when he won’t accept help. I’m talking “struggle with this toy box lid for several minutes until he has a breakdown” behavior. Then it dawned on me. Embarrassingly, I realized I was exactly like this. I’m serious. I literally went home one day and apologized to my mom for my 24 years of stubbornness and unwillingness to be helped.

So this realization, along with a very insightful book*, persuaded me to start accepting help, no matter how “damaging” to my pride. I honestly think this is the most challenging tip I have for you. It’s hard to admit you need help. It’s natural for pride to take over in situations where we feel incapable. Think about it. Species evolve to eliminate their weaknesses. A wild animal, for instance, will use their strengths to stay alive, while concealing their weaker attributes. If they are too weak, the species will either evolve or die out. Because humans have the ability to thinkin complexities, we connect strengths with pride and weaknesses with shame. It’s not pleasant to feel shame. As a result, we hide our weaknesses. Or we try to ignore them: “Nah, I got it.” “Thanks for the offer, but I can do it.” But the difference between humans and animals is our civility. In truth, we don’t need to hide our weaknesses because where one human is weak, another is strong. And humans love to help each other. When was the last time you offered to help someone? Or someone offered to help you? Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978), an American anthropologist, once said that a “healed femur” was the first sign of civilization in human history. She went on to explain that this was a sign that another human being had to care for the injured human until they recovered and could protect themselves. This is what sets us apart from many animals.

Here are a few ways I have asked for help over the past several months: (1) I asked my mom to help watch my nephews so I could visit other family for a few days, (2) I asked a friend to start a jogging routine with me to keep me accountable, (3) I sought out professional nutrition coaching, and (4) I asked a friend to teach me a skill I know I will need in the Army. Here are the ways those requests helped me accomplish something that would have been challenging on my own:(1) I was able to visit multiple family members, (2) I’ve been jogging more, (3) I’ve improved my nutrition in ways I couldn’t accomplish on my own, and (4) I’m learning something new that I wouldn’t have learned by myself.

Bottom line: Humans are more successful when they use the strengths of those around them.

So whether you have adaptability on your resume or not, the tips above are incredible strategies for improving your ability to adapt to changes in your personal and professional lives. Learn and improve on your weaker skills, focus on what is within your reach, broaden your scope of knowledge and thought through literature, and accept support from those around you. Once you improve these four habits, mastering adaptability won’t be far behind. With 2020 behind me, I can confidently say that 2021 will bring on its own plethora of challenges, as I continue to expand my professional skills as Second Lieutenant Feeney in the US Army.

*Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win, Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Gina became a registered and licensed occupational therapist in October of 2020. Her graduate thesis focused on designing digit prosthetics for amputees and was recently published in The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. Gina has professional experience in the fitness and home health industries, but recently found out she will be continuing her professional career as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, serving as an occupational therapist. She is thrilled to begin Army training and to serve the brave individuals that risk their health and well-being for the safety of our nation. 

1. What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

I feel like my journey to OT starts out very similarly to others (probably more similar to those who chose PT), but it all began with a knee injury in high school… After this injury I had to participate in physical therapy for a few months, and I felt led to pursue this career where I could serve people in a medical capacity (something that I had always been interested in, despite attending art and film school for 6 years!) When I started university, I fully intended on pursuing a physical therapy degree, and then I took Chemistry and almost failed… Around that same time, my cousin gave birth to a little girl with Down syndrome and we talked a lot about the various therapies that baby Penny would have to have during her life. This is when I was introduced to OT - and I fell in LOVE! OT was the perfect combination of creativity, health sciences, and serving people in a genuine and intentional way that I had been craving. From that point on, I have never looked back and fully invested myself into becoming the best occupational therapist that I could - and here I am! A real life OT!

2. What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

My absolute favorite thing about being an occupational therapist is seeing the progress in my kiddos and the sense of peace that I can bring to the parents of the children I see. I love being able to be a resource, advocate, and confidante to my families and aiding them in pursuing the care that their kiddos need and deserve.

3. What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I am a new grad so I don’t have a TON of experience, but if we are counting my level 2 fieldworks, I have experience in outpatient pediatrics, and acute care in a hospital! My experience with kiddos involves many different diagnoses, including CP, Autism, Down syndrome, developmental delay, breastfeeding difficulties, feeding delays, Prader Willi Syndrome, ADHD, and many other diagnoses. My experience with adults includes multi-trauma, cerebrovascular accidents, general medical issues, falls, ortho, and ICU care.

4. What sparked your idea to start a side hustle?

When I started my blog and Instagram, I never intended to make money off of it or turn it into a “side hustle''. However, while I’ve been in the OT Insta world for the last 4 or so years, I began to recognize the needs for pre-OT students and current OT students as well as new practitioners and realized that I had the skills and desire to help out in any way I could! I got my inspiration for my pocket guide from OT Reference (Jennifer)! Her acute care pocket guide saved me while I was on my acute care rotation, and when I asked her if she was going to make a pediatric pocket guide she explained that she didn’t have any experience in pediatrics, so I asked if she would be okay with me creating one and she said go for it! From there I got to creating and filed for my very own LLC.

5. Explain what your business is for those that don't know!

My business right now is mainly providing resources (both physical, digital, and through one-on-one assistance) to pre-OT/A students, OT/A students and new practitioners like myself. I sell my “Pediatric Pocket Guide for Occupational Therapists” and the expansion packs through Etsy, and I provide assistance and guidance through raw and honest commentary on my experiences and journey to becoming the best OT I can be, as well as the occasional personal statement/resume editing gig!

6. How long have you been in business?

I technically filed for my LLC in February of this year (2021)! It was a big step for me and made all of the work I’ve done for the past 4 years seem much more real as I had to invest in myself and my work!

7. What is one long term goal you have for your business?

A long term goal of mine would be to provide consistent personal support for a small community of practitioners. Once I feel comfortable with the level of expertise and experience I have, I want to be able to pass on my knowledge and experiences with a new generation of eager practitioners! I love being able to teach and pour into others, so that is something that I would love to be able to do.

8. What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

The most challenging thing about running my own business is that everything relies on me! I want so badly to be one of those super consistent bloggers/Instagram content creators, but at this time in my life, just managing my Etsy shop and making sure that my customers are satisfied and that the products I provide are the best they can be is my main priority and all that I can truly handle. One day I’ll figure this work-life balance out!

9. What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?

The most rewarding thing is when I get a good review or a personal message from someone who has bought the guide or read my blog. Knowing that my work has provided support or positivity to just one person makes my heart so happy and makes all of the work so worth it!

10. What does a typical week look like for you?

A typical week for me looks like four ten-hour days in the clinic, and three day weekends! I am so thankful that I work Monday through Thursdays because working with kids can be very draining (but I love it!). I work in a private, small outpatient pediatric clinic and am contracted with my state’s early intervention program, so most of my kiddos are 3 and under, however, I also see some older kiddos and even one adult! I am the only OT in my clinic, so a lot of my time is spent researching, seeking advice, or preparing for my patients. On the weekend I love to explore my town and state, spend time with my friends, attend church events and just really get plugged into my local community!

11. What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

Give yourself grace!! This is something my first CI said to me when I started fieldwork and it has stuck with me since. You will never know everything, and you shouldn’t be expected to. Never be afraid to tell your patient or your kiddo’s parents that you don’t know something - because they will appreciate the honesty! I always let my parents know when I don’t have the answer to something, but I reassure them that I will do everything I can to get to the bottom of the issue or do my research to provide them with the best solution. Be real with your clients and they will learn to trust you!

Connect with her!

www.otcaroline.com - Bloghttps://www.etsy.com/shop/OTCaroline - Etsy
@OT.Caroline - Instagram

1. What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

When I was 6 years old, my little brother was born and from that moment on I knew that I
wanted to work with babies in some capacity “when I grew up”. Fast forward a few years,
I became interested in medicine and decided I wanted to be a Pediatrician. I attended a
medical camp where I learned about neonatology and a passion for the NICU was born.
I spent my first two year of undergraduate school as a Biology major on the pre-med
track. While I loved Biology, I absolutely despised Chemistry – for this, and a few other
reasons, I started to question if medicine was the right path for me. At the time, I was
nannying for a hand occupational therapist. I asked her about her profession and
learned I could combine my love for pediatrics, medicine, and even psychology and
well…the rest is history!

2. What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

I love that the possibilities for what you can do and be as an OT are…quite literally
endless. I am constantly learning about non-traditional practice areas and exploring the
many ways we can change lives across the entire lifespan. And in changing lives, we are
able to form these beautiful connections with our families, patients, and clients we have
the honor of working with.

3. What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I have been working in Early Intervention with the birth to three population since I
graduated. I also have experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from my clinical
rotations and doctoral research while in OT school.

4. What sparked your idea for Marvelous Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC?

I have always loved the idea of owning my own business – though I did not think it was
something I would pursue so soon after graduation! Initially, I formed Marvelous
Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC to do independent contracting and consulting in
pediatric home health. I was working full-time in Early Intervention but wanted to make
sure my skills with the older kiddo’s also stayed fresh, so I contracted with a company
and starting working as an independent contractor doing assessments, evaluations, and
treatments as Marvelous Mirracles Pediatric Therapy, LLC!

5. Explain what Marvelous Mirracles is for those who don’t know!

While Marvelous Mirracles initially started as independent contracting, it has now evolved into a brand I am so excited about! Marvelous Mirracles is a platform designed to empower and equip therapists and families with the tools and resources to help little mirracles fulfill big dreams – this includes coaching parents and even creating content and services that will help both families and therapists working with infants and toddlers to encourage overall healthy child development.

6. How long have you been in business?

I formed my LLC in January 2020 so it’s been a little over a year now! I started building
the Marvelous Mirracles brand in April 2020 so I’ve been doing the content creation and
blogging aspect for just shy of a year.

7. What is one long term goal you have for your business?

My long-term goal for Marvelous Mirracles is to continue implementing, exploring, and
creating new techniques and products that empower families and therapists working with
the infant and toddler population.

8. What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

Remember to not bite off more than I can chew! There are so many different facets of
what I do. Aside from the direct treatment I provide (virtually for now), I also create
educational content, blog, and participate in various speaking engagements. I absolutely
love everything I do within my brand, but I have had to learn how to not say “yes” to all
the opportunities – even though I really want to! I am constantly reminding myself that
rest is productive, and I cannot pour from an empty cup. So, prioritizing myself and my
mental health can be a challenge, but it is such an important part of running a successful
business.

9. What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?

I love knowing that I have impacted someone – whether it’s a parent, kiddo, or therapist.
It is such a special part of having a business, especially one that is born out of
something you are so passionate about. I am simply doing what I love for a living which
is a reward itself! The impact I am able to make is just the cherry on top and what truly
keeps me going, even when the journey gets tough.

10. What does a typical week look like for you?

This is always such a tough question for me to answer because it varies from week to
week! I am currently practicing via teletherapy so between M-F during the day I am
typically seeing kiddo’s in Early Intervention or pediatric home health. I also work on
creating content for social media, writing blog posts, and of course brain dumping for my
future goals and plans!

11. What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

My advice is to remember that you do not have to choose a specialty, to be a special
OT. Occupational Therapy is a wonderful career and there is so much you can do as an
OT – there is a niche that’s sure to fit what you love, what you’re passionate about, and
where your interest lies. Whether you’re a student or new grad, don’t feel pressured to
have to decide exactly what you want to specialize in so early in your career. It’s okay if
you’re still figuring it out or still learning what it means to just be an OT. You don’t have
to take a million expensive courses right away. No one expects you to be an expert on
one topic. Enjoy the journey and enjoy what it means to simply be an OT…because
that’s a wonderful thing in itself.

Connect with her!

Website: www.marvelousmirracles.com  Sign up for her email list to snag a FREE sensory development guide!Instagram  - marvelousmirracles.otFacebook Page - marvelousmirracles.otClubhouse -  marvelousmirra

1. Trick or Treatment 

Credit: Jaymie Conrad COTA/L & Daelyn Williams COTA/L

Shirt from: Purpose Therapy Box  use code "GetSpooky" for $5 off! 

2. Goniometer #howisyourROM

Credit: PhysioMemes @csunprept

3. Thera-Pea

Credit: Stephanie Holder

4. Thera-Band

Credit: Hands on Healing

5. Minions (including Gru!)

Credit: Megan Crawford

6. Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs 

Credit: Amber Finch

7. Thera- Bees

Credit: Lily Marus

8. Wong-Baker FACES\u00ae Pain Rating Scale

Credit: University of Mary

9. Rehab Chicks

Credit: Megan Crawford

10. 101 Dalmatians

Credit: Camille Patricia

11. Ther Ex

Credit: Bianca Buonomo

12. Emojis 

Credit: Megan Crawford

13. Total Hip Replacement

Credit: Gina Hancock Goad

14. The Zoo

Credit: Holly Houseworth

15. Harlem Globe Trotters

Credit: Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic

16. OT Rex

Credit: PhysioMemes

Continue reading below to learn about Nicole's entrepreneurial journey becoming an author and how she is going to change the world.

P.s. Don't forget to use your exclusive discount code in your OT Objective Subscription Box!

What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

In 8th grade, our junior high school had a whole unit on careers. At the end, our school hosted a “career day” where they brought in people from all kinds of professions to share about their careers. We were allowed to choose and attend presentations on 3 different careers. Our parents had to sign off on our choices. My mom said I had to choose at least one job that I hadn’t heard of before, so I chose occupational therapist as one of my choices! After attending the presentation about Occupational Therapy, I fell in love with the profession and all of the choices the profession had for practice areas. I was 13, and my mind was set on Occupational Therapy!

What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

My favorite part about being an occupational therapist would have to be the continuous education, growth and development you experience both professionally and personally. As you are empowering others to “live their lives to the fullest” you learn to do the same for yourself as well. As occupational therapists, we have been invited into the most vulnerable parts of our fellow humans’ lives, and we have the honor of problem solving through the tough stuff, together. It’s pretty special.

What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I spent the 4 months of my doctorate program working in accessibility and universal design. When I graduated, I spent the first 6 months working in an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Then, I transitioned and spent 2 years working as a mental health OT at an inpatient behavioral health hospital where I worked with child/adolescent, and adults aged 18-100+.

Can you tell us about The Able Fables\u00ae?

The Able Fables is an inclusive movement and children’s picture books series that proudly represents diverse characters, empowering children to embrace inclusion and celebrate ability. Each book is strength-based and highlights a character with a disability or diagnosis living out their able story. As an OT it is important to me that kiddos, and the adults reading to them, understand that we can all grow and work and play, that we are all valuable members of society. That we can all participate in life’s occupations. 20% of profits from my books are donated to help build inclusive playgrounds across the United States!

Gary's Gigantic Dream, the first book of The Able Fables\u00ae series, is an upbeat, rhythmic tale of a young giraffe who gets evaluated for his very first wheelchair. Upon receiving his chair, Gary discovers newfound independence, zest for life, and a gigantic dream of his own - to become a storyteller of ability.

Lia’s Kind Mind, the second book of The Able Fables\u00ae, is a heartwarming story of a young lion who adores gymnastics. When Lia struggles to master a new skill on the balance beam, she doubts her abilities and ponders quitting the sport altogether. Encouraged by her teammates, Lia harnesses the power of a kind mind and learns to embrace the balance beam as she does her Port Wine Stain birthmark.

I have written a total of 7 books, and plan to publish at least 10 books in this series! I cannot wait for you to read them!

What sparked your idea for The Able Fables\u00ae?

The first seed for The Able Fables\u00ae was planted in OT school, when our class first learned about wheelchair seating and positioning. I was quite fascinated with how detailed and individualized the wheelchair fitting process was. Before OT school, I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about this process. I joked with my teacher about writing a children’s book about a wheelchair evaluation, but I never really planned to do it.

Fast forward to my last semester of OT school, when I was supposed to be studying for boards. This was the same semester that I was working in community accessibility and universal design (I was fascinated with inclusive playgrounds). One day, I couldn;t study because I had a poem stuck in my head - which had never happened before. I wrote the poem down in about 30 minutes and I thought to myself “hmm, this kinda sounds like a children’s book”. I remembered joking with my professor a year earlier about writing a book about a wheelchair evaluation, so the next day I decided to try to write another poem/book about that. Welp, in 30 minutes, I did it again. I read them to a few of my friends who were also OT classmates, and they encouraged me to turn them into a series. By the end of that week in 2017, I had written 3 books!

How long have you been in business?

My business is technically 2 years old, because I registered early. But, my first book, Gary’s Gigantic Dream, entered the world just 1 year ago, at the end of November, 2019!

What is one long term goal you have for your business?

Hehe, can I say three of them!? Build an Able Fables themed inclusive playground (or 10), start offering ADA/Universal design consulting services, and publish at least 10 books in The Able Fables series!

What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

The most challenging part of running my business is wearing all the hats. I’m just one person, with lots of job titles. I write, I design, I speak, I pack and ship orders, I advertise, market, answer emails. I am customer service, accountant, and so much more. But, honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I am loving living out my dream and passion!

What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?

The most rewarding part is hearing stories about how my books have positively impacted, or changed the hearts and minds of those inside and outside of the disability community. I have gotten some of the most beautiful, heartfelt feedback. A second blessing of running my own business, is having the ability to follow my creative heart 100% of the time!

What does a typical week look like for you?

My typical week has changed a lot due to covid. Currently, my typical week looks like working on the launch of my newest book, Lia’s Kind Mind. Managing social media, shipping books, and participating in virtual readings and events! I am also working to get my third book published and out into the world, a process that typically takes about 7 months (for me) to complete!

Pre-covid, I was diving into school visits, and community readings teaching young kiddos and their families the power of inclusion and diverse friendships. I was meeting with non-profits that were fundraising to build inclusive playgrounds. And, planning on attending conferences as both a vendor and a speaker!

What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

Take chances, and enjoy every opportunity you have to dive into community based, and non-traditional OT practice. Even if it doesn’t become your main focus, or career, it will expand your knowledge and strengthen your passion for this beautiful, expansive profession!

Website: theablefables.com

Instagram: @theablefables

Facebook: The Able Fables

As a subscription box business, our custom branded boxes are the face of our company so it is important that they convey our brand, mission and bring excitement to those receiving them. 

  1. FedEx Office is a great resource for custom packaging, as well as any print materials you may need to include in your packaging or signage for your business. FedEx Office has been an incredible partner in helping us spread the word about our company and represent our brand. They print our custom branded boxes, print materials, and signage. They make it easy to design materials, are responsive, and have quick turnaround.

2. Canva is our go-to for designing social content! Canva has easy customization for templates or you can create your own content from scratch. You are able to customize the size of your work, change colors and fonts, as well as upload your own artwork to enhance your designs!  This allows our brand to be consistent. Additionally we use Adobe software but find Canva to be more user friendly. 

Canva has great stock photos and image options to choose from that can be utilized for free along with the ability to upload your own (with some limitations). 

They offer a free version of their platform that has limited features, however is a great option for small businesses.

As for our sticker packs, we absolutely LOVE using Sticker Mule. We have been designing OT related artwork since we started OT school years ago and were so pleased with the way Sticker Mule turned our artwork into these amazing stickers! 

3. Sticker Mule has so much to offer small businesses, such as custom branded packaging materials (tape and mailers), custom labels, and of course, their awesome stickers! (oh, and we cannot forget about the Mule Sauce lol). 

They also have 3 tools, Trace​, Upscale​, & Redraw​ to help anyone create high quality, print-ready images even if you have little to no experience with creating artwork!

Check them out by following the link below and receive a $10 credit towards your first order! 

Check out the free Pro version here!

We hope these resources and tools will be beneficial to your success! Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns regarding these resources or any other branding questions you may have! 

We would also love to know if this blog was helpful for you and your business, drop us a comment if so, we would love to hear from you! 

Wishing you much success, 

Ali and Holly 

Both families and residents are both very anxious and stressed right now due to a lack of contact with one another and residents are increasingly becoming more isolated and lonely.

As we continue through this pandemic, we want families and caregivers of our elderly population to be able to rely on us for information, resources, and safe ways for families to stay connected. We also want to offer people the opportunity to help a senior who may even be a complete stranger!

Purpose Therapy Box

Purpose offers their subscription box as a way for families to safe and easily stay connected all year round. Families can purchase the subscription, add photos and messages, and we make sure to send their loved ones items that will encourage aging in place and remind them that they are not forgotten!

Another program Purpose has to offer is the Sponsor a Senior Program. This allows anyone to sponsor a Purpose Box, and that box will be delivered or shipped to a senior care facility to a resident who does not have family or never receives visitors/phone calls.  This is a great opportunity to help a senior in need.

Love For The Elderly

If you like the idea of the pen pal and sending something to someone who could use a lift in their spirit right now, we absolutely love our friends over at Love for the Elderly. They are collecting letters to be sent to isolated seniors during the pandemic.

If you would like to write a senior a letter, you can send your letter to our friend Jacob at:

Love for the Elderly- P.O. Box 24248

CHD Living- Adopt a Grandparent Program

This ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ campaign started to bring a sense of comfort to young people and the elderly who may not have grandparents/grandchildren of their own, with the aim of creating long-lasting intergenerational friendships. What started as a local search, reaching out to those local to our home, soon became a global campaign.

If you would like to 'Adopt a Grandparent' click the button below to fill out an application on their website!

What led you to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career?

I originally wanted to pursue a career in psychology. However, my junior year of college, I heard about this really cool career called occupational therapy. I didn’t know anything about it so I decided to shadow an OT who was working in pediatrics, and I absolutely fell in love with it from that day forward.

What is your favorite thing about being an Occupational Therapist?

My favorite thing about being an OT is the close relationships you develop with your clients. We get to be up close and personal, sharing our clients’ tears of happiness when they‘ve reached one of their goals or tears of heartbreak when they feel that they aren’t progressing as they should be. To me, it is such a privilege to work with people when they are at their most vulnerable.

What settings and populations do you have experience working with?

I have worked with adults in the hospital, nursing home, and home health settings.

What sparked your idea for Clinitote?

I was working at a large skilled nursing facility, and I struggled to keep my clinical tools organized and to manage the demands of productivity. I found that the medical bags on the market lacked organized pockets for clinical tools, occupied too much space, and just didn’t look good! This inspired me to create Clinitote.

Explain what Clinitote is for those who don’t know!

Clinitote is a high quality medical bag company. Currently we have five different bags on the market that were created with clinicians and those working in the medical field in mind. You can buy our products on our website www.clinitote.com.

How long have you been in business?

We have been in business for over three years now.

What is one long term goal you have for your business?

My goal with Clinitote is to become the go-to clinical bag for clinicians. I hope that our business continues to grow and that our products continue to help make clinicians lives a little bit easier

What is the most challenging thing about running your own business?

The most challenging thing about being the sole owner of my business is that I am not only the owner but the marketing person, the accountant, the salesperson, etc. and managing all of the different roles can be stressful and time consuming at times.

What is the most rewarding thing about running your own business?

The most rewarding thing about running my own business is the freedom that comes with that. I don’t just mean freedom of making your own decisions and hours but mostly the creative freedom of creating something that people (hopefully) love.

What does a typical week look like for you?

I usually work 3-4 days/week at a large hospital which leaves the other days for me to focus on my business. No matter how busy my work schedule gets, I always make time for my family, swimming, and my meditation practice which help to keep me sane.

What advice do you have for Occupational Therapy Students or New Grads?

My best advice for OT students and new grads is to be kind yourself. You are not going to know everything and will most likely make mistakes along the way. This is ok and it’s important to show yourself the same patience, compassion and kindness that you show to your clients and their families.

Website: www.clinitote.com
Facebook: Clinitote
IG: @clinitote_