Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emmy Slaibe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emmy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I had been working as an occupational therapist since 2016. Up until July 2023, I worked for a system that focused mainly on productivity versus quality health care. I understood from the beginning, it had nothing to do with my supervisors or colleagues. I have been blessed to work side by side some incredible healthcare professionals. We were all sold on a dream of stepping into our medical professions to serve our clients and provide the best care possible but the reality is when working for someone else, or big companies, the emphasis is often times productivity. Quality service is expected, but so are your numbers. I graduated my masters program eager to work with clients and support them in their rehabilitation journey and instead found myself rushing to complete my “units” and support other professionals in accomplishing their own roles simply because they were understaffed, overworked, undervalued and burnt out.

While being a therapist within different settings and working with different populations, I also managed to start my own business combining my passions of occupational therapy, yoga, energy healing and sound healing. It felt like a hobby. It was fun, inspiring, and a creative outlet that also allowed me to serve and connect with the community.

It took me 8 years of exploring different settings and populations as a clinician, and 7 years to realize that living a balanced life is possible. By 2023 I was working for the school system with a caseload of over 50 children with special needs, while also running my own business and community events.
Working in hospitals and in the school setting was incredibly rewarding but after years of regulating, supporting and treating back to back clients for 6 -7 hours and most times without a break, – I became exhausted.

It was not until June 1st of 2023 that I made the decision to take a leap and stand for what I believe is possible for all of us: balance and truly living this life. It was my husband’s birthday, and our first year married. I did not have anything planned and
realized that was not how I wanted to show up in my marriage, for family, or any of my loved ones for that matter. Feeling overworked, stressed, and tired all the time was taking away from being fully present for the people and things I loved the most. I knew that starting my own business would be a commitment partnered with sacrifices. I had reached the point where I had to leap or drown, and I chose to jump.

It has been 9 months since I took the leap and I do not plan on looking back. I have learned to trust myself and my creative urges. I have learned to think outside the box and come up with ways of doing what I love, on my terms and in alignment with what I value personally and professionally.

Currently I have partnerships with local hotels where I offer regular wellness experiences that are open to the public.

I have partnered up with the city to offer free, quality, wellness experiences to our community which I now confidently and proudly call preventative healthcare. I have built a team of 5 incredible and inspiring instructors that I feel blessed to work and grow alongside with. I have led multiple corporate events for the top executives of a national hospital staffing company and lastly, I am offering concierge wellness experiences blending occupational therapy, yoga, sound healing, meditation, and energy healing.

I have never felt so alive, so inspired, and so grateful. I have worked hard to build my life where I can bask in the things I love, and at the same time serve. I no longer need to serve at the expense of my own health, or my relationships.

I wholeheartedly believe that living and actually enjoying life ( not just on the weekends ) is possible if we just learn to be more mindful and intentional so that our actions and ways of being are in alignment with what we truly want for ourselves.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Emmy, also known as The Mindful OT on Instagram, and I am the creator of Mindful Holistic Wellness. I am a certified and registered occupational therapist as well as a yoga instructor and reiki practitioner . I have brought yoga & mindfulness throughout Broward county including public and private schools, private psychotherapy practices, Holy Cross Hospital’s rehabilitation and acute care staff, private businesses, and to the community. I enjoy integrating my skills and experience as an OT to address self- awareness and reflection, while promoting personal growth and bringing community together. Mindful Holistic Wellness offers community and concierge services in Broward County blending all modalities to provide its clients with the ultimate, quality care.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

From as early as I can remember, I was nervous child. Panic attacks were normal by the time I started 6th grade. The constant anxiety eventually led to severe depression, a battle I fought up until my mid 20s. Suicidal ideation was something normal, at least for me, until I was hospitalized. As Wayne Dyer once said, sometimes we need to “learn to die while you are alive.” It was not until I got to the lowest of lows that I decided I was worthy of being happy, of enjoying my life and of unlearning ways of thinking that were not serving me.
Yoga, along with therapy, and diving deep into personal development programs saved my life and that is why I do what I do. I sincerely believe with every cell of my body, that loving and living a balanced life is possible because I made it that way for myself.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

We all want to feel seen, heard and appreciated. I believe connecting with my clients has resulted in Mindful Holistic Wellness’s growth. When I decided to take a leap and transform this hobby and creative outlet of mine into my career, I had no structure. I have never been a structured person. I tried to fit that mold when I stepped into my business full time and quickly understood it did not work for me. Some people like to know what their competitors are doing, they enjoy doing their market research, I do not. I stay in my lane, I stay focused and committed to my purpose. For me it is all about creating connections and supporting clients who are coming to me for a holistic wellness experience. I have witnessed that being genuine and authentic attracts others that appreciate those qualities, and those are the people I want to work with. The business has organically grown by staying true to myself and my values.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wellnessyot.com
• Instagram: the_mindful_ot
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themindfulOT
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?q=emmy+the+mindful+ot+with+mindful+holistic+wellness&sca_esv=b7c0b9c8093215b7&sca_upv=1&source=hp&ei=nhAjZtLDM-WPwbkP7riB0Ak&iflsig=ANes7DEAAAAAZiMeruqYr3OLmXQCwCF1Tp-uvx__0pXp&ved=0ahUKEwjSiu_iyM-FAxXlRzABHW5cAJoQ4dUDCBc&uact=5&oq=emmy+the+mindful+ot+with+mindful+holistic+wellness&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IjJlbW15IHRoZSBtaW5kZnVsIG90IHdpdGggbWluZGZ1bCBob2xpc3RpYyB3ZWxsbmVzczIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUjTRlCVBlikRnACeACQAQCYAY0BoAH3JKoBBTM5LjExuAEDyAEA-AEBmAI0oAKGJ6gCCsICEBAAGAMY5QIY6gIYjAMYjwHCAhEQLhiABBixAxjRAxiDARjHAcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMY0QMYxwHCAgUQABiABMICCxAuGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIFEC4YgATCAggQLhiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGMcBGI4FGK8BwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAhQQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARiOBRivAcICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYFhgKGB7CAg4QLhgWGMcBGAoYHhivAcICChAAGBYYChgeGA_CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICBRAhGJ8FwgIHECEYoAEYCpgDDJIHBTM0LjE4oAf4ugI&sclient=gws-wiz