We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Shelffo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

I had been contemplating what it would look like to start my own practice after my second child was born, and was faced with returning to work full time as a school based therapist. I was grateful to have a job and supportive bosses, but the idea of putting my baby in daycare 5 days a week didn’t feel like the right fit for me. After many tears, my husband and I decided I would go back and reevaluate as I went along. And, although it wasn’t AS hard as I had imagined it to be, I began to more closely consider if the work I was doing was the legacy I wanted to leave as a therapist. I had clinical based skills that were begging to be used, but were not congruent with the school based therapy model. If I was going to be away from my children for 40 hours a week, it had better be something that was worth it. I listened to many podcast episodes from Jena Castro-Casbon about private practice success stories. The more I listened and prayed, the more I began to believe I COULD do it. One day driving my youngest to daycare, we were listening to Mr. Rogers songs and his song, “You’ve Got to Do It” came on.

“You can make-believe it happens, or pretend that something’s true. You can wish or hope or contemplate a thing you’d like to do,
But until you start to do it, you will never see it through
‘Cause the make-believe pretending just won’t do it for you.

You’ve got to do it.”

It may sound silly, but it struck me that morning. I could continue to think about it, talk about it, dream about, or I could start taking REAL steps toward my dream and just DO IT. So I nailed down a name, Bright Beginnings Occupational Therapy and Wellness, filed for a PLLC, got a business address, and went for it. Next I told my boss I wouldn’t be returning in the fall. Then I took branding photos. Published a website. One scary step after another. But you know what–I never felt more alive!

I officially launched in June 2023. My practice is mobile, so I started with very low overhead. I provide occupational therapy to children in their homes, preschool or private schools, and local sensory gym. I started by marketing through social media and word of mouth. I had a nice little caseload to start out. But in the fall, I knew my school paycheck was going to end, and I kicked my rear into high gear. I did free teacher in-services for several pre-schools in the area, and conducted low cost screenings. The screenings were hit or miss and a lot of work. One preschool produced multiple patients; another zero. Overall, I believe they were worth the experience, and will likely do more in the future, but I will simplify the process.

The biggest challenge I’m facing now is balancing the work it takes to ramp up a new practice, while also caring for myself and my family. Owning your own business comes with great freedom and flexibility. But it can also follow you everywhere, especially when you work out of your home and car. This year, I am seeking to set some healthy boundaries to allow time for rest, exercise, and breaks in between patients.

If I were to advise another therapist considering private practice, I would say, “You can do it!” It is much more doable than one would think. Do your diligence to get your legal ducks in a row, But don’t think that you need thousands of dollars, a big fancy building, and 20+ years of experience. There are so many people that need therapy and are sitting on waiting lists. Consider starting with a few patients on the side and see what you think. Network with other private practice therapists in your area. Get to know your market. If you’re tired of the middle man taking 75% of your pay, giving you an unreasonable caseload, or working hours that don’t allow you to live life, consider private practice!!

Katie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a pediatric occupational therapist. I completed a Master of Occupational Therapy, and have been working with children over the past 9 years. I work with children age 0-18 years old with a variety of needs, including formal diagnoses like autism, ADHD, genetic conditions, and children who are behind in their development in gross motor, fine motor, sensory processing, and daily life skills (i.e. dressing, hygiene, bathing). My biggest passion is sensory processing and regulation skills in children–the nervous system is fascinating!

Play is the language of children, and this is power the fuels their therapy with me. Whether it’s working on postural stability and core strength through superhero obstacle courses, or art projects to work on grasp development, getting creative with play is one of my favorite parts of my job. It allows kids to engage and not realize they are working on hard things. I also am a big advocate for parent empowerment. As a parent myself, I believe parents deserve to feel confident and knowledgable about helping their child thrive beyond a weekly therapy session. Bright Beginnings comes TO the child’s natural environment, where they do life, which enables parents to implement strategies right there and be an active part of the therapy process.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

In a heartbeat! I absolutely love my profession. It’s the perfect blend of science/human anatomy/biology and art/creativity/psychology.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

A diverse marketing strategy seems to have been helpful so far. Rather than focusing on one referral source, I have had success reaching out to a variety of people, including pediatricians, preschool directors, other providers, word of mouth, and social media marketing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brightbeginningsot.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightbeginningsot/

Image Credits
Kristen Clardy Creative