We were lucky to catch up with Meagan Pasquini recently and have shared our conversation below.
Meagan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?
Establishing my practice came about in an unconventional way. I was on maternity leave, with a lot of late nights spent thinking about my career. My priorities changed with a newborn, and I began looking for jobs closer to our home. A previous client was raving about their new speech therapy clinic, The Learning Sphere, and encouraged me to ask if they wanted to add an occupational therapist to their staff. After researching this speech therapy clinic, I realized I had previously worked with these speech therapists through my student internship. Although the speech therapists were not looking to hire anyone at the time, they were open to renting out a room in the clinic and mentoring me as I got started—thus, Kidvancement was born.
My father had previously ran his own business and had always encouraged me to plan on opening up my own business one day. I did not think this day would be this soon, but when the opportunity arose, I went for it. The first year was a big learning curve, but after that, I felt a great sense of accomplishment in expanding my skill set from occupational therapist to also business owner. The main steps in the beginning were establishing the LLC, reading through the rules and regulations, marketing, building a website, and getting my first clients.
The biggest challenge was obtaining new clients. I spent a lot of time initially going to pediatric doctor’s offices in the area and mailing out brochures. However, I have found that the majority of my patients find me through Google, especially the Google reviews. Additionally, patients have found me through local social media groups from other parents. As a young professional starting out, I would ask the clients how they are finding you, and spend more time and effort supporting those resources.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My journey to becoming an occupational therapist began with volunteering at a summer camp for children with special needs. Helping children participate in fun and meaningful activities inspired me. I went on to study at The University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In 2014, I received my Master of Occupational Therapy degree from Texas Woman’s University.
After years of working as a pediatric occupational therapist, I learned to never underestimate any child’s potential. Playing on a child’s level, using creative activities, and forming relationships with families are keys to my approach. I’m passionate about helping children and families make progress towards their goals.
One of the things in my career that I am most proud of is becoming a certified DIRFloortime Practitioner and receiving the top score in the class. The DIRFloortime Approach emphasizes getting on the child’s level, following the child’s lead, and supporting them towards greater skill development through a compassionate and relationship-based approach. This approach can be beneficial for a variety of children with developmental needs, but is especially valuable for children on the autism spectrum.
I established Kidvancement for pediatric occupational therapy in March of 2021 and haven’t looked back. While the transition from occupational therapist to also business owner with a new child had its learning curves, I am grateful for the opportunity and the flexibility it allows in my day-to-day. I thoroughly enjoy working with the variety of clients, learning about their unique traits, and watching them flourish as they develop new skills.
Outside of work, I can usually be found laughing with my husband or playing with our new daughter. I love trying out new restaurants around Houston and spending time with friends. When we find the time, we also love traveling and exploring new places. I look forward to what the future holds!
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
The key to succeeding in pediatric occupational therapy is the ability to connect with the clients and their families. In the early sessions, I really prioritize getting to know the clients and building a therapeutic relationship. I emphasize learning about their interests and gaining their trust in order to provide the most tailored treatment plan and help them feel comfortable trying new skills. It is also important to understand what daily life activities and skills are truly important to the family and their daily functioning in order to maximize your treatment time and focus the goals. Overall, my goal is to help the child participate and perform his or her meaningful daily life activities, whether it be building new skills or adapting the activity to better fit the child’s needs. I aim to do this as joyfully as possible through following the child’s lead, creative activities, and ongoing communication with the parents.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Pediatric occupational therapy has been a great fit for my personality and lifestyle. I enjoy the variety each day presents and how no session looks the same. The moments of success in watching a child achieve a new skill or participate in a new activity keep me going through the ups and downs of running your own business. I enjoy thinking creatively and problem-solving throughout my sessions. I cannot imagine myself in another career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kidvancement.com
- Instagram: @kidvancement
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kidvancement