We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca O’Brien. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.

Rebecca, appreciate you joining 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?

Ask for help (re: finances, tech support, professional advice). Find a mentor.
Be willing to collaborate and share.
Be patient and solution-oriented.
Get formally trained/certified.
Invest in yourself: start a fundraiser to get started and be accountable.
Everything you do, do it humbly.
Calculate whatever you think your time/effort is worth – then double it.
Always keep in mind the opportunity cost – for every opportunity, you are losing out on the potential of another one.
Don’t frame things too narrowly – look at ideas less like an “either-or” and more like a “this-and-that”.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Currently I am an educational therapist (edutherapy.org) working privately with students who experience various kinds of learning issues. During COVID-19, working remotely as an academic resource teacher, I saw how much kids struggled – especially on their own. This inspired me to go back to school to get a postgraduate professional certificate and to also become trained in the Wilson Reading System so that I could help students who have fallen behind in reading and writing. I provide research-backed strategies for students who learn differently. I help parents navigate the school system and guide them on how to advocate for their children both inside and outside of the classroom. I love helping students gain their confidence back and become more aware of how they are unique – there is nothing wrong with them, they just think differently. Teaching a growth mindset and creating measureable goals in individual learning plans are integral to my work with students. I love charting their progress and working alongside them as they improve and reach their full potential.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?

One of the first things I did when I was only part-time and trying to fundraise the initial capital for my specialized training was to ASK FOR HELP! I started a GoFundMe campaign and sent it to everyone I knew. I was overwhelmed with support from parents of former students and relatives. Having donors to communicate with also held me accountable to my goals and gave me an immediate community with which to share my success with!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

You need a mentor. Whenever you start any new career or job, there is a bit of imposter syndrome. For example, you may question whether you are ready to begin – or whether you actually belong where you are! So, ask for help and admit that you need it. If you are ingratiating yourself with those more experienced than you, their professionalism and expertise wears off on you. People are usually very happy to help.

There are a number of people who have been so formative in my own journey. There was Dawn, a colleague and veteran learning specialist, who gave me the idea to study educational therapy and boosted my confidence to begin. She never allowed me to second guess my decision – on our walks, she helped me always see the positive sides to things and was a limitless resource. Then, there was Kelsey, who was my professor and who took me into her practice so that I could fill in when she went on maternity leave; she gave me access to her clientele (but still under her guidance) and that 6-month experience working with her diverse caseload just gave me my first real taste of running a private practice. I now have another colleague, Susanne, who has brought me into her school this fall to help her support the younger students with literacy. She refers so many parents to me and has become an invaluable vote of confidence with them. As I begin this new journey working with younger students, she is generously sharing her notes, learning resources, and time with me whenever I have a question. Our goal is always one and the same – helping the children.

When you consider those around you as a source of guidance, inspiration, and wisdom (and approach them as such), they usually are very willing and eager to lift you up and help you succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.edutherapy.org
• Instagram: @r.0brien
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca0brien/
• Youtube: bit.ly/rebeccaobrien
• Other: www.rebeccaobrien.org (artist website)