The Freedom Therapist

Mia Poklepovich

Each week we’ll go deep on all things business, self, energy and freedom. There's growth, giggles AND tears, as we lean into the best version of our business - and selves too. We’ll also get to chat with some incredibly inspiring women who will generously share their stories on finding that magic. If you’re looking for deep conversations, no gatekeeping, practical advice all with a little bit of chaos, you’re in the right place. I'm your host Mia Poklepovich, a previously burnt out mental health occupational therapist and business owner, who found her way to fall back in love with business and life all over again. This podcast was created to be your safe space to learn AND unlearn all the things about scaling your business, without losing yourself in the process. Each week will be talking about ALL the things. And feeling ALL the feels. Because business is a wild ride, at all stages. So if you need an extra dose of inspo, a soft landing or just a moment to unwind you are SO welcome here.  Give yourself permission to take some space for you, and let’s be besties. I can’t wait! 

  1. 4D AGO

    Launching a Private Practice That Fits Your Lifestyle and Delivers Quality Service with Natalie from Discover OT

    Natalie is a paediatric OT in Queensland and the founder of Discover OT. She’s also an auntie to seven little people, and you can feel how much she genuinely loves kids and families in the way she speaks about her work. But what I love most about Nat is this: she didn’t just leave a clinic job and start a business. She rebuilt the whole way she works so it actually fits her life. In this conversation, Nat talks honestly about what her work looked like before Discover OT: full-time clinic life, long days, back-to-back sessions, and that pressure to hit billable targets/ She names what so many therapists feel but don’t always say out loud: When quantity is prioritised, quality suffers. And your nervous system pays for it. Then we get into what changed when she chose to pave her own way. Nat shares the turning point quote that stuck with her: it’s your choice whether you follow someone else’s dream or pave your own. Nat walks us through the practical pieces that made launching her private practice feel steady and what she prioritised to make it the successful business it is today. And the result? Launching her business “skyrocketed beyond what I could have ever imagined.” We talk about: The moment Nat realised she didn’t want to spend her career following someone else’s dreamThe early foundations that made launching her business feel exciting and profitable over franticHow Discover OT filled the books almost INSTANTLY because the systems were set up before she opened the doorsWhat it’s actually like being a mobile therapist and why it increased her connection instead of isolating herBuilding real community with schools, kindies, daycares and educators (and why it changed everything)What shifted in Nat’s energy when she started working school-based hours and designing her own scheduleWhy her income AND energy expanded when she went out on her own in private practiceWhat it’s like to say yes to life during the week (appointments, family events, travel) without the guiltWhat she’d say to the therapist who feels scared but is thinking about stepping into the private practice worldIf you’re a therapist who knows your current model isn’t sustainable, but you’re also scared to change it, this episode will meet you right where you are. Nat’s business is such a clear example of what becomes possible when you do the inner work, the planning, and the foundations together. She’s built a practice that’s connected, respected in the community, and sustainable to run. Find Nat / Discover OT on Instagram: @discover_ot Referral link is in Nat’s bio (streamlined and easy for families) Connect with Mia: Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/ Get the Freedom Therapist Letters Newsletter each Thursday: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/letters Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club Free Download: The 3 Content Types You Need to Stand Out Online as a Therapist: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/content

    38 min
  2. FEB 24

    Feb Faves: What’s Working in My Therapy Business & Private Practice Right Now AKA Everything I’m Obsessed With!

    This is the first ever Monthly Faves (WOO WOO!) episode, a new segment where I share the things I’m genuinely using, returning to and leaning on in my work and life. Because we ALL want the tips and tricks that make things EASIER! I’m talking all the things that are helping me protect my energy, reduce mental load, enjoy my work and stay regulated while running two businesses. In this episode, I share what’s been supporting me behind the scenes in February from business systems, to therapy resources, to food prep, to how I’m thinking about creativity this year. If you like this episode let me know! We want to hear from YOU xx LINKS MENTIONED: Notion (Idea Library + Planning System): Apple Voice Memos AppThe Invisible String (Book): https://bit.ly/4aR4uCIA Good Goodbye by Nell Harris (Book) https://nellharris.com/neurodiversityatschool/a-good-goodbyeTwo Raw Sisters (Recipes): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTuBpE3k6PI/?igsh=Z2VnaG02MTg1aHVpSoul Sister Collective Zinc Sunscreen: https://solsistacollective.com/Connect with Mia: Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/ Get the Freedom Therapist Letters Newsletter each Thursday: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/letters Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club Free Download: The 3 Content Types You Need to Stand Out Online as a Therapist: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/content

    22 min
  3. FEB 10

    The Legal Support You Need (And Deserve) As You Start & Grow a Therapy Business with Tracey Mylecharane

    In this episode of The Freedom Therapist Podcast, I’m joined by Tracey Mylecharane from TM Legal Atelier, the lawyer who has held my business (and so many of my clients’) with more care than most people realise is even possible in the legal space. This is a conversation for every therapist who’s ever thought: “I know my legals matter… I just don’t even know where to start.” or “I’ll deal with that later.” We talk about why legal support shouldn’t be something you only reach for when something’s already gone wrong and how having the right lawyer in your corner can actually give you more confidence, more clarity and more spaciousness in your work. In this episode, we explore: How Tracey moved from litigation into building a values-led, accessible legal practiceWhy “DIY” contracts, templates and ChatGPT can quietly put your business at riskThe three core documents most therapists actually needWhy your legal foundations matter more than your website or brandingHow good legal support becomes part of your leadership, not just adminThe mindset shift: clarity is one of your biggest business advantagesIf you’ve been avoiding this part of business because it feels heavy, confusing, or intimidating this conversation is THE for you. It’s gentle. It’s practical. Tracey makes the big stuff make sense. And it will change how you think about protecting what you’ve built. Connect with the incredible Tracey Website: tmlegalatelier.com.au Instagram: @tmlegalatelier Share this with a therapist friend who keeps saying “I really need to sort my legals…” and hasn’t yet. Connect with Mia: Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/ Get the Freedom Therapist Letters Newsletter each Thursday: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/letters Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club Free Download: The 3 Content Types You Need to Stand Out Online as a Therapist: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/content

    40 min
  4. FEB 3

    5 Easy Ways To Build Community Through Your Content Strategy as an Allied Health Practitioner, Therapist or Healthcare Worker in Private Practice

    In this episode, I’m talking about the kind of content that actually grows your practice — not by chasing trends or perfect posts, but by building real community. If content feels heavy, overthought, or like something you “should” outsource because it takes too long, this episode is for you. Because the content that converts in 2026 isn’t complicated. It’s simple, human, and recognisable. In this episode, I break down five practical shifts you can make right now to create content that feels easier to make — and far more powerful. You’ll hear me talk about: – Why content that builds community will always outperform content that tries to impress – How making your content personal instantly builds trust and authority – What “relatable” actually looks like in therapist content (and why clinical language often misses the mark) – Why trying to say too much is hurting your engagement – How to simplify your content without dumbing it down – What makes content accessible for busy parents, clients, and communities – Why engagement is a two-way street — and how being social on social media changes everything This episode is a reminder that: You don’t need better ideas. You don’t need perfect posts. You don’t need to outsource your voice. You need content that sounds like you, reflects your real work, and speaks directly to the people you want to support. If this episode resonates, come and tell me about it — my DMs are always open on Instagram. And if you enjoyed it, leaving a review is one of the best ways to support the podcast and help more therapists find it. Connect with Mia: Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/ Get the Freedom Therapist Letters Newsletter each Thursday: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/letters Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club Free Download: The 3 Content Types You Need to Stand Out Online as a Therapist: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/content

    18 min
  5. JAN 27

    What a Healthcare Brand Really Is: 3 Things to Focus on in 2026 for Allied Health Practitioners & Healthcare Workers in Private Practice

    Branding in healthcare has been overcomplicated. Somewhere along the way it became about: reels, colours, confidence on Instagram, keeping up with trends and for many therapists, it quietly slipped into the “too hard, not for me” basket. In this episode, Mia breaks down what a healthcare brand actually is… and why you’re probably already doing most of it without realising. This isn’t about rebranding. It’s not about being louder online. And it’s definitely not about reinventing yourself for social media. Instead, this episode unpacks: what actually builds trust in healthcarewhy consistency matters more than ever in 2026how your values are already showing up in your work (even if they’re not on your website)and how to make your brand clearer without adding more to your plateMia shares the three things that genuinely create a strong, recognisable healthcare brand and how to start being more intentional with them in 2026, without overwhelm. You’ll walk away with: a simpler way to think about branding in private practiceclarity on why “doing more” isn’t the answerand small, practical things you can try this week that actually makes a differenceIf you’re a therapist or healthcare professional who: feels confused by branding advice onlinewants their work to speak for itselfvalues clarity, trust, and integrity over trendsand wants marketing to feel more aligned and less effortfulYou’re going to love this one! xx Connect with Mia: Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/ Get the Freedom Therapist Letters Newsletter each Thursday: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/letters Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club Free Download: The 3 Content Types You Need to Stand Out Online as a Therapist: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/content

    16 min

About

Each week we’ll go deep on all things business, self, energy and freedom. There's growth, giggles AND tears, as we lean into the best version of our business - and selves too. We’ll also get to chat with some incredibly inspiring women who will generously share their stories on finding that magic. If you’re looking for deep conversations, no gatekeeping, practical advice all with a little bit of chaos, you’re in the right place. I'm your host Mia Poklepovich, a previously burnt out mental health occupational therapist and business owner, who found her way to fall back in love with business and life all over again. This podcast was created to be your safe space to learn AND unlearn all the things about scaling your business, without losing yourself in the process. Each week will be talking about ALL the things. And feeling ALL the feels. Because business is a wild ride, at all stages. So if you need an extra dose of inspo, a soft landing or just a moment to unwind you are SO welcome here.  Give yourself permission to take some space for you, and let’s be besties. I can’t wait!