From Clinical to Entrepreneurial: OT Private Practice Journeys

Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists
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Welcome to From Clinical to Entrepreneurial: OT Private Practice Journeys – an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ podcast. In this series, we connect with occupational therapist private practitioners and business owners, and we hear about their inspiration, their stories and their lessons learned.

Episodes

  1. 05/20/2025

    Am I a Clinician or a Business Owner? with Julie Entwistle

    In our last episode, we interview Julie Entwistle, an occupational therapist turned business coach who grew her practice to 50+ employees, sold it, and transitioned into leadership and business consulting. Julie’s story is one of accidental entrepreneurship, ethical dilemmas, and big decisions: grow or stay solo, scale or sell, lead or stay in clinical work. Many OTs start a business for flexibility and freedom, but as it grows, so do the demands. Julie shares insights on when to step back from clinical work, how to structure a team, and why delegation is key to building a sustainable business.Resource: Julie's Business You: https://businessyou.ca/This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTsMusic by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    42 min

  2. 05/13/2025

    From Handshakes to Contracts – the Evolution of Private Practice with Tricia Morrison

    In this episode, we chat with Tricia Morrison, an occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience in private practice, with a focus on life care planning and medico-legal work. Tricia’s journey goes full-circle —from launching a private practice, selling it, working for the acquiring company, and then starting over again. She shares insights into the evolving landscape of private practice, including how industry regulations, legal agreements, and business growth impact clinical work. Tricia also highlights the importance of building strong professional networks, surrounding yourself with the right consultants, and staying adaptable in an ever-changing healthcare industry. Resources: OSOT Career Postings: https://osot.on.ca/careersCarol MacDonald’s Business | Gotcare: https://gotcare.ca/Tricia's Practice: https://morrisonot.com/ This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTs Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    51 min

  3. 05/06/2025

    Opening My Doors...And Then Crickets with Lara Desrosiers

    In this episode, we have a conversation with Lara Desrosiers, an occupational therapist and founder of Pelvic Resilience. With 8 years of experience in private practice, Lara shares her journey from public to private practice, how she found her ideal client niche, and the strategies she used to build a thriving business from the ground up. Lara’s experience is a familiar one—opening her doors to private practice only to be met with silence. She walks us through the trial and error of reaching the right clients, how to balance generating income with staying true to your values, and the lessons learned from aligning partnerships, marketing strategies, and service offerings that reflect her mission. Resources: Answer the Public – What People Are Searching For: https://answerthepublic.com/ Lara’s Practice | Pelvic Resilience: https://pelvicresilience.ca/ This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTs Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    49 min

  4. 04/29/2025

    Classic Business Wisdom with Rhona Feldt-Stein

    In this episode, we speak with Rhona Feldt-Stein, a true pioneer in occupational therapy private practice. With 41 years of business ownership, Rhona shares her experience starting, growing, and eventually preparing to exit a thriving multi-disciplinary practice. From operating out of her basement to building brick and mortar clinics, Rhona has navigated every stage of private practice - from securing loans, networking with physicians, hiring a team, and scaling strategically. She reflects on what has stood the test of time in OT business, how marketing has evolved, and why relationship-building remains key. Resources: How To Calculate EBITDA in 3 Steps: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-calculate-ebitda Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE): https://www.wallstreetprep.com/knowledge/sde-sellers-discretionary-earnings/ This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTs Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    48 min

  5. 04/22/2025

    From Pandemic to Pitch Competition with Michelle Lehman

    In this episode, we interview Michelle Lehman, occupational therapist and CEO of Think Self-Management, and learn about her unexpected journey from clinician to researcher to tech startup founder. What began as a research project quickly turned into an internationally recognized platform when therapists started asking for interventions they could use with clients. Michelle shares her experience launching an early-stage health-tech company, navigating grants and funding, and learning the business side of commercializing research into a viable product. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to develop a tool, pitch investors, and balance a startup while paying the bills, this episode is packed with insights and lessons. Resources: Azure: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-caCanadian Women’s Network: https://cwnsv.mn.co/Centre for Women in Business: https://www.centreforwomeninbusiness.ca/ Invest Ottawa: https://www.investottawa.ca/Invest Nova Scotia: https://investnovascotia.ca/ Lab to Market: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Innovate-Innover/L2M-LAM/index_eng.asp Mitacs: https://www.mitacs.ca/Moodle: https://moodle.org/ NERVE Program: https://braininstitute.ca/programs-opportunities/nerve-program Wix: https://www.wix.com/Michelle's Business | Think Self-Management: https://www.thinkselfmanagement.ca/ This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTs Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    46 min

  6. 04/15/2025

    It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint with Alison Hendricks, Elizabeth Silenzi and Sue Wahl

    In this episode, we chat with Alison Hendricks, Sue Wahl, and Elizabeth Silenzi from Collaborative Approach Therapy Services (CATS). We discuss an alternative path to private practice - franchising and networking in OT business. For many occupational therapists, starting a business can feel overwhelming. But what if you didn’t have to do it alone? The CATS team shares how creating a network of collaborative practices can be a jump-start into business ownership, accelerating growth while maintaining clinical excellence and professional autonomy. Resources: Google Ads: https://business.google.com/ca-en/google-ads/Google Business Profile: https://business.google.com/ca-en/business-profile/Metricool: https://metricool.com/OSOT Webinar | Business is Not a Bad Word: Private Practice in the OT World: https://osot.on.ca/ItemDetail?iProductCode=BNBW1Profit First for Therapists: https://www.profitfirstfortherapists.com/Promote Yourself to CEO Podcast: https://theceocollective.com/podcastAlison, Sue, and Elizabeth's Private Practice | Collaborative Approach Therapy Services: https://catherapyservices.ca/ This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTs Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    54 min

  7. 04/08/2025

    Taking the Leap – A Year into Private Practice with Shauna Eisen

    In this episode, we speak with Shauna Eisen, founder of Songbird Occupational Therapy, to discuss what it’s really like one year into private practice. After years of leadership roles in healthcare, research, and program management, Shauna felt disconnected from direct client impact, inspiring her to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Resources: 2025 OSOT Conference: https://osot.on.ca/conferenceCanada Revenue Agency: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.htmlFind Your Ontario Small Business Centre: https://sbs-spe.feddevontario.canada.ca/en/find-your-local-business-centreLegal Advisory Service for OSOT Members: https://www.osot.on.ca/OSOT/Membership_Pages/Benefit_Programs/Members_Legal_Assistance_Plan.aspx Shauna’s Private Practice | Songbird Occupational Therapy: https://www.songbirdot.ca/ This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/ontario-society-of-occupational-therapistsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/osotvoice/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OntarioOTs Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    45 min

  8. 04/03/2025

    The Accidental Entrepreneur with Sharie Woelke | Part 2

    In the second part of our introduction, Seema Sindwani continues her conversation with Sharie Woelke, diving deeper into the business side of private practice. From balancing client-facing work, operations, and regulatory requirements to choosing the right technology and setting financial foundations, Sharie shares a range of practical strategies.  Resources: ⁠ACOTPA Private Practice Fee Survey Canva ChatGPT College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario Google Products QuickBooks OSOT's Annual Membership Profile Report OWL Practice ManagementSharie's Business | ⁠Renew Neurotherapy⁠ Sharie's Business | ⁠Brain Elevation Consulting⁠ Books: Profit First The Psychology of Money Built to Last This Is Marketing Blue Ocean Strategy This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Facebook⁠ Music by Mixaund. Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    51 min

  9. 04/01/2025

    The Accidental Entrepreneur with Sharie Woelke | Part 1

    In part one of our two-part introduction, host Seema Sindwani, OSOT’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and Practice, interviews Sharie Woelke, an occupational therapist, psychotherapist, and business owner. Sharie shares how private practice found her through unexpected events, the need to pivot during the pandemic, and with health challenges that restricted her ability to practice (and speak!). Sharie opens up about the many mistakes made, the lessons learned, and the strategies that helped her build a thriving business. Resources: Digital Main Street GrantDigital Transformation GrantSharie's Business | Renew Neurotherapy Sharie's Business | Brain Elevation Consulting This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us: LinkedInInstagramFacebook Music by Mixaund.  Please note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. While some of the information may be generalized to other situations and, or businesses, it is not intended to be used as professional advice at any time. Anyone listening to this podcast is required to use their professional judgement and seek legal consultation when making any decisions about their clients and business. Furthermore, the information provided and opinions expressed by the members of this podcast are strictly applicable to the specific situation(s)/business(s) to which they are referring. The members of this podcast and the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (OSOT) waive all liabilities relating to listeners’ use or distribution of this information for any purpose other than the informational purposes for which it is intended.

    44 min

  10. TRAILER

    Trailer | From Clinical to Entrepreneurial: OT Private Practice Journeys

    Welcome to From Clinical to Entrepreneurial: OT Private Practice Journeys – an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ podcast. In this series, we connect with occupational therapist private practitioners and business owners, and we hear about their inspiration, their stories and their lessons learned. Join us every Tuesday on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode of our 9-part series. Our first episode releases on April 1, 2025. This is an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ production. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Music by Mixaund.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Welcome to From Clinical to Entrepreneurial: OT Private Practice Journeys – an Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ podcast. In this series, we connect with occupational therapist private practitioners and business owners, and we hear about their inspiration, their stories and their lessons learned.

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