Episode Details

What does success really mean for occupational therapists? Is it the size of your clinic, the number of staff you employ, or the impact you have on families? In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki speaks with Alyce Svensk, an experienced paediatric OT and business mentor, about the courage it takes to close a thriving practice and redefine what freedom looks like as an OT entrepreneur.

From 2017 to 2024, Alyce built and led Sensational Start Occupational Therapy in Australia, growing it into three busy clinics with over 50 staff. Yet despite the growth, she faced the reality many OT business owners never prepare for: recruitment struggles, shifting NDIS demands, rising overheads, and the toll on her health and family. Rather than go down with the ship, Alyce chose to close her practice with integrity and pivot towards mentoring, supervision, and training through The OT Coach.

This conversation is packed with insights for occupational therapists at every stage of their career, from new graduates considering private practice, to experienced OTs leading large teams, to those who feel trapped in a model that no longer works for them.

In this episode you will learn:

• The hidden costs of running an OT private practice and how to recognise red flags early
  
• Why closing a clinic is not failure, but a strategic decision rooted in values and wellbeing
  
• How to transition from direct client work to supervision, mentoring, and scalable services
  
• The mindset shifts OTs need to move from survival to freedom
  
• What redefining success beyond the clinic can look like for your career and life
  
  

If you are an occupational therapist, OT supervisor, paediatric OT, or allied health entrepreneur, this episode will help you reflect, recalibrate, and take practical steps towards building a business that truly serves you.

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