In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I sit down with Jane, an experienced occupational therapist and trained play therapist who has just launched her own private practice. Seven weeks in and already full, Jane shares the early realities of running a solo service - from navigating boundaries and managing emotional load, to thinking ahead about admin support and long-term sustainability.

We explore what it means to create “service rules” that protect your energy, the benefits of introducing a virtual assistant early, and how to streamline referral pathways so your time stays focused on therapy — not inbox admin.

Jane also reflects on her dual pathways (OT and play therapy), and how being intentional from the start can help you build a service that aligns with your values, capacity, and lifestyle.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to reset how your service is structured, this episode is packed with practical insight and thoughtful reflection.

Mentioned in this episode:

– Getting the Admin Support You Actually Need Workshop

– The Master Timetable tool

– Creating “service rules” to help manage referrals and expectations

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia

Alyce Svensk is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist, business mentor and founder of The OT Coach Australia. She supports therapists at all stages of their career whether you're just starting out, building a business or redefining your next chapter.

Through The OT Coach Australia, Alyce offers career mentoring, business Solutions Sessions, and ongoing support through clinical supervision, business mentoring and sole trader guidance.

Need support with your next step in practice or business? Explore your options at www.theotcoach.au 

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I chat with Claudia, an Occupational Therapist whose journey into OT began later in life and has taken some fascinating turns. From setting out to be a brilliant clinician, Claudia found herself unexpectedly drawn into the business support space - building a service designed to help solo OTs streamline their non-clinical tasks and free up their time to focus on therapy.

We explore:

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia

Alyce Svensk is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist, business mentor and founder of The OT Coach Australia. She supports therapists at all stages of their career - whether you're just starting out, building a business or redefining your next chapter.

Through The OT Coach Australia, Alyce offers career mentoring, business Solutions Sessions, and ongoing support through clinical supervision, business mentoring and sole trader guidance.

Need support with your next step in practice or business? Explore your options at www.theotcoach.au

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I chat with Anna, an Occupational Therapist working in the adult space with a growing private practice focused on chronic fatigue, Long COVID and invisible illness.

We explore:

Transitioning from public health into private practice (and the culture shock that can come with it)

The discomfort around charging for therapy and how Anna is starting to claim the value of her time and experience

Developing a therapy model that works in a flexible yet sustainable way - including clearer session structures, communication boundaries, and client pathways

Using tools like Halaxy and Google Workspace with privacy in mind

Strategies for growing a caseload, setting up referral systems, and building long-term client relationships

Creative ideas for reducing admin load and building group or maintenance-style support in the future

We also discuss my workshop Sensational Start in Private Practice

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia

Alyce Svensk is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist, business mentor and founder of The OT Coach Australia. She supports therapists at all stages of their career, whether you're just starting out, building a business or redefining your next chapter.

Through The OT Coach Australia, Alyce offers career mentoring, business Solutions Sessions, and ongoing support through clinical supervision, business mentoring and sole trader guidance.

Need support with your next step in practice or business? Explore your options at www.theotcoach.au 

In this episode, we chat with Jamie - a regional paediatric OT who’s blending community therapy with the launch of a sensory-friendly café. Jamie shares her unique career journey. From early roles in aged care and burns to leading services across rural and remote settings. Now running her own business, she reflects on the challenges of working solo in a large region, the realities of clinical burnout, and how she’s building a new model of service delivery rooted in flexibility, family values and neurodiversity-affirming practice.

We explore:

This is an honest and insightful conversation about burnout, boundaries and bringing new ideas to life.

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia

Alyce Svensk is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist, business mentor and founder of The OT Coach Australia. She supports therapists at all stages of their career - whether you're just starting out, building a business or redefining your next chapter.

Through The OT Coach Australia, Alyce offers career mentoring, business Solutions Sessions, and ongoing support through clinical supervision, business mentoring and sole trader guidance. Need support with your next step in practice or business? Explore your options at www.theotcoach.au

In this episode, we chat with Lisa, an experienced OT working in the neuro, palliative care, and driving assessment space, who took the leap into private practice after recognising the traditional model wasn't sustainable for her life or values.

Lisa reflects on how she built a business that works for her family, her energy, and her clients. She shares honestly about letting go of the internalised version of “success” that many of us hold, including the idea that we need a clinic or a full-time admin team to be legitimate.

Together we explore:

We also chat about what kind of support actually helps in business, including the role of clinical supervisors, business mentors, and emotional support. Alyce shares practical strategies like time tracking, defining what support you actually need, and accessing free state-based business coaching.

Mentioned in this episode:

 Alyce’s free eBook “Reframing Success in Allied Health” https://www.theotcoach.au/pl/2148657871 

Toni Knight, a psychotherapist and supervisor who works with OTs on burnout, perfectionism, and building emotionally sustainable careers. Connect with Toni at or email her at Toni Knight | Burnout Recovery & Personal Transformation Coaching 

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia Alyce Svensk is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist, business mentor and founder of The OT Coach Australia. She supports therapists at all stages of their career, whether you're just starting out, building a business or redefining your next chapter.

Through The OT Coach Australia, Alyce offers career mentoring, business Solutions sessions, and ongoing support through clinical supervision, business mentoring and sole trader guidance.

Need support with your next step in practice or business? Explore your options at theotcoach.au

Summary

For the final episode of Season 2, I’m joined by Isabelle and Paige. Co-founders of a paediatric OT service built on shared values, strong team culture, and thoughtful, reflective leadership.

We explore the realities of growing a team, supporting clinicians across sites, and navigating change. Including how they’re preparing for one founder to relocate while maintaining connection and cohesion.

We also cover practical tools and strategies including:

Zoom-based supervision with transcript summaries

Structuring sustainable workloads for new graduates

Creating space for supervision to feel meaningful (not rushed!)

Planning future clinic expansion without overcommitting

Using ChatGPT for service planning and content ideas

This is a beautiful, grounded conversation for any therapist reflecting on leadership, growth, or staying aligned with their “why.”

If you’ve loved this season and would like to be a guest on a future episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I’d love to hear from you.
 

Register your interest OTCC Podcast EOI

Hosted by: Alyce Svensk
The OT Coach Australia
www.theotcoach.au

Summary:

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I sit down with J, an early-career paediatric occupational therapist who is working hard to bridge the gap between clinical training and real-world therapy. J shares what it’s like to feel well-trained but still unsure — navigating multiple models, complex family dynamics, and unclear expectations in NDIS-funded therapy.

Together, we explore:

We have various workshops coming up that address some of the practice areas discussed

Caregiver Capacity

Using a coregulation approach in therapy

The Art of Paediatric Therapy – Live July 2025

Hosted by: Alyce Svensk

The OT Coach Australia

www.theotcoach.au

Summary

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I sit down with Taylor, an Occupational Therapist who has moved through hospital rotations, mental health, and now community-based NDIS work. She’s built strong clinical confidence - but is now planning how to run her own business!

Taylor shares her reflections on navigating time pressures, unclear expectations around billables, and the early stages of considering what working for herself might look like.

Together, we explore:

This thoughtful, real conversation is for any therapist who’s built something solid—but is starting to wonder what comes after “getting good at the job.”

Resources: 

We didn't speak about this during the pod - but Verve OT Learning has a great workshop about billable time Navigating Billable Time & the NDIS

Spreadsheet 

Hosted by: Alyce Svensk

The OT Coach Australia

www.theotcoach.au

Summary

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I sit down with Jess, a sole trader OT with a decade of experience and a clear vision for the kind of business—and life—she wants to build. Jess shares her journey from early NDIS work to leadership roles, and eventually, stepping back into sole trading for the flexibility it offered her growing family.

We unpack the complexity of doing it all—functional assessments, home mods, assistive tech, reports, supervision, student placements, and dreaming up bigger things like subcontracting and building her own team.

Together, we explore:

This honest, relatable episode is full of practical reflection for anyone building a service on their own terms—especially if you're craving a slower pace, but dreaming big.

Resources: 

Sample Diary - https://alyce-svensk.mykajabi.com/pl/2148656142

 Hosted by: Alyce Svensk

The OT Coach Australia

www.theotcoach.au

Summary:

Abigail didn’t plan to go solo—but after workplace changes, she found herself taking on private clients while figuring out her next steps. In this episode, we talk through the reality of stepping into sole trader work without a long-term plan, and the importance of pausing to reflect before making big career moves.

We explore how supervision, curiosity, and practical self-awareness have shaped Abigail’s growth, and why it’s essential to think ahead—especially in paediatrics, where going solo comes with long-term responsibilities.

Big Takeaway: Private work might seem like a flexible option, but especially in paediatrics, it’s not something to leap into lightly. Take time to clarify your vision, scope, and systems before making the move.

Curious about private work but not sure where to start? Check out my Sensational Start to Private Practice workshop—it walks you through all the essential decisions before you leap, so you can start with confidence and clarity. https://www.verveotlearning.com.au/Sensational-Start-to-Setting-Up-in-Private-Practice

Looking for your next role: This free workshop will chat through the considerations https://sensationalstart-au.zoom.us/rec/share/_cibZYCX7zsb62REFhGAPbnAuyUrI0z1eD0jM6Dw5-Du8rx336kij2iy51wOQqoG.u5U2YGdrbIYLEhnU 

Hosted by: Alyce Svensk

The OT Coach Australia

www.theotcoach.au