The Freedom Therapist

What does it really look like to start a private practice before you feel “ready”?

In this episode, I sit down with Chante Niemand, occupational therapist and founder of Little Lighthouse Therapy in North Brisbane — a paediatric practice she opened just six months ago that has already grown to include her first team member.

This isn’t a story about scaling fast or chasing big numbers. It’s about the quiet courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone, trust a future vision, and begin before all the pieces are perfect.

Chante shares openly about:

1. The moment of encouragement that sparked Little Lighthouse Therapy into being
2. Why she chose to start her business now — and how she considered her long-term vision and sustainability
3. Building a clinic space that feels warm, playful, and child-led (including scooter board soccer!)
4. What has surprised her most in her first six months — from referrals to capacity growth
5. The vulnerability of networking and “showing your face” in the community, and how she built strong referral relationships
6. The identity shift from OT to business owner — and what it means to carry a brand that feels true to who you are
7. How she navigates imposter feelings, systems, and the messy trial-and-error of running a new practice

This is such a generous and grounded conversation for anyone who’s dreaming of opening their own practice, or in those early months wondering if it’s all too soon.

Chante’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin — you just need to back yourself, start with what you have, and keep showing up in a way that feels honest.

LINKS:
Connect on Instagram: @littlelighthousetherapy

Little Lighthouse Therapy

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

For a long time, I avoided Instagram in my practice.

I’d overthink every caption, second-guess every post, and tell myself I’d “come back when I had time.”

(Which we both know never really happens.)

But the moment I stopped forcing it and built a structure that actually worked in a therapist’s real week everything changed.

Clients started finding me through my words.

Opportunities landed that I couldn’t have planned for.

And my content started to feel like part of the work, not a distraction from it.

In this episode, I’m sharing how that shift happened. The honest story behind going from avoidant to visible and what it really takes to make marketing feel like you again.

You’ll hear:

• the real reason therapists feel resistance to showing up online
• what helped me stay consistent without performing
• how to find content inside your everyday work (instead of inventing it)
• and why the therapy space needs more ethical, human voices online right now

If you’ve ever thought, “I know how to explain this better, I just don’t know how to say it online” this one’s for you.

And if you’re ready to make content feel not only simple, straightforward but ennoyable? Join me for The Freedom Therapist Content Method™

https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/masterclass

A free live masterclass happening Thursday, November 13 at 5:30 PM AEDT.

It’s the framework that changed everything for me, and it might just change how you feel about marketing too.

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

You’ve written the caption in your head a hundred times.

You talk about these topics all day in sessions — emotional regulation, connection, care, identity, growth — it flows so easily when you’re in the room.

But the moment you sit down to share it online, your stomach drops.

You start rewriting, second-guessing, shrinking.

And suddenly the thing that should feel like connection feels like exposure.

In this episode, I’m unpacking why it feels so hard to show up online as a therapist or allied health practitioner, even when you know exactly what to say (and when we don’t too!)

We’ll talk about:

– How the therapy / private practice space can make visibility feel terrifying

– Why the moment you finally get busy or successful can trigger the biggest wobble

– The link between self-doubt and professionalism (and how it quietly keeps you small)

– Why confidence doesn’t come before visibility… and what to do instead

– How to collect new “evidence” that you can hold this season of your business

Because you don’t need to feel ready to be seen.

You just need a process that doesn’t fall apart every time you doubt yourself.

If you’ve been avoiding marketing, rewriting the same caption ten times, or resenting how performative online spaces can feel —this episode is for you.

It’s not about “being more confident.” It’s about finding a process that is YOURS.

And if you’re ready to build a structure that holds you steady through the wobbles, on all the weeks - join me for The Freedom Therapist Content Method™, my free masterclass on Thursday 13 November.

I’ll walk you through the exact 5 hour content rhythm I use to keep my practice visible without overworking or losing my integrity.

It’s 100% Free. It’s live. And we will be capping numbers - so jump on in if your keen!

And THANK YOU to the over 100 of you who are already registered!!

Register here → www.thefreedomtherapistclub.com/masterclass

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with marketing your private practice while juggling clients, reports, and the chaos of real life — this episode is for you.

We talk about what it really looks like to find rhythm in your business when everything feels unpredictable: why showing up online feels so heavy for allied health practitioners and therapists, and how to create visibility that feels ethical, sustainable, and human.

Because visibility doesn’t have to mean more noise or self-promotion.

It can be the way your care becomes findable.

Inside this episode:

• The truth about therapist burnout and online visibility
• Why traditional content strategies don’t work for private practice
• How to rebuild rhythm when you’ve lost momentum online
• What sustainable marketing really looks like for therapists

Mentioned:

🗓️ Free Masterclass — The Freedom Therapist Content Method™

How to Create Content That’s Visible, Ethical & Gets You Fully Booked in Less Than 5 Hours a Month.

Live Thursday 13 November, 5:30 p.m. AWST.

Join us here.

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

We poured some wine, hit record, and spoke about what it really feels like to start a brand new practice from scratch.

In today’s episode, I sit down in person in Mparntwe/Alice Springs with my gorgeous friend and client, Hannah Muir, the founder of Deep End Counselling. We poured some wine, settled the nerves, and talked about what it really feels like to build a business from the very beginning.

Hannah shares so honestly about:

1. Why vulnerability is at the centre of her practice, and why creating a “lounge room, not an office” matters so deeply.
2. Her passion for perinatal mental health, and the huge gaps in support she sees for women and families.
3. The privilege and power of being invited into someone’s birth space — and the feminism, capitalism, and absurdity of what women still have to fight for in maternal care.
4. The messy parts of starting a practice — imposter syndrome, showing up on social media, working around family, and trying not to burn out.
5. What it actually looks like to create a business that supports her family, instead of the other way around.

This is not a polished “here’s how I did it” story. It’s a raw, real conversation about starting from scratch, juggling a hundred balls in the air, and learning what sustainable practice really means when your wellbeing — and your family’s wellbeing — is on the line.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to start your own practice with little kids, while still staying true to your values and your life, Hannah’s story is proof that you don’t have to choose between them.

Connect with Hannah

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep.end.counselling/

Deep End Counselling: https://www.deependcounselling.com/

Download your FREE GUIDE: The 3 Content Types You Need to Stand Out Online as a Therapist -  https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/content

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

What happens when you realize you don’t have to run your practice the way everyone else is telling you to?

Today on the Freedom Therapist podcast I’m joined by Emily Mackaway — occupational therapist, mum of two, and founder of My Family OT.

Emily’s story is one of reimagining what’s possible: from burning out in systems that didn’t work for her brain or her family, to slowly crafting a business that fits around school pick-ups, big emotions after the school day, and her own neurodivergent needs.

In this episode we dive into:

1. Emily’s winding path into OT (and why she swore she’d never follow in her mum’s footsteps).
2. What it was like juggling paediatrics, adults, palliative care, and neuro rehab — and the burnout that followed.
3. Why she refuses to see kids unless parents are also on board, and how that shifted the heart of her practice.
4. The pressure so many therapists feel to “do it all,” and how Emily found the courage to scale back into the work that actually lights her up.
5. Building a business that bends around family life, rather than the other way around.
6. The role of time, trial and error, and even a little jealousy in finally claiming her lane.

If you’ve ever felt like you should be able to see everyone, do everything, or grow your practice in a certain way — Emily’s story will feel like a deep exhale.

Connect with Emily

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my.family.ot/

My Family OT: https://www.myfamilyot.com.au/

We also spoke about THIS device to help with iPhone distractions! https://getbrick.app/

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

Therapists and allied health practitioners often tell me that content takes so much time — one post can swallow an entire day, only to land with crickets. The truth is, your marketing isn’t failing because you’re not posting enough. It’s because the way you’re creating content is missing the connection piece.

In this episode, I’m sharing my favourite content strategy — one that’s so easy you can start using it this week. No endless content calendars. No 100 idea brainstorms or hectic content batching. Just a simple shift that helps you create posts that actually connect with the people you want to reach.

If you’ve ever wondered why your content feels invisible, or you’re tired of overthinking what to post, this episode will give you a straightforward strategy to make content part of your practice in a way that feels natural, doable, and effective.

Links & Resources

1. Connect with me on Instagram: @miapoko

2.  Join The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

Maybe you’ve been sitting on a price rise for months because you can’t find the words that feel professional enough.

Maybe you’ve got a program living half-built in your laptop because it doesn’t feel “ready” yet.

Or maybe you’ve deleted the messy, human line from your caption and replaced it with something polished that could’ve come from anyone.

That’s perfectionism in the messy middle of business growth — and it shows up for every therapist I know.

In this episode, I talk about what growth really feels like when you’re running a therapy practice: the overthinking, the second-guessing, the rewriting until your shoulders ache. I’ll name the moments perfectionism sneaks in, why it gets so loud in these stretchy seasons, and what it can look like to trust your own voice anyway.

Because your clients, your community, your team — they don’t need you to be flawless. They need your presence.

And your voice, as it is today — imperfect, raw, unfiltered — is already enough.

Links & Resources

1. Connect with me on Instagram: @miapoko

2. Join The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

What does it really look like to build a practice that reflects both your values and your humanity — instead of just following the well-worn path?

In today’s episode I’m joined by the wonderful Tess Neates, a paediatric occupational therapist and founder of Self & Space in Boorloo/Perth. Tess has woven together her love of creativity, connection, and community into a practice that feels deeply her own — blending OT with creative arts therapies, yoga, nature-based work, and an unwavering commitment to relationships with families.

We talk about:

1. Tess’s journey into OT, and why connection has always been at the centre

2. The pivot points — moving between peds, mental health, and aged care — and what she learned through those jumps (including imposter syndrome along the way)

3. How she began to integrate creative arts therapy, yoga, and movement into her OT practice (and what it was like at first to wonder, “is this too woo-woo?”)

4. The power of simple, creative interventions (like the Wombat Stew sensory bowl) and why “less” often creates more impact

5. The challenges of starting Self & Space — from calendar management to boundaries when your phone is always buzzing

6. The routines and practices Tess uses to support her own energy and creativity — and why boundaries are always a work in progress

7. Her reflections on freedom, variety, and balance in private practice

This conversation is such a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out before you begin. Tess shows us that you can start small, follow what lights you up, and slowly build a business that holds your values at the centre.

Whether you’re a therapist thinking about private practice, feeling pulled towards more creative work, or simply craving a reminder that you’re allowed to do things differently — you’re going to love this one.

Connect with Tess

Instagram: @_selfandspace_

Listen to Tess's Mindful Listening Playlist here.

Links & Resources

1. Connect with me on Instagram: @miapoko

2.  Join The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club

If your practice has ever felt quiet, you know the spiral. You start tweaking your website, Googling “SEO for therapists,” or posting more on Instagram — but still, no new referrals. And when you do get engagement, it’s mostly from other therapists, not the parents, teachers, or clients you actually want to reach.

This is where most therapists get stuck. We think marketing is about doing more. But the truth is: your message has to land first.

In this episode of The Freedom Therapist Podcast, I’m sharing why so many private practice therapists struggle with referrals (even when they’re posting, even when they’re showing up) — and the exact first step to take instead.

You’ll hear:

• Why word-of-mouth referrals eventually dry up, and what to do before panic sets in
• The difference between “therapist language” and the real words parents and clients actually use
• My formula for writing content that actually connects and converts into referrals
• The 3 simple questions to ask yourself before you write anything — website copy, an Instagram caption, even a blog post
• How to make your words feel like a safe space for the people you most want to work with

If you’ve ever stared at your screen thinking, I don’t even know what to say anymore or felt BIG imposter syndrome vibes around content or copy this episode will help you find words that finally connect — and bring in the right referrals.

I’d love to hear what landed for you — come find me over on Instagram @miapoko and share your reflections.

And if this episode supported you, leaving a review truly helps more therapists find this space — and reminds others that they’re not alone in navigating the wildness of this work.

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/miapoko and https://www.instagram.com/ot_inspire_therapy/

Get the Complete Personal Brand Kit for Therapists for just $47! https://thefreedomtherapist.com.au/kit

Join the Waitlist for The Freedom Therapist Club: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club