Growing an OT Neurodiversity-Affirming Private Practice with Samantha Rothman

Private Practice Success Stories

Have you been thinking about starting a neurodiversity-affirming private practice? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

I sat down with Samantha Rothman, an occupational therapist with a private practice called Play and Purpose in Phoenix, Arizona. She decided to start her private practice after being laid off during the pandemic and realizing she didn’t want to rely on others for income anymore.

Join us as she talks about creating a neurodiversity-affirming practice with a whole-child approach. Samantha discusses how she grew her practice to include 5 therapists, as well as the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout as her practice grows.

Samantha is a licensed and board-certified pediatric occupational therapist, DIR Floortime provider, and the owner/founder of Play and Purpose. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University.

She enjoys using a "whole child" approach, including all aspects of being human-especially focusing on emotional and mental health. She is passionate about using child-led and non-compliance-based techniques to promote engagement and self-advocacy skills.

Samantha has experience working with children who have unique needs and consulting with schools/parents to ensure great outcomes. Additionally, she enjoys helping parents to advocate for services and programs that may be beneficial to the child's progress.

Outside of patient care, Samantha is devoting time to mentoring new therapists and building/supporting our team. In her free time, she enjoys reading, kayaking, traveling, and weightlifting.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How being laid off led to her starting a private practice
• Why Samantha decided to focus on neurodiversity-affirming practices
• The burnout many therapists feel in traditional settings
• How Samantha eased into private practice
• The freedom and happiness you get when you have your own private practice
• Why boundaries are so important in private practice
• When she decided it was time to hire help
• How Samantha helps her employees feel valued and appreciated
• How she finds her clients using Facebook networking groups and referrals
• Samantha’s plans for the future of her private practice

I hope you loved this episode with Samantha! I love how she focuses on neurodiversity-affirming approaches and created a practice that allows her to provide the quality care her clients deserve.

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources.

Whether you want to start a private practice or grow your existing private practice, I can help you get the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, and financial abundance that you deserve. Visit my website www.independentclinician.com to learn more.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Samantha’s website: https://playandpurposeaz.com/

Follow Samantha on Instagram: ​https://www.instagram.com/playandpurposeaz/

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Mentioned in this episode:

School Based SLPs and OTs: Want to leave the schools and start a private practice? Come to our upcoming training on May 6th. To register just head to: PrivatePracticeTraining.com to sign up and I’ll see you there!