101. Freedom After the Storm: Redefining OT Success Beyond the Clinic with Alyce Svensk
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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Meet the Guest: Alyce Svensk
Alyce Svensk is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist and the founder of The OT Coach Australia. From 2017 to 2024, she built and led Sensational Start Occupational Therapy, a thriving NDIS paediatric practice that grew to three clinics and a strong, values-aligned team. Since then, Alyce has focused on mentoring and training, supporting over 300 therapists through supervision and coaching, and more than 2,000 through national workshops and programmes.
She is also the host of OT Coaching Confidential, a podcast that brings real mentoring conversations with occupational therapists into the open. Alongside this, she co-hosts OT Unplugged, a podcast dedicated to supporting OTs navigating the realities of working in the NDIS.
🔗 Connect with Alyce: LinkedIn Website
About the Podcast
OT Yourself To Freedom Podcast helps occupational therapists create a life and business they love. Host Beki Eakins shares practical tips, strategies, and real-world stories to inspire your journey to freedom
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