OT Yourself to Freedom

What does it really take to build an online Occupational Therapy business?

In this special repost from The OT Lifestyle Movement Podcast, host Rhiannon Crispe interviews Beki Eakins about the journey from NHS Occupational Therapist to building a successful freedom-based online business that now supports OTs around the world.

This isn't just another conversation about starting a business. It's the honest story behind burnout, rebuilding confidence, taking risks, and discovering that Occupational Therapists already have everything they need to create transformational online offers.

Beki shares how she left a career she once loved...

What if the thing you've been trying to hide is actually the reason people will choose to work with you?

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki Eakins explores why your personal story is one of the most valuable assets you'll ever have when building an online Occupational Therapy business.

Many Occupational Therapists believe they need another qualification, a better business idea or years more experience before they're ready to build an online brand. In reality, the people who create the deepest trust and strongest businesses are often those who are willing to...

Why do some Occupational Therapists build successful businesses while others give up before they ever gain momentum?

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki Eakins explores one of the biggest misconceptions about building an online Occupational Therapy business. It's not a lack of talent, qualifications or even money that stops most OTs. It's underestimating the energy required to create something completely new.

If you've ever wondered why starting a business feels overwhelming, why your confidence disappears the moment you step outside clinical work, or why so many Occupational Therapists quit before seeing results, t...

What if the very thing making you a brilliant occupational therapist is also stopping your business from growing?

In this episode, I explore one of the hardest lessons I've had to learn as an OT entrepreneur: letting go of control.

Many occupational therapists build businesses that depend entirely on them. Every client, every decision and every problem sits on their shoulders. The result is more pressure, more clinical hours and, ultimately, another version of burnout.

But scaling an occupational therapy business requires a different skill set.

It requires trust.

...

Are you an occupational therapist whose diary is packed, yet you still feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and financially stuck?

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki Eakins explores one of the most common patterns she sees among occupational therapists, particularly OT business owners and private practice clinicians.

Many OTs believe their biggest challenge is time management, marketing, or finding more clients. But what if the real issue is something deeper?

Beki unpacks the hidden cycle that keeps occupational therapists trapped in endless clinical hours, overdelivering, undercharging, and constantly saying yes to work...

What if the future of occupational therapy doesn't belong to the people who play it safe?

In this thought-provoking episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki explores why occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to create change, challenge outdated systems, and build innovative careers that align with their values.

Across the UK, Australia, Canada, the USA and beyond, OTs are facing increasing pressure from healthcare systems that often undervalue their expertise. Yet at the same time, there has never been a greater opportunity for occupational therapists to create impact, build online businesses, develop innovative...

What happens when Occupational Therapy no longer feels aligned with the life you want to live?

In this inspiring episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins sits down with Occupational Therapist and entrepreneur Mel Homan, founder of Premium Sensory, to discuss her journey from OT burnout to building a thriving business that creates meaningful impact for children and families.

Like many Occupational Therapists, Mel entered the profession wanting to help people. Over time, however, the reality of heavy caseloads, system pressures, and constant demands left her questioning whether the traditional path was...

Are Occupational Therapists being protected by their communities, or are they being held back by them?

In this thought-provoking episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki explores a controversial topic that many Occupational Therapists experience but few openly discuss: the culture of fear surrounding business, money, entrepreneurship, coaching programmes, and alternative career paths within the OT profession.

If you've ever considered starting an online business, launching a private practice, creating a course, offering coaching, or building additional income streams as an Occupational Therapist, you've probably heard the warnings:

"Be careful."

Occupational Therapy is changing.

More Occupational Therapists are questioning burnout, stress, and the sustainability of traditional practice models, and exploring new ways of working that support both client outcomes and practitioner wellbeing.

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, we explore how somatic practices and nervous system regulation are transforming the way OTs work, think, and support their clients.

This conversation goes beyond theory and into real clinical application, looking at how Occupational Therapists can integrate body-based approaches safely, ethically, and within scope of practice.

We discuss OT burnout, trauma-informed...

Are you an Occupational Therapist feeling burnt out, emotionally exhausted, underpaid, or stuck in a career that no longer feels aligned, but still unable to walk away?

In this powerful episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki Eakins explores the hidden danger of the “so-so” life many Occupational Therapists find themselves trapped in. Not miserable enough to leave, but not fulfilled enough to truly feel alive.

This episode is for OTs who keep thinking:
“There has to be more than this.”

Whether you work in the NHS, private practice, community OT, paediatrics, mental h...

What if the thing holding your OT business back isn’t strategy… but ego?

Not the loud, arrogant kind.
The quieter version that disguises itself as perfectionism, overthinking, “being ethical”, or constantly waiting until you feel ready.

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins explores the hidden ways ego keeps occupational therapists stuck, invisible, and afraid to fully show up online.

This is an honest conversation about visibility, nervous system regulation, fear of judgement, procrastination, and why so many highly skilled OTs struggle to market themselves despite having life-cha...

You studied for years.
You carry complex caseloads.
You change people’s lives.

So why does your pay as an occupational therapist still feel… limited?

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki dives into the reality of OT salaries in 2026, and why so many occupational therapists feel financially capped despite their skills and experience.

This is an honest conversation about money in healthcare, the trade-off between income and fulfilment, and the one shift that can change how you earn completely.

In this episode, you’ll learn:Why oc...

You have the degree. The experience. The qualifications.

So why do you still feel like a fraud?

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins breaks down why imposter syndrome is one of the biggest reasons occupational therapists stay stuck when building an online business.

This is a direct, honest conversation about what is actually holding you back, and why “waiting until you’re ready” is keeping you exactly where you are.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki explores one of the most overlooked yet critical factors behind sustainable business success… energy.

Not strategy.
Not funnels.
Not perfect messaging.

But the actual physical, mental, and emotional energy required to keep showing up long after the initial excitement fades.

After working with hundreds of occupational therapists and entrepreneurs, Beki shares a powerful insight… most businesses do not fail because of bad ideas. They fail because the person behind them runs out of energy.

This episode challenges the traditional focus on p...

Are you an Occupational Therapist feeling burnt out… stuck in back-to-back sessions… and wondering if there’s another way to use your OT skills?

In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki speaks with former client, and Occupational Therapist Ivan Hardcastle, who is closing his paediatric clinic to move fully online as an ADHD parent coach.

After being told by his doctor he was “killing himself” due to dangerously high blood pressure, Ivan knew something had to change. What followed was a complete shift from clinician to OT entrepreneur,  building a high-ticket parent coac...

Most OT business owners avoid their numbers.
Not because they don’t care.
Because they don’t understand them.

And when you don’t understand your numbers, growth feels stressful. Decisions feel risky. Scaling feels uncertain.

In this episode, Beki Eakins sits down with accountant Fiona Jansen to talk about why business owners ignore their finances, and what to do instead. This conversation breaks down money, mindset, and the practical steps to finally feel calm and confident in your business.

In this episode, we cover:
Why many OT business owners avoid...

You’re not overwhelmed. You’re out of control.

That’s not harsh, it’s accurate. Because if you look closely…

Your calendar is full
Your time feels gone
Your results aren’t matching the effort

That’s not because you’re doing too much.

It’s because there’s no clear control over:

Most people stay stuck here because “overwhelm” sounds temporary.

But this episode breaks that completely.

It gets into:

What If Your Business Was Built Around Your Life… Not The Other Way Round?

Today’s episode is a little different.

No strategy breakdown.
No funnels.
No scaling tactics.

Instead, I’m taking you inside something much simpler…

A completely normal Wednesday.

Not a highlight reel. Not a “perfect day”.
Just a real look at how my life actually flows when a business is designed intentionally.

Because when people hear I work around twelve hours a week, they usually assume one of two things:

Either...

You built a successful business. Clients are coming in, the calendar is full, the team is growing, and from the outside everything looks brilliant.

So why does it still feel exhausting?

In this episode, Beki Eakins speaks directly to occupational therapists who already run a successful business but feel stretched, boxed in, or quietly wondering if there is a better way to work.

Many OT entrepreneurs build a thriving clinic or service, only to discover their income is tied to referrals, insurance systems, or long working hours. The business works, but the freedom...

What do you actually want to be known for as an occupational therapist?

It is a question that most OTs rarely stop to ask themselves. Between paperwork, caseloads, targets and the daily pressure of clinical work, many therapists end up simply trying to get through the week.

But according to Beki Eakins, most OTs did not spend years training just to become average clinicians quietly blending into the system.

In this episode, Beki invites you to pause and think bigger. Not about your band, job title or professional credentials, but about your identity...

When a Launch Doesn’t Go the Way You Expected

You put yourself out there.
You promoted your offer.
You hosted the webinar, event, or workshop.

People showed interest… and then everything went quiet.

If you’ve ever experienced that strange moment after launching something where you start questioning everything, this episode is for you.

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki talks about what she calls the post-launch wobble — the emotional drop that many entrepreneurs experience after showing up, being visible, and not seeing immediate results.

Mo...

You do not need more qualifications, more time, or more confidence to start a business.

You need to start.

In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins breaks down what actually matters when starting a business,  and why so many capable people stay stuck in planning mode.

If you have been thinking about starting for months (or years), this will challenge you to stop waiting and take action.

What You’ll Learn

Did you leave employment for freedom… only to feel more trapped than ever?

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki explores why so many occupational therapists unintentionally build businesses that mirror the very jobs they wanted to escape.

If your diary is full, your business looks successful on paper, but you feel exhausted, stretched, and constantly “on” - this episode is for you.

Beki breaks down the hidden flaws in traditional OT business models, including unpaid work, client dependency, and systems that quietly drain your time, energy, and income.

In...

What happens when your OT career is suddenly put on pause because life takes you abroad?

In this inspiring episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, host Beki Eakins sits down with occupational therapist and entrepreneur Rachel Dexter to explore her journey from NHS clinician to business owner, after relocating overseas and being unable to practise as an OT.

Rachel shares how moving to Denmark forced her to think differently about her career, how she turned her occupational therapy skills into an online business, and how she now balances NHS work with entrepreneurship to...

Have you ever wondered why so many passionate occupational therapists quietly walk away from the profession, even when they still care deeply about their clients?

In this powerful episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins explores the real reason behind OT burnout. It is not just workload, staffing shortages, or long days.

It is compromised values.

If you are an occupational therapist feeling emotionally drained, disconnected from your work, or silently questioning whether you can keep going, this episode will help you understand what is really happening beneath the surface...

Starting a business rarely looks like the polished launches you see online.

Instead, it’s confusing, overwhelming, lonely, and often deeply uncomfortable.

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom podcast, Beki Eakins speaks honestly about the messy beginning of entrepreneurship. The fear, the self-doubt, the lack of structure, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with building something from scratch.

If you’re questioning whether you’re doing it right, wondering if you’ve got what it takes, or feeling stretched in every direction, this episode will help you understand that nothing has gone wro...

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom podcast, Beki Eakins challenges one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in caring professions and entrepreneurship, that burnout is inevitable and even admirable.

Burnout is not proof that you care more.
It is not a sign that you are doing meaningful work.
It is a warning that you are out of alignment with your body, your values, and your life.

This episode is an honest invitation to stop normalising exhaustion, martyrdom, and over-giving, particularly within occupational therapy, healthcare, and purpose-driven businesses...

What really happens when you become a mum, and why does no one talk about the emotional shift?

In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, host Beki Eakins is joined by her client Helen Buteux, an occupational therapist who supports mums through the transition into motherhood using both her professional OT training and her lived experience as a mum of two.

This honest and grounding conversation explores the emotional impact of becoming a parent, the loss of confidence many mums experience, and how occupational therapy skills are uniquely placed to support mental...

If you're an OT (or allied health professional) still sending paper handouts, long follow-up emails, or stick-figure drawings, this episode will completely shift how you think about home programs.

In this powerful and practical conversation, Beki Eakins is joined by Laura Simmons, an Australian occupational therapist turned digital health innovator and founder of Theratrak.

Laura shares how she went from paediatric OT to accidental tech founder, building a platform now used by clinics across Australia and internationally to help therapists bridge the gap between therapy sessions and real life, without burning out on admin.

In this deeply personal episode of the OT Yourself To Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins shares a truthful reflection on 2025, six years after leaving the NHS as a Band 6 occupational therapist.

This is not a training episode. There is no strategy or framework to follow. Instead, this episode offers an honest look at what it really means to build freedom as an occupational therapist, financially, emotionally and energetically.

Beki reflects on walking away from traditional OT work in the UK, the frustration of rigid systems, paperwork and hierarchy, and the deep inner knowing that she was...

What’s possible for occupational therapists beyond burnout, rigid systems and traditional career paths?

In this special compilation episode, host Beki Eakins brings together powerful conversations from across 2025, featuring occupational therapists from the UK, Australia, Canada and beyond who have created businesses, roles and lifestyles aligned with their values.

You’ll hear honest stories about leaving the NHS, navigating burnout, overcoming imposter syndrome, building online and private practice businesses, and redefining what success looks like as an OT. From paediatrics and dementia care to leadership, embodiment, social media and ethical business growth, these conversations highlight the...

Is obsession a flaw or a superpower? In this episode, Beki Eakins explores why hyperfocus, intensity, and drive are essential for Occupational Therapists building an online business and creating freedom.

 You’ll Learn:

Why obsession is a strength, not a flaw

The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur

Why visibility and consistency matter for OTs online

How hyperfocus helps build expertise and momentum

Why freedom comes after intensity, not before

Connect with Beki

Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behi...

A practical guide for OTs ready to build an online business safely while earning alongside their current role.

In this empowering episode, Beki Eakins explains how occupational therapists can start a profitable online business without taking big financial risks. Learn the mindset, strategy and practical steps to build freedom while still working your day job.

So many occupational therapists dream of creating more freedom, increasing their income and enjoying their work again, but fear of financial risk often stops them from getting started. In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins...

In this inspiring episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, host Beki Eakins reconnects with former client and paediatric Occupational Therapist Alex Viera - now known for her transformational work with mothers through The Regulated Mama and for her bold move into creating a freedom-style OT business.

This episode is essential listening for Occupational Therapists who are burnt out, craving autonomy, or curious about building a flexible, values-aligned OT business. Alex shares how she moved from clinical exhaustion into a life and business led by intuition, nervous system regulation and authenticity.

In this conversation...

In today’s powerful episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, host Beki Eakins explores a conversation that most occupational therapists rarely hear inside traditional services — yet it’s one of the biggest opportunities for our profession:

Ageing is not decline.
Ageing is an occupational transition.
And OTs are perfectly placed to lead the way.

This episode challenges the fear-based, symptom-obsessed messaging dominating social media and shines a light on what ageing really is: a series of evolving roles, routines, identities and occupations that require skilled, holistic support.

If you’re an Occupati...

If you’re an Occupational Therapist feeling stretched by long waiting lists, high demand, or the emotional weight of supporting neurodivergent families, this episode may be exactly what you need.

In Episode 111, host Beki Eakins speaks with Anna Willis, a highly specialised Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner, about how she transitioned from a traditional, high-pressure clinical service into creating Calm Club - a parent-led online programme that is transforming home life for families.

This conversation explores what happens when we stop focusing solely on “fixing the child” and instead support parents to unders...

If you have ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you are constantly pushing yourself to keep up in your business or workplace, this episode will feel like a powerful exhale.

In this conversation, Beki sits down with Renae Fieck, Occupational Therapist, cycle alignment mentor and author of Cycle Sync Your Business. Together, they explore why so many women in business (especially OTs transitioning online) struggle with burnout, lack of consistency, emotional highs and lows, and ongoing fatigue.

The truth is this:
Your hormones are not the issue.
Your business model is.

...

In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, host Beki Eakins ( Business Mindset Coach, and Lifestyle Mentor for OTs) speaks with Sarita Sloane, Occupational Therapist, Yoga Therapist, and founder of Sunshine OT & Yoga. Sarita is also the creator of The Embodied OT Program - a transformational training that weaves somatic awareness, yoga philosophy, and nervous-system science into the core of occupational therapy practice.

Sarita invites OTs to return to their bodies, reclaim presence as their most powerful therapeutic tool, and build practices that are grounded, sustainable, and aligned. Her work directly addresses the burnout so many OTs...

In this empowering episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, host Beki Eakins talks with Lynsay McFarlane-Shaw, a pioneering Occupational Therapist and supervision specialist who’s redefining what true professional support looks like.

Lynsay shares how she rebuilt her career after burnout, creating an Occupational Therapy supervision model that prioritises well-being, reflection, and growth rather than endless workload demands. Together, Beki and Lynsay explore how OTs can thrive in practice, strengthen their boundaries, and lead change across the profession.

If you’re an Occupational Therapist in the UK looking for ways to prevent burnout, deli...

So many clients, and contacts ask us this question, so we decided to break it down in detail.

In short - if you are not yet making money, then in most cases it is the wrong decision to use Kajabi. 

If you decide you wish to explore our offer on Kajabi, and receive our support then you can either send me a message, saying Kajabi, and we can discuss it more. Or you can get started using this affiliate link, and receive a free 30 day trial. Once you have it, let me know and we w...