• Next Level Occupational Therapy - We’re Back - A Re-Introduction
    Apr 28 2023

    Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast is back! In this re-introduction to the show, host Kara Welke explains why the show went on hiatus, what the Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast is all about, and what to expect with upcoming episodes. 

     

    Check out Next Level online! Website - https://www.nextlevelot.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelot - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelOccupationalTherapy

     

    Show is recorded at Grand Forks Best Source. For studio information, visit www.gfbestsource.com – For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

     

    #nextlevelot #occupationaltherapy #accessibility #flexibility #physicaltherapy #mentalhealth #grandforks

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    5 mins
  • Interview with Steve Nawotniak
    Jun 24 2021

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform interviews Steve Nawotniak, OTR/L, NYCPS who is a Self-Designed Masters from Buffalo State College, a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Utica College, and is a New York State Certified Peer Specialist. Starting in August, 2000 Steve set out on an 8-month, non-motorized Trek of service where he hiked, biked, sailed and canoed from Buffalo, NY to Key West, FL. He gave presentations to over 1000 youth on the values of volunteerism and education and completed over 230 hours of community service along the way. Two years later, in August 2002, Steve was hospitalized for a week with a major depressive episode and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. From that point forward, Steve has spent his life learning how to live with his condition on the journey from hospitalized patient to licensed healthcare professional. Steve has spoken internationally on occupational therapy and mental health. He has also published the books Handbook for Healthy Living with a Mood Disorder in 2014 and Bipolar Life Hacks: Keys to Loving Life with a Bipolar Condition in 2018 to share the skills and tools he uses daily to live, what he calls, a desired quality of life. Mom’s Choice Award winning children’s book series .. Mubu the Morph Series 2015-16 about character development and finding yourself within. Steve believes that successfully living with a condition is not merely managing and coping with its symptoms. It requires adaptability to change, mechanisms for managing challenges, and the development of skills for a fulfilling life. Utilizing an Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) framework, he works with clients in a variety of activities that include identifying and implementing healthy habits, rituals, and routines, establishing a support network, strengthening normative life roles, exploring sensory strategies, developing approaches for stress reduction, creating strategies for financial awareness and designing a recovery plan. In May of 2020, He started His company, Compass Recovery Coaching, LLC which focuses on providing hope and freedom around difficult emotions and feelings.

    Steve's Website: https://www.compassrecoverycoaching.com/

    Youtube Channel: Compass Recovery Coaching

    If you are ready to start your own business, we are here to help you! Check out our Therapy Business Builder Programs: https://www.nextlevelot.com/products Be sure to join our Free Next Level Facebook Group, you can find the link to that group as well as our YouTube channel, free resources, and more here: https://www.nextlevelot.com/

     

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    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    59 mins
  • The Home School OT
    Jun 11 2021

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform interviews Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L. Sarah is an occupational therapist with a background in both pediatrics and home health. In fact, working as an OT when in a client’s home, Sarah was introduced to homeschooling and was amazed at the atmosphere of learning within the home. Later that year, due to a move, Collins Academy of Excellence began. After two years of homeschooling, Sarah consistently noticed that parents, experts on their own children, were asking the same questions and could benefit from consulting with an occupational therapist for guidance in their own homeschools. As a result, Collins Academy Therapy Services was opened with the purpose of educating families on how to create homeschools specifically designed for their students’ needs. The other half of Collins Academy of Excellence is training occupational therapists to best serve the homeschool community. Combining both of these allows Collins Academy Therapy Services to provide resources for homeschools and occupational therapist to come together in guiding children towards their specific purpose in life.

    If you are ready to start your own business, we are here to help you! Check out our Therapy Business Builder Programs: https://www.nextlevelot.com/products

    Be sure to join our Free Next Level Facebook Group, you can find the link to that group as well as our YouTube channel, free resources, and more here: https://www.nextlevelot.com/

    Sarah's Website: https://www.homeschoolot.com/home

    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    49 mins
  • Create and Publish an Assessment
    Jun 11 2021

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform interviews Katie O’Day who is an avid occupational therapist and the owner of two small businesses. She is the author of the Visual Activity Sort which is an assessment tool for professionals looking to measure how individuals spend their time doing meaningful activities. She has also started a private mobile therapy clinic, Resilient Life Therapies working with kids and adults in Portland, Oregon. She has a strong interest in pediatric mental health and has extensive training in neuroscience, particularly interoception and trauma informed care. She uses a mindfulness approach to work with individuals on self-regulation, pain and improving individuals daily lives. She has worked in a variety of settings including acute care, schools and clinics for both kids and adults. Katie has a love of nature including hiking, trips to the beach and camping.

     

    If you are ready to start your own business, we are here to help you! Check out our Therapy Business Builder Programs: https://www.nextlevelot.com/products

    Be sure to join our Free Next Level Facebook Group, you can find the link to that group as well as our YouTube channel, free resources, and more here: https://www.nextlevelot.com/

    Katie's Visual Activity Sort: https://www.visualactivitysort.com/

     

    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    31 mins
  • 6 Figure Mobile Physical and Occupational Therapy Practice in 7 months during COVID
    Jan 4 2021

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform interviews Carly Rimes Occupational Therapist. She joined our Therapy Business Builder Program in January of 2020 and it has been such a pleasure watching her start and grow such an amazing business. She has been an OT for 4 years and worked in home health and SNFs. After going through radiation for a brain tumor in grad school she quickly fell into a neurological focus.

     

    She was hired by a local physicians group to help revamp their treatment for neurological patients, especially home health. PDGM was then announced and greatly changed the treatment those patients would be receiving. So she then started looking into options of how these patients were going to continue to receive the services they need and stumbled upon Mobile Outpatient as an option. She officially launched her business (Mobile Rehab, in Naples FL) in March 2020 with 1 PT and herself. Currently, they have 3 PRN PTs, 2 PRN OTs including Carly, and an administrative assistant. On November 26, she finalized her 1000 notes. And up until then, it was mostly just her and one PT. Just to put that into perspective if she only received $100 per visit, that is 100,000 in 7 months all during COVID.

    How amazing is that!!!

     

    Check out our Next Level website for a FREE Start-Up Checklist and Business Plan and to join our FREE Next Level OT FB group, plus lots more: https://www.nextlevelot.com/home

    Become an OT Visionary! https://www.nextlevelot.com/nextlevelotvisionaries

    This Podcast is sponsored by our Therapy Business Builder program, where we help healthcare professionals start their own business from the ground up. https://www.nextlevelot.com/therapybusinessbuilderprograms

     

    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    38 mins
  • Pivot, Adapt, and Invest
    Nov 11 2020

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform interviews Chelsea Maziarz MS, OTR/L

     

    Chelsea discusses the importance of pivoting in her new business once COVID hit and how she needed to adapt and invest in order to take her business to the Next Level. She invested in the Therapy Business Builder Program which allowed her to make that pivot and take her business earnings over 100,000 in less than one year. Along with the investment, Chelsea shares other key tips that helped her along the way.

     

    Chelsea started her career as an occupational therapist over seven years ago after graduating with her Master's in Science, Occupational Therapy from Sacred Heart University. Initially, her career was focused on acute care with a dedication to the ICU, then moving on to home care services with specialties in geriatrics and cognitive rehabilitation.

     

    Chelsea has a husband, Andrew, and two young children. She is a Rhode Island native, born and raised, with a strong dedication to serving her local community. Chelsea started her practice at the end of 2019 with the idea of building better quality therapy options for at-risk populations. Initially, the practice was directed at home care therapy through contract work and private consulting for agencies. However, she is determined to bring new, innovative, and quality projects to her clients including wellness programming, pediatrics, mobile outpatient, and private consulting for assisted living facilities.

     

    Much of Chelsea's drive and passion for her patients stems from her role as a mother. Chelsea has a son with complex medical needs who have required therapy since birth. She understands the complex nature of the health care system and what it takes to advocate for her clients. This is evident through her dedication to quality initiatives.

     

    Currently, Chelsea is pursuing her Ph.D. at the Concordia University of Chicago and is also a professor at Worcester State University in the Occupational Therapy program.

     

    Please feel free to reach out with any questions about her programs as you can contact her directly at chelsea.maziarz@superioroutcomesllc.com

    Fall Guard: An evidenced-based fall prevention and investigation program. Website: https://superioroutcomesllc.com/fall-guard

    Check out our Next Level website for a FREE Start-Up Checklist and Business Plan and to join our FREE Next Level OT FB group, plus lots more: https://www.nextlevelot.com/home

    Become an OT Visionary! https://www.nextlevelot.com/nextlevelotvisionaries

    This Podcast is sponsored by our Therapy Business Builder program, where we help healthcare professionals start their own business from the ground up. https://www.nextlevelot.com/therapybusinessbuilder2020

     

    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • How a mobile clinic that serves people across the lifespan was up and running quickly!
    Oct 19 2020

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform interviews Megan Dooley is the owner of Innovative Therapy Solutions & and Consulting LLC which is a mobile clinic that serves people across the lifespan. She is currently working full-time at the University of Mary as an assistant professor in the OTD program.

     

    She received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Mary, and her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She is a Certified Living in Place Professional, LSVT Big certified, and Hippotherapy certified. Her passions include working with individuals with neurological conditions, home modifications, and leading groups related to health and wellness for people with chronic illnesses.

     

    Prior to teaching, She worked in a free-standing inpatient hospital and was the clinical coordinator at BraveHearts Therapeutic & and Educational Center in Illinois where she assisted in managing the Hippotherapy clinic and treated clients a few days a week. She has done research with individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers for 4 years and has recently started a research project on the impact a pro bono the clinic has on students.

     

    She is extremely passionate about occupational therapy, she is a life-long learner, and she enjoys working with clients of all ages. She currently lives in Mandan, ND, and loves the outdoors, spending time with her family and friends, and has a passion for coaching volleyball.

     

    Check out our Next Level website for a FREE Start-Up Checklist and Business Plan and to join our FREE Next Level OT FB group, plus lots more: https://www.nextlevelot.com/home

    Become an OT Visionary! https://www.nextlevelot.com/nextlevelotvisionaries

    This Podcast is sponsored by our Therapy Business Builder program, where we help healthcare professionals start their own business from the ground up. https://www.nextlevelot.com/therapybusinessbuilder2020

     

    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    34 mins
  • My Personal Journey as an Occupational Therapy Entrepreneur
    Oct 6 2020

    Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT creator of the Next Level Occupational Therapy platform talks about recent events and her journey as an Occupational Therapy Entrepreneur. Be sure to listen to her top 5 tips!

    Check out our Next Level website for a FREE Start-Up Checklist and Business Plan and to join our FREE Next Level OT FB group, plus lots more: https://www.nextlevelot.com/home

    Become an OT Visionary! https://www.nextlevelot.com/nextlevelotvisionaries

    This Podcast is sponsored by our Therapy Business Builder program, where we help healthcare professionals start their own business from the ground up. https://www.nextlevelot.com/therapybusinessbuilder2020

     

    For easy access to subscribe, download or stream past Next Level Occupational Therapy podcast episodes, visit - https://nextlevelot.podbean.com/

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    33 mins