Claim OwnershipThe Freedom Therapist
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© 2025 Mia Poklepovich, OT Inspire Australia
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Each week we’ll go deep on all things business, self, energy and freedom. There's growth, giggles AND tears, as we lean into the best version of our business - and selves too. We’ll also get to chat with some incredibly inspiring women who will generously share their stories on finding that magic. If you’re looking for deep conversations, no gatekeeping, practical advice all with a little bit of chaos, you’re in the right place.
I'm your host Mia Poklepovich, a previously burnt out mental health occupational therapist and business owner, who found her way to fall back in love with business and life all over again. This podcast was created to be your safe space to learn AND unlearn all the things about scaling your business, without losing yourself in the process. Each week will be talking about ALL the things. And feeling ALL the feels. Because business is a wild ride, at all stages. So if you need an extra dose of inspo, a soft landing or just a moment to unwind you are SO welcome here.
Give yourself permission to take some space for you, and let’s be besties. I can’t wait!
52 Episodes
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If you’ve opened Instagram this week, stared at a blank caption box and thought: “I actually don’t have it in me…” This is the episode you need. December asks therapists to hold so much- final sessions, reports, cancellations, end-of-year fatigue, squeezing just one more thing in AND on top of that, you're meant to “keep your marketing going.” I know you’re tired. And you don’t want marketing taking the last scraps of your energy. This episode is just what to do in that exact moment. ...
In this episode, I sit down with occupational therapist and director of Thrive Together Therapy, Aileen Mathyssen - a remote OT, private practice owner and leader in rural & remote allied health in Western Australia. Aileen’s story starts in Ireland, moves through Bondi and lands in Paraburdoo - a tiny mining town in WA where she became a true generalist OT and one of the only allied health professionals families could access. We speak honestly about how hard rural and remote prac...
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 be...
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 dist...
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 ...
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-promoti...
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: Why vulnerability is at the centre of her practice, and...
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 neurodive...
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 ...
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 wha...
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 unwa...
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 P...
This week’s episode is one I recorded on the fly, after a real conversation reminded me of just how heavy things have felt for so many therapists right now. Between constant NDIS changes, shifting ballparks, and the relentless pressure of report writing, it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling tired, questioning ourselves, and teetering on the edge of burnout. In this episode, I speak honestly about: Why it’s natural to feel drained, flat, or second-guessing yourself in a system that...
So many therapists, health professionals & allied heath practitioners tell me the same story: “I mapped out my whole week, and by Wednesday it was chaos again.” If you’ve ever felt like your calendar just doesn’t stick — no matter how motivated you are — this episode is for you. We’ll explore why traditional productivity hacks and rigid schedules often fail in therapy businesses, and what’s really underneath the struggle to stay consistent. I’ll share practical ways to approach ti...
If content keeps slipping off your to-do list — it’s probably not just about time or “sticking to a plan.” In this episode, I’m unpacking why showing up online as a therapist can feel so uncomfortable (and no, it’s not just the algorithm), and how to shift your mindset so creating content feels more like building connection and less like performing. We’ll talk about what’s really behind that hesitation to post, and how sharing what actually matters to you can expand your reach, deepen...
In this episode, we’re talking about the constant tug-of-war therapists feel between working in the business (client sessions, admin, the to-do list) and working on the business (planning, strategy, sustainable growth). If you’ve ever felt guilty for stepping back from client work to focus on the bigger picture — or overwhelmed by the idea of making time for CEO time when you’re already drowning — this episode is for you. We’re unpacking why this isn’t a motivation problem, and what t...
Is Private Practice Still Worth It? Why I’m Choosing to Stay For the therapist on the edge of burnout, change, or walking away — a reminder of what’s still possible There’s Still So Much Goodness in Private Practice Yes, it’s hard. Yes, things are shifting. But this space is still full of possibility. If you’ve felt the weight of all the recent changes If you’ve caught yourself thinking, “Is it even worth it anymore?” This episode is for you. Today, I’m speaking directly to the therap...
You love this work. You care deeply. You hold the emotional weight of your clients, your team, and your community and yet, you’re still afraid to talk about making really great money. In today’s episode, we’re saying the thing out loud: being broke isn’t ethical — it’s unsustainable. I’m unpacking the toxic stories therapists have inherited around accessibility, pricing, and guilt... and what it actually takes to build a practice that works for you, not just for everyone else. This is...
In this warm, honest, and emotionally rich episode, Mia sits down with Darwin-based occupational therapist and founder of Palm Tree OT, Emma Podsiadly to unpack the deeply personal story behind her heart-led private practice. Emma is a paediatric OT, mum to two gorgeous young children, and small business owner. She is always optimistic, and the kind of friend (and therapist!) who will cheer you on and go to in to bat for you! With a background in education and a strong respect for the...
You finally start creating a business that feels good in your body. A group program that works. A bit more breathing space in your calendar. Profit that doesn’t rely on you being constantly available. And then the voice creeps in: Am I abandoning the work? Am I betraying my peers who are still in the trenches? Is it okay to want more — when so many are just barely getting by? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on a question so many of us carry quietly: Does building a busin...
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