Now What? Becoming a Next Level Therapist: Current Practice, Side Gig, Start a Business

Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, CAPS, SHSS, has had a wide variety of experiences and has worked with pediatrics through geriatrics in various settings. She even ventured away from traditional occupational therapy for a few years and had the privilege of starting an Early Head Start program from the ground up and was the director of the EHS program. Kara taught in an OTA program as well as served as the academic fieldwork coordinator for approximately 8 years. In order to provide client-centered, occupation-based, and evidence-based practice, Kara started her own Mobile Hybrid Practice to help older adults age in place in 2018. This business has grown significantly over the years, and she now has over 15 employees and contractors providing a wide array of services. Her business not only has its own client population, but they also provide services to other agencies and businesses. Due to the lack of resources for helping therapy professionals start their own business, Kara created the Next Level Occupational Therapy Facebook group. It was through this group that it became apparent that all therapy professionals needed assistance in starting their own business and that is when the Therapy Business Builder program was started. Kara has helped hundreds of therapists get to the next level in their career through her programs.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kara Welke is the owner of Home Therapy Solutions, LLC and Next Level Occupational Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. Kara Welke has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kara Welke has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Sue Doyle, PhD, OTR/L, CAPS, SHSS has decades of experience across a broad area of occupational therapy practice and includes more than 11 years in academia teaching both adult and pediatric treatment courses, neuroscience, and research. Sue has written several chapters in occupational therapy textbooks, presented at multiple conferences including as part of AOTA’s Stroke Specialty Conference team, and has multiple international peer reviewed publications including a Cochrane systematic review. Her research areas have included evidence-based practice, therapists’ decision making and clinical reasoning, and sensory impairments after stroke. Sue has worked on developing her private practice serving adults in their homes and her clinic, which she started in 2016. Her practice includes working with stroke survivors, aging in place and home safety, and contracts with the Developmental Disability Administration and Area Agency on Aging.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Susan Doyle is the owner and occupational therapist for OT Lifestyle Solutions PLLC, Next Level Occupational Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Susan Doyle is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She serves on the review panel for Occupational Therapy in Health Care.