Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Pallavi Patel, Owner of Steps to Success Occupational Therapy, located in Floral Park, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is called Steps To Success Occupational Therapy, where we provide family-centered therapeutic occupational therapy (OT) for children aged 0-21 years and Adults. This includes working with an intervention, CPSE, and CSE program as well. We work with the patient individually as well as in a group setting. We provide consultations along with parent/family education. We provide therapy to children with developmental delays, neurological disorders, orthopedic disorders, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, executive function disorder, behavioral problems, fine & gross motor delays, low muscle tone, poor strength, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and dyspraxia.
We also provide therapy to adults with upper extremity (shoulder/arm/hand) pain/injury, Arthritis, Work related injuries, Post-surgery, stroke rehab Chronic/acute trauma. Our occupational therapy services offer excellent treatment with the following approaches: Therapeutic Exercises, handwriting Program, neurodevelopmental Treatment, Sensory Integration Treatment, Yoga, Parent Training and Consultations, Learning workshops, Bio-mechanical approach, Compensatory techniques, Remedial/restorative approach.
We strongly believe that working as a team with parents and caregivers helps in building strong home programs that can help children carry over newly learned skills in their home/school/community environments. Additionally, this private practice is established to enhance a child's development in the areas of sensory integration/processing, fine motor skills, handwriting, motor coordination, balance, mobility, self-regulation, self-care, play, and social/emotional skills.
Initial evaluation and parent consultation services are available as well. With technology and this age of digital learning, Steps To Success emphasizes the importance of real play skills with the concern they may disappear. Through this therapy practice, we are hoping that children can benefit and maximize their learning potential in the most fun and safe environment.
Tell us about yourself
With the increasingly multicultural society, I decided to open up my own private practice where children can receive the best OT services, and I decided to set up a pediatric occupational therapy office using a holistic, culturally competent, and metalinguistic approach with my expertise in almost 17 years of work. It was always my dream to work with children and offer a unique service to the kids, especially those who are in need and whose parents cannot afford to purchase all the required materials for their children. My main goal of this practice is to help and guide us to put the pieces together and implement the best occupational therapy for our children.
In addition, empower parents of children with special needs with the skills they need to learn to help their children to become successful, happy, and confident despite any disability". Our clientele tends to be one word of mouth, showing how much success we have made in our patients' lives which gives us great satisfaction and motivates us to work harder each and every day. I truly believe that every child is unique and that proper guidance and resources are the keys to "steps to success."
In addition, to giving back to my own profession, I wanted to set up a platform where OT fieldwork students can get their best level 1 and level 2 placement to become competent OT in addition to being able to mentor new OT graduates. Furthermore, I wanted to help our community by participating in a health fair, educational workshops, and giving educational lectures on various OT-related topics. Overall, the gratification of being able to help others is what makes me go by day, and I feel fortunate to be in this field and love what I do for a living.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
One of my biggest accomplishments as a minority-based women's business owner is being able to run this practice successfully over the last few years. Being a little fish in a pond isn't easy but now, being recognized and shining with my own individual identity is an awesome feeling. Especially when there were so many small businesses closed down during COVID -19, we were able to stand strong without requiring any additional help, which shows accomplishments on its own.
It is always scary starting your own business, especially when your profession isn't well-known and recognized by many people yet having this obstacle to get past, I am lucky enough to have established this business, and it continues to grow and provide the best services to our patients.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Time management while juggling multiple roles and responsibilities at the same time. Uncertainty of business or clients & learning to say NO.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be passionate and confident, and have clear expectations.
- Be innovative yet focused.
- Provide quality services.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.steps2successot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STSOTtherapy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepstosuccess_ot/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-pallavi-patel-220846a/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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