Episode Summary:
In this enlightening episode, Kate explores the concept of interoception—the body’s internal sense that informs us about what’s happening inside. Often overlooked, interoception plays a vital role in emotional regulation, communication, and behavior. Whether you're a parent seeking to better understand your child's actions or a therapist supporting clients with sensory processing differences, understanding and supporting interoception can be transformative.

Join us as Kate shares practical insights, real-world examples, and effective strategies to develop this critical skill, empowering children and adults to better recognize, label, and respond to internal cues.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What is interoception and why it’s fundamental to emotional and behavioral regulation
• How interoception impacts sensations like hunger, thirst, temperature, heartbeat, and emotional states
• Common signs of interoception difficulties and how they can manifest in behavior
• The importance of internal body awareness for self-regulation and social-emotional success
• Practical activities to support the development of interoception in children and adults, including body part identification and body check exercises
• How strengthening interoception enhances empathy, communication, and resilience

Resources & Links:

• Kelly Malher’s Interoception Curriculum
• Body awareness activities and tips to support interoception development
• PARENTS: Schedule a consultation with Kate for personalized guidance on supporting sensory and emotional regulation
• THERAPISTS: Visit Kate’s website for more resources and tips:

Connect with Kate:
[Social media links or website]

Subscribe & Review:
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Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Grow Together podcast, Kate dives into the often-mysterious world of setting your therapy rates and building a profitable, sustainable private practice. Whether you're new to private practice or looking to refine your pricing strategy, this episode provides practical tips to confidently price your services, protect your time, and increase your income—without burning out.

Kate emphasizes the importance of valuing your skills, experience, and niche, while also sharing insights on different pricing models, policies, and mindset shifts necessary for financial success. Learn how to make your practice more profitable, sustainable, and aligned with your goals, all while serving your clients with integrity and excellence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why your rates should reflect your value, expertise, and the investment you've made in your education and business
• The importance of researching local market rates and adjusting based on your unique skills and niche
• How to diversify your income with packages, group sessions, and flexible service options
• The critical role of policies, including cancellation and no-show policies, in protecting your time and income
• Strategies for setting clear, confident communication about your fees
• The mindset shift from feeling like a "servant" to valuing your work and worth as a professional
• Tips for reviewing and adjusting your rates over time as your experience and practice grow

Resources & Links:

• Schedule a call
• Join The Business Hub- Optimizing your income by optimizing your time

Connect with Kate:
Grow With Kate Program

Subscribe & Review:
If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps grow the reach of our mission to empower therapists and build sustainable practices.

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If you are ready for 1:1 help, lets get started with a discovery call! Schedule here!

Episode Title:
Understanding Behavior Through Sensory Motor Regulation: The Power of Motor Planning in Pediatric Therapy

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Kate dives into the often-overlooked connection between sensory integration, behavior regulation, and motor planning in children. If you've ever wondered whether challenging behaviors are really defiance or something deeper, this episode provides valuable insights into how sensory processing and motor planning impact a child's ability to follow directions and engage. Through relatable stories and practical tips, Kate emphasizes the importance of understanding the child's perspective, assessing their capabilities, and using simple strategies like visual aids and task breakdowns. Whether you're a pediatric OT, parent, or caregiver, discover how to better support children and prevent behavior misunderstandings before they escalate.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The difference between behavioral defiance and sensory/motor challenges
• How motor planning affects a child's ability to initiate and complete tasks
• Common signs of sensory motor roadblocks and how to recognize them
• Four reflective questions to analyze and understand a child's behavior
• Practical strategies to support sensory motor regulation, including visual modeling, task breakdowns, and movement prep
• The importance of viewing challenging behaviors as a communication, not defiance
• How to start supporting sensory motor development immediately while waiting for professional intervention

FOR THERAPISTS:

• Join the Grow with Kate community and subscribe to the newsletter for weekly tips on sensory motor regulation
• Schedule a call here to discuss your therapy concerns or career goals to clarify your approach to supporting children

FOR FAMILIES: Our Practice Website

Review & Subscribe:
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe so you don’t miss future insights on pediatric therapy, business building, and more!

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How to Find Your Niche and Attract Your Ideal Clients as an Occupational Therapist—Without Burnout

In this heartfelt episode, Kate shares her personal journey from feeling overwhelmed as a generalist to discovering the power of niching down in her private practice. She explains how this shift transformed her approach, helped her avoid burnout, and allowed her to serve clients she truly loves.

Kate dives deep into how choosing a specific who—your ideal clients—rather than just what setting you work in, can change everything. She shares reflection questions to help you identify your perfect clients, craft your marketing message, and build a thriving, purpose-driven practice.

If you’re struggling to find clarity, feeling burnt out, or unsure how to attract the right clients, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you focus, grow, and serve with confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why niching down is the secret to sustainable success in private practice
• How to identify your ideal client and what they really need
• How focusing on your passion and purpose helps craft authentic marketing that attracts the right families and clients

Get started today!
Download the free Private Practice Planner linked in the show notes to clarify your niche and attract your dream clients. Want one-on-one support? Book a coaching session and let’s turn your passion into a purpose-filled, profitable private practice.

Remember: Your unique skills and passions are the keys to a thriving practice—all you need is clarity and focus. Let’s grow together!

Subscribe to our Business Hub where we will send you weekly applicable templates to apply to and GROW your practice!

If you are ready for 1:1 help, lets get started with a discovery call! Schedule here!

In this highly informative episode, we dive deep into pediatric occupational therapy, sensory processing disorder, and neuroscience-informed strategies with expert OT Katie Hamlin-Pacheco. Katie shares her journey from skepticism to mastery, demonstrating how understanding the neuroscience of sensory processing can revolutionize your approach to helping children regulate, feel safe, and reach their full potential.

Learn about innovative techniques such as her science-based dressing protocol, neuroplasticity, sensory regulation, and the application of Polyvagal Theory in clinical practice. Katie emphasizes the importance of sensory integration, sensory health, sensory processing strategies, and creating positive sensory associations. She explains how to support emotional regulation, manage sensory overload, and improve daily routines like dressing using neuroscience and sensory modulation techniques.

Whether you're an occupational therapist, pediatric therapist, parent, or healthcare professional, this episode provides practical, science-backed tips on sensory processing, sensory integration therapy, childhood development, sensory diet, sensory regulation techniques, and neuroplasticity for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), or behavioral challenges.

About Katie Hamlin-Pacheco

Katie Hamlin-Pacheco is a highly regarded pediatric occupational therapist, author, and speaker specializing in sensory processing, neuroscience, and sensory integration therapy. With a deep passion for making complex brain science accessible, she has developed innovative, science-backed strategies that empower both clinicians and parents to support children’s sensory health and emotional regulation.

Katie’s expertise lies in translating neuroscience into practical tools that transform daily routines, such as dressing and transitions, into positive experiences for children. She is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) clinical specialist and holds advanced certifications in neuroscience for mental health professionals. Her groundbreaking work, including a science-based dressing protocol, is transforming how therapists approach sensory challenges and behavior management.

As an author, Katie has shared her expertise through books and courses, helping countless families and clinicians understand the “why” behind children’s behaviors. Her ability to creatively integrate neuroscience, sensory processing, and everyday practice has established her as a thought leader and innovator in pediatric occupational therapy.

Brag Points:

• Creator of the acclaimed science-based dressing protocol, changing the way therapists and parents support dressing skills in children with sensory challenges.
• Recognized expert and speaker in sensory processing disorders and neuroscience, routinely inspiring clinicians worldwide.
• Published author, sharing practical, science-backed strategies to improve sensory regulation and mental health in children.
• Certified in neuroscience for mental health professionals and an ASD clinical specialist, bringing cutting-edge brain science directly into practice.
• Passionate about advancing occupational therapy practice by bridging research and real-world application to help children thrive and families feel confident.

Katie’s work continues to push the boundaries of pediatric sensory therapy, making her a respected leader, innovator, and educator in the field

Key Topics Covered:

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If you are ready for 1:1 help, lets get started with a discovery call! Schedule here!

Episode Summary:

Let’s face it—most occupational therapists didn’t go to school to learn how to market themselves. And if the word marketing makes you feel a little nauseous... you’re in good company.

OTs say marketing is the hardest part of starting and growing a private practice. But here's the truth: marketing isn’t about pressure—it’s about visibility. It's how people discover your practice, connect with your mission, and choose you to support their journey.

In this episode of the Grow Together Podcast, occupational therapist and private practice coach Kate McCummons shares how to shift your mindset around marketing and build a business that feels aligned, heart-centered, and effective.

From her own $2,000 cookie mistake (yes, really) to a client who returned months later after a heartfelt 45-minute conversation, Kate shows how authentic connection—not a perfect pitch—is what actually grows a practice.

You’ll learn:

• Why most OTs avoid marketing—and how to move past the fear
• How to use the Know–Like–Trust strategy to ethically build a caseload
• The 3-circle framework to market online without burnout
• How to choose between virtual and in-person marketing for your practice
• What to do (and what to skip) in your first 90 days of business visibility

Whether you're starting a pediatric OT practice, launching a side hustle, or trying to attract more private pay clients, this episode will help you confidently build awareness without compromising your values.

Key Searchable Topics:

• Occupational therapy marketing strategies
• How to market an OT private practice
• Know-Like-Trust framework for therapists
• Virtual marketing vs. in-person outreach for OTs
• Ethical marketing for healthcare providers
• Private pay therapy business growth
• Therapist business startup tips

Episode Resources & Mentions:

• Get my resources I used to start my marketing online!
• 🎧 Related episode: Your WHY (Ep 2)

Start Growing Your Practice With Clarity & Confidence

Marketing doesn’t have to feel fake. It just has to feel true. Tune in to learn how to attract clients through connection, not coercion—and finally feel good about putting yourself out there.

#OTPrivatePractice #OccupationalTherapyMarketing #GrowWithKate #TherapistBusinessTips #KnowLikeTrust #PrivatePayPractice #MarketingForTherapists #HeartCenteredMarketing #TherapyEntrepreneur #OTSideHustle

Subscribe to our Business Hub where we will send you weekly applicable templates to apply to and GROW your practice!

If you are ready for 1:1 help, lets get started with a discovery call! Schedule here!

What Systems Do You Really Need to Start Your Private Practice? Here’s the Simple Answer.

Host: Kate McCommons, OT, Private Practice Owner & Business Coach
Length: ~10 mins
Tags: Private Practice Systems, EMR Setup, Starting a Therapy Business, OT Tools, Business Foundations

Episode Summary

Feeling overwhelmed by tech and systems as you prepare to start your private practice? In this quick bonus episode, Kate answers one of the most common questions she gets in her DMs: “What systems do I actually need to start?”

Spoiler: You don’t need spreadsheets, Gmail folders, or complicated software hacks. You need a solid, simple system that will streamline your workflow, protect your business, and save you hours of stress down the road. Kate breaks down what to prioritize and how to confidently start with the right tools in place.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why you should never use Gmail, Google Docs, or Sheets to run your OT practice
• Kate’s top EMR recommendations (Fusion, Jane, SimplePractice, TheraNest)
• Why your email domain matters for credibility and marketing
• The importance of choosing a matching business name, domain, and email
• How scheduling, billing, and telehealth integration saves you time and stress
• A simple rule of thumb for choosing systems that grow with your practice

Tools & Resources Mentioned:

• EMRs: Fusion, SimplePractice, Jane, TheraNest
• Domains: GoDaddy, Squarespace, or any trusted domain registrar
• Email: Create a professional email like yourname@yourpracticename.com for brand credibility and deliverability
• Bonus Tip: Check if your domain is available before finalizing your business name!

Key Quote:

Who This Episode Is For:

• New OT practice owners getting ready to launch
• Therapists overwhelmed by tech decisions
• Side-hustlers wanting to look (and operate) like legit business owners
• Anyone who wants a clean, cohesive start without wasting time on trial and error

Want More Like This?

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Was this episode helpful?
Reply to this week’s email or DM Kate @growwithkate_ and let us know your biggest takeaway. We’d love to hear from you!

Until next time… don’t grow alone—let’s grow together. 🌱

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How to Legally Start Your Private Practice (Without Losing $7,500 Like I Did)

Host: Kate McCommons, OT, Private Practice Owner & Business Coach
Length: ~30 mins
Tags: Private Practice Setup, OT Business, Tax Tips, Business Structure, Entrepreneurship, New OT Practice, Mistakes to Avoid

Episode Summary

In this episode, Kate shares the critical business setup steps every occupational therapist needs to take when starting a private practice. From choosing the right legal structure to saving thousands in taxes, Kate walks you through the unglamorous—but absolutely essential—foundations of building a practice that lasts. Plus, she shares a personal story of how skipping these steps cost her over $7,500 in her first year of business—and how you can avoid the same mistakes.

If you're overwhelmed by taxes, legal terms, and business bank accounts, this episode will break it down step by step and give you the clarity to move forward confidently.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The difference between Sole Proprietorship, LLC, and S-Corp—and how to choose the right one
• How NOT setting up your business correctly could cost you thousands
• A simple three-bucket system to manage your private practice finances
• The four tax write-off categories every therapist should track
• Why DIY contracts can backfire—and what to use instead
• The real cost of skipping malpractice insurance
• Mistakes to avoid when registering your business, saving for taxes, and setting up accounts

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Artful Contracts – Use code KATE for 10% off legal templates
• Kate’s Budget Bucket Calculator
• Malpractice Insurance: HPSO
• Practice Coaching with Kate – Work with Me

Key Quote:

Who This Episode Is For:

• OTs dreaming of private practice but overwhelmed by the ‘legal stuff’
• Therapists ready to launch a side hustle or full-time practice
• Business owners who want to avoid costly setup mistakes
• Anyone curious about the practical steps to build a legit, sustainable OT business

Connect With Kate:

• Instagram: @growwithkate_

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with a friend who needs it. Let’s build smart, ethical, and empowered practices—together. 💛

Subscribe to our Business Hub where we will send you weekly applicable templates to apply to and GROW your practice!

If you are ready for 1:1 help, lets get started with a discovery call! Schedule here!