How Balanced Living OT was Born: A Journey to Meaningful Care

More Than Just a Job

I became an occupational therapist for one simple reason—I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to helping people. I wanted to make a difference in their lives, empower them to regain their independence, and support them in achieving their goals. But as the years passed, I found myself facing a harsh reality: the healthcare system wasn’t designed with the patient in mind. It was built around numbers, productivity quotas, and insurance approvals—none of which truly reflected the real needs of the people I served.

I began to feel like a machine, constantly moving from one patient to the next, bound by restrictions that prevented me from offering the time, attention, and holistic care my clients deserved. I knew something had to change.

The Breaking Point: When I Knew I Had to Make a Change

For years, I worked a stable, full-time hospital job—four 10-hour shifts a week. It was reliable, it was safe, and from the outside, it looked like a great career path. But on the inside? I wasn’t happy. I tried to convince myself that it was just stress or burnout, but deep down, I knew the real reason: I was no longer fulfilled.

I found myself feeling frustrated and powerless, knowing that the system wasn’t allowing me to provide the care my patients truly needed. I saw people being discharged too soon, denied services they still needed, or rushed through treatment plans based on insurance coverage rather than their actual progress. I kept asking myself, “Is this what I went to school for?"

And yet, leaving felt terrifying. I had built my entire career in this space. Walking away from a stable paycheck, benefits, and a clear career path felt risky—and I had plenty of people reminding me of that.

Facing Fear and Doubt

When I started talking about leaving to start my own practice, I heard it all:

“It’s just a phase.”

“You’ll regret walking away from job security.”

“What if it doesn’t work? What if you fail?”

At first, I let those doubts get to me. What if they were right? What if I was making a huge mistake? But then, I realized something important:

I am in charge of my own life. I get to decide what success looks like. And I get to choose whether I let fear control my decisions—or if I push forward anyway.

The more I sat with it, the more I realized that staying in a job that made me unhappy was the real risk. I didn’t want to become someone who counted down the days to retirement, wishing I had taken a chance on something I believed in.

So, I made a choice. I chose to remember why I became an OT in the first place. I chose to build something that aligned with my values, rather than force myself to fit into a system that didn’t.

That’s when the idea for Balanced Living OT was born.

Taking the Leap into Private Practice

Leaving the security of my hospital job was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I wasn’t starting this business with a huge budget or investors—I was building it from zero dollars, from the ground up.

I had no guarantee of success, no blueprint to follow, and a lot of uncertainty ahead. But I also had something more powerful: belief in myself and my vision.

I wanted to create a practice where:

✔️ Patients came first, not paperwork.

✔️ Care was personalized and meaningful.

✔️ I could provide wellness and prevention—not just reactive care.

I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt trapped in the system, and I wanted to offer an alternative. I wanted to create something that gave people real, impactful care—without the restrictions of insurance and bureaucracy.

The Vision Behind Balanced Living OT

Balanced Living OT isn’t just about providing therapy sessions—it’s about changing the way people experience healthcare.

It’s about time—time to listen, to understand, and to treat each client as an individual, not a number.

It’s about freedom—freedom from insurance-driven limitations, allowing me to provide the care my clients actually need.

It’s about empowerment—helping people live healthier, more independent lives, whether through occupational therapy, wellness services, or education.

I wanted to redefine what OT could be—not just for people recovering from illness or injury, but for anyone looking to improve their quality of life. That’s why Balanced Living OT offers wellness coaching, preventative care, and holistic services alongside traditional therapy, because true well-being goes beyond just physical function.

Lessons Learned & Words of Encouragement

Starting this practice hasn’t been easy. There were moments of doubt, countless hours of planning, and the challenge of navigating a whole new way of delivering care. But through it all, I’ve learned:

Passion fuels everything. When you believe in what you do, the challenges feel worth it.

Healthcare should be human-centered. Every person deserves care that looks at their whole self—not just their diagnosis.

There’s always another way. Just because the traditional system works one way doesn’t mean you have to follow it.

You are in charge of your own life. People will always have opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s your journey to live.

For anyone out there feeling stuck in a system that doesn’t align with their values, wondering if they can break free and build something better—you can.

For those of you dreaming of starting your own practice, or simply looking for a way to offer more meaningful care—it’s possible.

Where Balanced Living OT Is Today & What’s Next

Today, Balanced Living OT is growing into the vision I always dreamed of—a place where people can receive personalized, compassionate, and holistic care without the restrictions of traditional healthcare models.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue expanding my services, building my wellness programs, and growing a community that values independence, well-being, and balance in all aspects of life.

Want to Learn How I Did It?

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own OT practice but don’t know where to begin, I want to hear from you! Please email me if you are interested in a step-by-step course on what I did to start my own private practice. 

And if you or a loved one are looking for occupational therapy or wellness services that truly put you first, I’d love to connect.

Let’s build a healthier, more balanced future—together.

xoxo,

Jaycee