From Burned Out to Lit Up: How One OT Built a Practice That Actually Fits with Tanya Glass

What if you’ve been an OT for 27 years and you’re starting to wonder if you’re done? Not done with the profession—just done with other people’s systems. Today’s guest felt exactly that way, and she did something about it.

I’m introducing you to Tanya Glass, an occupational therapist and the owner and founder of her private practice, Grow and Thrive OT, based in the San Antonio area of Texas.

Tanya is a 27-year veteran OT who has practiced in many areas but has specialized in pediatrics and feeding therapy for the last 19 years. After moving from Nevada to Texas, she struggled with her identity as a therapist while trying to find the right fit in a position. Frustrated by hospital politics, early intervention rules, and systems with policies that exist “just because,” Tanya decided to stop looking for the perfect job and start creating it. She now runs a mobile private practice where she sees neurodivergent children and adolescents with feeding and eating differences, sensory processing challenges, and emotional regulation needs.

In this episode, Tanya discusses how focusing on her niche helped her fall back in love with OT, why even a small side practice can transform your mental health, and how she built her business gradually—starting with the Start Your Private Practice program while working as a contractor—to get to a 60/40 split between her own practice and home health.

Outside of patient care, Tanya currently works as an independent contractor for a home health company, as well as a contractor for a company that does special school contracts with OTs as “sensory coaches.” She also creates webinars for Summit Education while she continues to grow her own private practice. Tanya is deeply passionate about creating opportunities for OTs to connect and hosts a monthly Zoom support call for Texas OTs. In her free time, she enjoys continuing to find new ways to support fellow clinicians.

In Today’s Episode, We Discuss:

• What it really feels like to lose your spark in this profession
• How building her own practice brought it back

Tanya is truly living proof that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. After 27 years in the field, she went from feeling like she might be “done with OT” to building a practice that lights her on fire again—all while continuing to work as a contractor, create webinars, and build community for other Texas OTs. Her story does not have to be the exception; you, too, can achieve the career of your dreams if you simply start taking steps to get there.

Want to build your private practice the right way—with a solid foundation, just like Tanya did? Learn more about our Start Your Private Practice Program, where Tanya got the step-by-step guidance and mentorship she needed to go from burnout to business owner. To learn more, please visit www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com.

Or, if you already have an existing private practice and you’re ready to take it to the next level we’d love to support you inside the Next Level Private Practitioner. You can learn more at www.nextlevelprivatepractitioner.com.

Whether you want to start a private practice or grow your existing private practice, I can help you get the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, and financial abundance that you deserve. Visit my website www.independentclinician.com to learn more.

 

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Tanya on Instagram: instagram.com/growandthriveot/

Check out her website: growandthriveot.com

 

Where We Can Connect: