44. Building a Therapy Business That Fits Your Life with Emily Mackaway from My Family OT
What happens when you realize you don’t have to run your practice the way everyone else is telling you to?
Today on the Freedom Therapist podcast I’m joined by Emily Mackaway — occupational therapist, mum of two, and founder of My Family OT.
Emily’s story is one of reimagining what’s possible: from burning out in systems that didn’t work for her brain or her family, to slowly crafting a business that fits around school pick-ups, big emotions after the school day, and her own neurodivergent needs.
In this episode we dive into:
- Emily’s winding path into OT (and why she swore she’d never follow in her mum’s footsteps).
- What it was like juggling paediatrics, adults, palliative care, and neuro rehab — and the burnout that followed.
- Why she refuses to see kids unless parents are also on board, and how that shifted the heart of her practice.
- The pressure so many therapists feel to “do it all,” and how Emily found the courage to scale back into the work that actually lights her up.
- Building a business that bends around family life, rather than the other way around.
- The role of time, trial and error, and even a little jealousy in finally claiming her lane.
If you’ve ever felt like you should be able to see everyone, do everything, or grow your practice in a certain way — Emily’s story will feel like a deep exhale.
Connect with Emily
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my.family.ot/
My Family OT: https://www.myfamilyot.com.au/
We also spoke about THIS device to help with iPhone distractions! https://getbrick.app/
