119. Every OT Who Sends Paper Handouts Needs This Episode with Laura Simmons

If you're an OT (or allied health professional) still sending paper handouts, long follow-up emails, or stick-figure drawings, this episode will completely shift how you think about home programs. In this powerful and practical conversation, Beki Eakins is joined by Laura Simmons, an Australian occupational therapist turned digital health innovator and founder of Theratrak. Laura shares how she went from paediatric OT to accidental tech founder, building a platform now used by clinics across Australia and internationally to help therapists bridge the gap between therapy sessions and real life, without burning out on admin.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: - Why paper handouts fail (and what works better)- How Theratrak helps therapists turn session activities into engaging, trackable home programs- How gamification (badges, rewards, avatars) increases child and family engagement- What OTs need to know before building an app or digital product- The real costs of creating an app—and why revenue matters early- How digital tools can reduce travel, time, and cost barriers to therapy- Why therapists feel more confident when they can actually see what happens at home- How Laura manages mindset, confidence, and resilience as a female founder in tech- What “freedom” really looks like when you design a business around your values Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki’s free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership: Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell  offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: www.bekieakins.com Instagram: OT Yourself to Freedom Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community LinkedIn: Beki Eakins Book an Inspiration Call: Click here About the Guest: Laura Simmons Laura Simmons is an Australian occupational therapist, digital health innovator, and founder of Theratrak, a platform transforming how therapists deliver home programs and engage with clients. With more than a decade of experience across paediatric, school-based, community, and clinic settings, Laura has built her career around solving practical challenges faced by OTs, families, and disability service providers. Inspired by the creativity and problem-solving at the heart of OT, Laura developed a passion for paediatrics early in her career. Her clinical work highlighted how much time therapists spent on documentation, follow-ups, and coordinating with families, sparking the idea for Theratrak. Today, Theratrak is used by clinics across Australia and internationally to create programs in minutes, support multi-carer collaboration, enable real-time client updates, and streamline waitlist management. Laura is recognised as a leader in digital transformation, advocating for practical, accessible technology that enhances practice and empowers therapists to deliver more personalised, impactful care. Want a 20% discount? Just mention the OT Yourself to Freedom podcast in the "where did you hear about us?" section, then you will receive a unique 20% discount code. Connect with Laura: Website: https://www.theratrak.co/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theratrak  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theratrak  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theratrak/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-simmons-a0447a95/  About the Podcast OT Yourself To Freedom Podcast helps occupational therapists create a life and business they love. Host Beki Eakins shares practical tips, strategies, and real-world stories to inspire your journey to freedom Love this episode? Subscribe to OT Yourself to Freedom and leave a review! Your feedback helps more OTs break free from burnout and build a business they love.