Occupational therapy (OT) is a vital profession that helps individuals improve their ability to perform daily activities and regain independence. With the increasing digitilisation of healthcare, many practitioners are questioning whether OT can be effectively delivered online. As an occupational therapist, transitioning to a digital practice may feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it can open up new opportunities to reach and support more clients. It can also allow the therapist to work less and yet increase their earnings, as long as the right business model is used.

Turning services online is transforming how therapists interact with patients, making services more accessible than ever before. Online occupational therapy, also known as telehealth OT, allows therapists to provide virtual assessments, guided exercises, and consultations to individuals who may not have access to in-person sessions.

As a service, we go further than this traditional set up, and teach OTs how to create high ticket offers that sell online. That’s because we believe the best way to deliver services online is not to replicate how services are delivered face to face. We have seen clients have huge success with a non-traditional set up. This is exactly where the OT Freedom Collective comes in — helping OTs to use their existing skills to launch the mission that is deep inside them, creating fun, freedom, and fulfillment in their career.

Let’s explore how you can successfully offer occupational therapy online, market your services, and build a thriving OT online business.

Can Occupational Therapy Be Done Online?

The short answer is yes! Many aspects of occupational therapy can be effectively delivered online, making it more accessible for people in remote locations or those with mobility restrictions. An online business allows therapists to provide a big and holistic transformation for a client, whilst not needing to trade time for money.

Technology has advanced significantly, offering tools that can enhance online occupational therapy sessions. Platforms like Zoom, Doxy.me, and TheraPlatform provide secure communication channels, while scheduling and payment systems such as Calendly and Stripe streamline the business side of things. Digital worksheets, interactive apps, video demonstrations and community support can enhance a client journey without the therapist having to be present. This means that the client has access to a well-designed programme whenever they want, and does not require the therapist to be present so much.

Of course, occupational therapy online comes with its challenges. Hands-on techniques may be difficult to replicate, and client engagement can vary. However, incorporating engaging visual aids, gamified techniques, and ease of a community can significantly enhance client outcomes. By leveraging the right tools and adapting your approach, you can create an effective and rewarding OT online business. For most therapists this means thinking completely outside the box, often using lateral thinking. It is a completely fresh approach, using skills that OTs have, but putting it together in an order that is not commonly seen in practice.

How to Sell Your OT Services Online

Finding Your Niche and Target Audience

The first step to successfully selling your occupational therapy online services is identifying your niche. Rather than trying to serve everyone, focus on a specific target audience that aligns with your expertise and passion. Some potential niches include:

• Paediatric Occupational Therapy — Many flip into parent coaching and education for an online business.
• Mental Health OT — Providing strategies, education and coaching for managing anxiety, stress, and daily tasks.
• OT Supervision — Providing your skills and expertise in a set area to OTs or others
• Wellness — Using a variety of skills to offer wellness advice and support to clients of all ages

There are literally infinite areas you can develop. The key here is in finding your true passion, and this is often not the same as replicating what you do for your day job. Once you define your niche, tailor your messaging and content to address the specific pain points and needs of your ideal clients. The OT Freedom Collective will help you identify this if you have difficulty.

Create a High Ticket Offer

Many therapists when they move online assume that they need to sell pre-recorded courses, low cost resources and low priced packages. This approach is mostly in an attempt for passive income, but sadly leads to burnout, and slow success. A faster way is to create high ticket offers, and once this is established, to automate after. This stops OTs from spending years creating items that they don’t know how to sell. High ticket offers have a variety of definitions, but essentially means selling for over 1k, in packages that are commonly 2–4k in cost. It means designing a premium service that can solve a big problem for a client, but at the same time not mean the therapist is trading time for money. Very often this allows you to merge in non-traditional methods, or holistic or spiritual practices. It provides an opportunity to be fully creative. It’s possible, and a smart business move, to design something in just a few weeks and sell it immediately, without wasting months and years on creating it. These are time-saving strategies we teach on the OT Freedom Collective.

Setting Up Your Online Presence

A strong online presence is essential for attracting clients. Start by building social media that includes:

• A clear description of your online services
• Client testimonials and case studies (if legal to do so)
• A booking system for easy scheduling calls

Learn how to carry out marketing strategies that feel aligned to your core values. This will be very different to how affiliate and network marketing companies work, so be careful where you get your advice from. We recommend sticking to companies who support OTs online and will allow you to develop authentic strategies that match your value set. We high recommend not wasting time on a website at the start of your business, this will delay you reaching clients.

Pricing Your Online OT Services

To create a sustainable OT online business, you need a well-structured pricing model. Using pay per hour, or selling low ticket items online will lead to slow success and high risk of burnout. Create high ticket offers that sell for 2k or above. We are here to support all of these parts of business design.

Scaling Your Online OT Business

Once you establish your occupational therapy online practice, you can explore ways to scale and generate additional revenue streams:

• Create Online Courses — Develop self-paced therapy programmes that clients can access anytime. Doing this too soon in an online business can delay your progression.
• Collaborate with Other Professionals — Partnering with physiotherapists, wellness coaches, or mental health practitioners can expand your reach.
• Automate and Streamline Processes — Use automated scheduling, chatbots, and CRM systems to enhance efficiency.

The shift to digital healthcare has made online occupational therapy a viable and lucrative option. While adapting to a virtual model may seem challenging at first, the right strategies and tools can help you build a successful OT online business. By defining your niche, creating a professional online presence, and implementing effective marketing tactics, you can attract and retain clients while making a meaningful impact.

This is exactly what the OT Freedom Collective is about, helping OTs to use their existing skills to launch their mission, create more freedom, and find fulfilment in the later stages of their career.

Have questions about starting or growing your online OT practice? Book a 1:1 call with us today and get personalised guidance to help you succeed!