Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Pastena.
Hi Jaclyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I received my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2020, and I knew without a doubt that I wanted to jump straight into the world of Pediatric Therapy. I decided to stay in my hometown, Anchorage (Alaska), where I worked in an outpatient multidisciplinary pediatric therapy clinic for two years. I absolutely loved it! After spending my entire life in Alaska, my husband and I decided it was time for a change and more sunshine! We decided to relocate to McKinney, Texas, and we absolutely fell in love with the area. Soon after moving to Texas, I began to work in another outpatient clinic; shortly after, I decided to take the leap into the world of private practice. While I have loved working in a pediatric clinic setting, I often found myself running into many barriers and limitations that did not allow me to provide the quality of care that my clients and their families deserved. Scheduling concerns, productivity standards, health insurance requirements, and working in a larger clinic/healthcare setting often require the consideration and approval of various external sources in order for a child to even get on the schedule for therapy services in general.
Transitioning into private practice, where I am able to provide in-home occupational therapy services, allows me to travel to my clients and see them in the comfort of their own homes. I love that I can connect with parents and caregivers on a deeper level, and I can show them how to use tools or equipment they already have within their home to aide in their child’s therapy journey. Although I am just getting up and running, I am already so glad I decided to take this leap. Starting Connected Kids Pediatric Therapy, LLC has been the best decision I could have made!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am an occupational therapist by trade, and I have always felt confident and skilled in the services I provide. With that being said, starting a pediatric occupational therapy private practice and learning how to be a business owner has definitely been a journey. I am learning a handful of new skills, including being a receptionist, doing scheduling, marketing and social media management, cleaning and repairing equipment, and many other administrative duties. Not to mention, this is all taking place at my kitchen table!
Having recently moved to Texas has also presented its own set of challenges; not only is my business new, but so am I! Marketing myself as a therapist and my business is not something that comes naturally, and it can feel very uncomfortable putting myself out there sometimes. I truly want to connect with parents and other providers within community in a way that feels genuine and authentic without the pressure of trying to turn every conversation into a potential client.
As you know, we’re big fans of Connected Kids Pediatric Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Connected Kids Pediatric Therapy is a pediatric therapy private practice that provides in-home occupational therapy services to children in Collin County, Texas. Our therapy practice is play-based, strengths-focused, neurodiversity-affirming, and family-centered. We believe in celebrating each child’s unique developmental differences while providing skilled therapeutic services through child-led play!
At Connected Kids Pediatric Therapy, we believe in always meeting your child where they are at with compassion and connection. We believe that all therapy should be unique to your child and specific to your family’s circumstances; it should never have a one size fits all approach!
We offer a variety of occupational therapy services, including feeding & eating, sensory integration, self-care and grooming/hygiene, gross motor development, fine motor skills, and executive function skills / cognitive development.
What matters most to you? Why?
My goal is for all children to have autonomy and for their voices to be valued and heard. I want parents and caregivers to feel confident caring for and supporting their children in the way that works best for their family without fear of judgment or criticism.
It is too often that we expect children, especially those with developmental delays, to meet the expectations that society has set without regard for what is developmentally appropriate or best for the child. What matters the most to me is supporting a child and giving them the tools to be the happiest and most independent version of themselves, even if this means asking society to be the one to do the changing. Every child deserves to be met with compassion and connection, especially on their toughest days.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.connectedkidstexas.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/connectedkidstexas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Connectedkidspediatrictherapy
