Meet Katelyn Holstun

We recently connected with Katelyn Holstun and have shared our conversation below.

Katelyn , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I was born with a condition called talipes equinovarus, otherwise known as “club foot”. This required multiple corrective surgeries and therapies in my early years, and resulted in some fear of anyone with a white coat. However, my parents are always quick to share, and I can even recall faintly, that the only time I didn’t cry or get upset was during my therapy sessions (physical and occupational), because it felt like we were simply playing.

That is something that stuck with me as I began navigating potential careers and came across occupational therapy. The goal is to help people gain/regain skills to participate in their daily occupations such as self care, care of others, work, school, sleep, leisure, and for children specifically, play. What could be better than helping people do what they love and helping them live their lives to the fullest? Especially if I could help my patients have a positive therapeutic experience like my family and I had!

Today at our occupational therapy practice, Golden Pediatric Therapy Services, we treat our children with a play-based approach with the focus on building relationships with our children and families to give them the confidence and tools they need using evidence based practice. It is such a blessing and an honor to be able to wake up everyday and serve them by creating a safe space for each of my children to grow, explore, and gain the skills they need to understand how their bodies work and the success they are capable of. It is not always easy, but combining empathy, personability, clinical reasoning, and a desire to grow in knowledge and skill allows me to continue my purpose of being an occupational therapist.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am currently 27, married to another small business owner, and have two golden retrievers that keep life fun and full of excitement!

When I look back at what my goals and dreams were 10 years ago, I truly never would have imagined where I am now. Once I graduated from occupational therapy school, I took a job in pediatrics. That is where I met the person who would become not only one of my best friends, but business partner, Morgan. Finding someone who shares your determination and desire to serve, make a difference, and constantly grow personally and professionally has been such an unexpected miracle. Fast forward a year and a half of working together and after many prayers, strategy and planning sessions, and even laughs and tears, we decided to take the leap together and start our own business.

We created Golden Pediatric Therapy Services to serve the families and children of our community with a unique play-based, sensory integrative, child-led approach in a variety of settings (daycares, schools, home, and clinic). We want every single family we serve to feel supported in whatever way we can help through allowing them to sit in their child’s sessions, making personalized recommendations, using convenient locations, collaborating with other professionals involved in the child’s care, and sharing our knowledge to name a few.

We are now excited to branch out from traditional treatment sessions and offer feeding therapy (through the SOS Approach to Feeding method) and social groups! This will allow us to serve children with a greater variety of disabilities as well as offer additional opportunities for our children to interact with others with similar conditions and challenges.

Also as small business owners, we are enjoying every opportunity to become involved in our community and get to know other small businesses in our area! It has certainly been a learning curve, but we love sharing informational posts, making fun videos, and even offering educational opportunities to the public through presentations on different topics (e.g., Sensory Friendly Classrooms, Feeding Therapy, etc.).

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. One of the most important qualities that was most impactful on this journey so far has been determination. If you are passionate and willing to learn, grow, and develop the skills that it takes to get to where you want to go, then nothing can stop you. Never stop believing in yourself and try to surround yourself with others that support you and even those that are where you want to be. I have to remind myself sometimes, just like I remind my patients, “you can do hard things.” You are capable of more than you think!

2. I would also say that being mindful is another quality that has been valuable and that I continue to work on! Recognizing that, yes, I want to do everything, but also I need to give myself grace to try and fail and take opportunities to step back and rest because I only have so much mental, emotional, and physical energy each day. Also, being mindful that I am more than just a business owner or occupational therapist…I am a wife, a dog mom, a friend, a sister, a daughter, etc. We created this business with the mindset of mindfulness in the way we don’t simply want to just “live to work” and not have any energy left to do the other things we love. Being mindful and investing your time, energy, and focus wisely is key to increase your happiness and prevent the dreaded burnout.

3. The third quality that I would say has been essential is humbleness. I will be the first to say that I love to learn and share my knowledge, however, I don’t know everything about everything. Having confidence in what you do know and courage to ask for help or advice when you don’t, not only helps you, but the people you serve in your profession. I love any opportunity to collaborate and learn from other business owners, occupational therapists, and even people in other professions. Seeing other people’s point of views or ways of doing things, even if you don’t agree with them, opens your eyes in more ways than one. Also, looking at yourself as a life long learner is essential to whatever it is you do in this ever-evolving world we live in!

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I love this question, mostly because it is allowing me to give a special shout out to those who God has placed in my path who have helped/continue to help me grow daily.

I will say that my husband has been a huge supporter, as a spouse and fellow business owner. He allows me the space to grow as a person and professional, while also offering me support and guidance that he has gained through his own experiences. He has the most amazing ability to show his clients that he values them and advocates for them, and I truly admire him for that.

My family and friends, especially my parents and sister, instilled a work ethic like no other to help drive my determination to be the best and try new things, but also encouraging me to always give myself grace and offer a safe place of support to fail and try again. They also encouraged my desire to learn and always supported the different paths I have taken to further my education.

My teachers, professors, and mentors throughout the years have been invaluable to my knowledge and desire to constantly learn more. However, I doubt very highly if I would be able to have made it this far without the foundational skills I gained from my high school FFA advisor, who was the first person to push me out of my comfort zone by naming me as his public speaker for competition and events. I learned interview and communication skills, research skills, the importance of proper preparation and presentation, and confidence along with multiple other skills that are now invaluable in my life.

Lastly, my business partner Morgan, who is right there with me daily helping overcome challenges big and small, pushing me out of my comfort zone to try different things, and offering all the support and collaboration. I couldn’t imagine this journey with anyone else!

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Image Credits

Shelby Hall Photography

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