Meet Daniel Pereira

We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Pereira recently and have shared our conversation below.

Daniel, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

When I think about where my work ethic comes from, I can’t help but look to my mom. She worked tirelessly, often clocking 12-hour days while managing a branch and eventually overseeing multiple locations as a regional bank manager. Her assertiveness and drive made sure her branch was always at the top, and she was a force of nature when it came to pushing herself and her team to succeed. Watching her show up every day, no matter the challenge, instilled in me a sense of dedication and perseverance that I carry with me today

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I own and operate Playce Pediatrics, which is a mobile pediatric occupational therapy company that supports families in their homes, daycares, and schools. After working in an outpatient clinic for years, I saw firsthand how challenging it can be for parents to juggle all of their child’s appointments while also trying to understand what therapists are working on. Providing therapy in a child’s natural environment has created immeasurable benefits for the families I serve. Parents can finally see what therapy looks like in real time and feel confident carrying over those concepts at home.

My journey into occupational therapy began when I needed OT for a hand injury. During that experience, I realized how much the profession is rooted in building genuine connections with clients. It wasn’t just about rehabbing an injury—it was about understanding what mattered most to me and incorporating those values into each session. I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career. I make sure every child we work with isn’t being pushed into therapy but instead runs toward it because the sessions are fun, motivating, and meaningful to them.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding my team and reaching more families who could benefit from our services. I’m always looking for ways to improve how we deliver therapy, whether through enhanced training for therapists or finding more efficient, family-centered ways to stay connected and support parents.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My grandmother always repeated a phrase that has stayed with me which was, “decide what you want to do, be determined, and have discipline.” Those words carried me through the long, demanding years of grad school and later through the challenges of launching my own business. Determination and discipline has given me the resilience to stay focused, push through setbacks, and follow through on goals.

But as my company has grown, I’ve learned flexibility is equally important. Even with the best planning, being determined and disciplined doesn’t help when the road ahead changes. Families move on from therapy, a child’s needs change, and the business needs to evolve. Being flexible has allowed us to shift with demands and get more creative with market outreach has provided my company to grow in ways I couldn’t have predicted.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

The scariest leap of my life was starting Playce. There were countless reasons to hold back but the overwhelming reason to take the plunge was my wife pushing me to take that first leap. Of course, there were obstacles along the way but I was fortunate to have a group of speech and occupational therapists who supported me through the journey.

I’ve learned that when feeling overwhelmed, it’s essential to surround yourself with a strong support network of people who can help you process the stress or point you in the right direction. Whether it’s trusted professionals, mentors, or family and friends, having a team to help guide your decision-making is invaluable. Someone else’s perspective can bring clarity to a situation that feels impossible to navigate alone. I also remind myself that timing doesn’t have to be perfect to start something new but it might be the best time to start. Sometimes just taking the first step can be enough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://playce.godaddysites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ot.playce?igsh=MXVyMTg2dXZwc2JqOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/OT-Playce-61553059453090/