Episode 12: Growing a Trauma-Informed Multidisciplinary Pediatric Practice with Erica Schuppe

Season #1 Episode #12

Erica Schuppe is the owner of Wild Roots Therapy in Billings, Montana. Her multi-disciplinary practice includes occupational therapists and a counselor who use a team-based approach to support families with children who have experienced trauma. In this episode, we learn how Wild Roots stays sustainable even with a clientele consisting of 80-90% Medicaid clients! Erica shares all about growing her practice and how she feeds her own soul as an OT entrepreneur. In this episode, Erica shares:

  • How her experience as a foster and adoptive parent influenced her work as an occupational therapist

  • Her training in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics by Dr. Bruce Perry of the Child Trauma Academy

  • How she manages a practice taking 80-90% Medicaid clients.

  • How you should research what Medicaid will reimburse in your state before you start a private practice.

  • How Erica supplements her clinic-based income with presentations, assessments, and consulting.

  • How she re-branded her business after many years in private practice as a solopreneur to a whole team under the new name: Wild Roots Therapy in 2018.

  • How she chose the name for her business (always a fun story to hear from an entrepreneur!).

  • How she doubled her space and her staff within 18 months of re-branding!!

  • Communication in a multi-disciplinary office.

  • How business coaching has played a role in her development as an entrepreneur.

  • Keeping a growth mindset as a business owner.

  • Erica’s number one tip for getting un-stuck as an entrepreneur.

  • How Kate Northrup’s book “Do Less” inspired her work.

  • Time being your most valuable commodity…and why you should hire people to help you!

  • How the intake process works at her practice.

  • The benefits and caveats of electronic medical records (EMRs)

  • Why you should get your finances in place the second you start your business.

  • Why hiring the right people is key in managing a business.

  • How to have good boundaries and open-hearted communication with your staff.

  • Why being a fieldwork supervisor can generate some of the best employees for your business.

  • How you can use the Enneagram to build and balance your team in your business.

You can check out Erica’s practice at www.wildrootstherapy.org, follow Wild Roots Therapy on Facebook, or connect with her on Instagram @wildrootstherapy

Thanks for coming on the show Erica and sharing all your wisdom with the MYOTBiz listeners!