The Freedom Therapist
Each week we’ll go deep on all things business, self, energy and freedom. There's growth, giggles AND tears, as we lean into the best version of our business - and selves too. We’ll also get to chat with some incredibly inspiring women who will generously share their stories on finding that magic. If you’re looking for deep conversations, no gatekeeping, practical advice all with a little bit of chaos, you’re in the right place.
I'm your host Mia Poklepovich, a previously burnt out mental health occupational therapist and business owner, who found her way to fall back in love with business and life all over again. This podcast was created to be your safe space to learn AND unlearn all the things about scaling your business, without losing yourself in the process. Each week will be talking about ALL the things. And feeling ALL the feels. Because business is a wild ride, at all stages. So if you need an extra dose of inspo, a soft landing or just a moment to unwind you are SO welcome here.
Give yourself permission to take some space for you, and let’s be besties. I can’t wait!
The Freedom Therapist
50. The Behind-the-Scenes Story of Scaling a Allied Health Business in Remote Australia: How Thrive Together Therapy Expanded Slowly & Intentionally and Changed Care in The Pilbara
In this episode, I sit down with occupational therapist and director of Thrive Together Therapy, Aileen Mathyssen - a remote OT, private practice owner and leader in rural & remote allied health in Western Australia.
Aileen’s story starts in Ireland, moves through Bondi and lands in Paraburdoo - a tiny mining town in WA where she became a true generalist OT and one of the only allied health professionals families could access. We speak honestly about how hard rural and remote practice can be — and why so many of us stay, build businesses here, and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Aileen shares her path in creating Thrive Together Therapy — a neuroaffirming, community-led OT practice serving kids and adults across remote WA — while raising two boys, navigating Pilbara life and learning to back herself as a business owner building something sustainable.
Inside this episode, we cover:
- What surprised her most about moving from city OT life to remote WA
- The realities of starting and growing an OT practice in a town hours from the nearest major city
- How Thrive Together Therapy grew from one OT with a vision into a values-led allied health team reshaping what remote care can look like
- We speak about the model Aileen created where her support doesn’t stop at the therapy room - it ripples into classrooms, families and the whole community.
- How mentoring, support and group supervision helped her leave her government role and go all in
- What freedom in business looks like for her now: school carnivals, family travel, and a rural OT business she genuinely loves to lead
AND if Aileen’s story has you imagining a business that finally feels like you — with community around you, systems that make sense, and space for your life outside client work - The Freedom Therapist Club is open for enrollment for the 2026 cohort.
Early Bird ends tonight.
This is the last day to join with the reduced pricing and the full stack of bonuses for 2026. We won’t offer this pricing or these bonuses again for this round - and we’ve already had returning and new members quietly slide their names onto the list.
If you want support to grow a sustainable, profitable, values-led practice next year - and you don’t want to do it alone — you can learn more and join us here: https://www.thefreedomtherapist.com.au/club
Connect with Aileen:
Instagram: @busybrains_kids
Instagram: @thrivetherapypilbara
Thrive Together Therapy: https://thrivetogethertherapy.au/