https://pod.co/the-social-selling-sisterhood/samantha-stern-podcast
Empower Kids Therapy Founder Samantha Stiles on Starting Before You Feel Ready (and Building a Brand That Connects)
Meet Samantha Stern of Empower Kids Therapy
Samantha is a pediatric occupational therapist who supports children and families through her private practice, Empower Kids Therapy, located in Orlando. After working for private pediatric therapy companies—and realizing insurance-based care wasn’t always allowing her to support families the way she wanted—she decided to build something different.
Her practice focuses on deeper support, packaged services, and an approach that gives parents more education and guidance in between sessions—because real life doesn’t happen only inside appointment times.
And huge milestone: Samantha shared that she recently reached full capacity with clients, and she’s now preparing for her next big CEO step—hiring.
The “I’m Not Ready Yet” Trap—and How Samantha Broke Out of It
One of the most powerful moments in this conversation is when Samantha describes how she realized she was stuck in a loop:
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She kept researching
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She kept learning
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She kept consuming information
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And she kept delaying action
Sound familiar?
She explained that the turning point came when she noticed she was hearing the same concepts over and over again. That’s when she realized:
✅ She already had the knowledge she needed to begin.
✅ What she needed next was confidence and trust—built through action.
Samantha said something every entrepreneur needs to hear:
You can’t plan for every problem because you can’t predict every problem.
You figure things out as you go.
Confidence Doesn’t Come First—It Comes From Doing
When Lindsay asked about confidence—especially before you have testimonials or proof—Samantha shared a few practical ways she strengthened trust in herself:
1) She looked back at past wins
She reached out to past clients and remembered all the people she had helped over the years. That “proof” reminded her that she was qualified.
2) She used comparison in a healthy way
Instead of spiraling, Samantha noticed other professionals sharing information she already knew—and asked herself:
“If they can do it… why am I not sharing this too?”
3) She found her people
She built a support system of peers—other therapists building businesses—who talk regularly about CEO life, personal life, and problem-solving in real time.
The theme? Community + self-awareness + taking action.
Building a Brand That Feels Calm and Safe (and Actually Attracts Clients)
If you’ve seen Samantha’s Instagram, you know it’s stunning—calming, clean, professional, and instantly trustworthy.
And it wasn’t random.
Samantha intentionally built her branding around what her audience needs most: calm.
She asked:
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What colors would feel soothing to an overwhelmed parent?
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What visuals would make people feel safe and supported?
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What style would make complex topics feel easier to understand?
She even created a running document of inspiration and notes about what she liked—and why.
This is such an important reminder:
Your brand isn’t just “pretty.” It’s communication.
How Samantha Used Social Media to Grow Her Practice
Samantha started her Instagram by first securing her handle (smart move!) and then began posting a month or two before she fully launched—so her business didn’t look “brand new” when potential clients went searching.
Her content strategy included:
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Educational posts for parents
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Simple explanations of OT concepts
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Disney + sensory system content (yes—Disney is part of her niche!)
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Carousels and static posts that are easy to save and share
Over time, she also realized something important:
Reels brought followers… but not always the right followers.
So she shifted toward content that better attracts her local audience and ideal clients.
What changed when she updated her strategy?
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More local reach
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More shares (especially among parents)
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More traction in Florida communities
And one big surprise?
Samantha discovered she was getting a growing number of referrals through local Facebook parent groups, where people were recommending Empower Kids Therapy by name—sometimes without even knowing her personally.
That’s when you know your brand is working.
Outsourcing Social Media Without Losing Your Voice
Samantha also shared that she now outsources parts of her social media to a manager—but she didn’t just hand it off blindly.
She has:
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Clear content pillars
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A huge running list of topic ideas
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Blog content to pull from
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A weekly planning rhythm
She’s also worked with a professional in her field who helped her clarify messaging and website wording—making it easier for her team to stay consistent across platforms.
This is the goal: support + systems + still sounding like you.
Productivity Tip: Samantha’s Whiteboard Method
When Lindsay asked how she juggles all the things (including planning a Disney wedding!), Samantha shared a simple but powerful planning system:
She uses a whiteboard divided into four sections:
✅ This week
✅ This month
✅ This quarter
✅ Future ideas
Then she:
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Reviews it weekly (Sunday or Monday)
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Moves tasks based on priorities
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Breaks big projects into smaller steps
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Schedules tasks into her calendar in larger “focus chunks” (45–60 min)
She also blocks personal time first—morning and night routines—so work doesn’t take over the entire day.
Her biggest point?
If you’re constantly rewriting the same task, it’s a sign you need to break it down—and schedule it.
What Samantha Is Creating Next (and It’s SO Needed)
Samantha shared some exciting upcoming projects, including:
Feeding Therapy Course
A course to help parents understand picky eating, introduce new foods, and support expanding their child’s diet.
Sensory Processing Course
Helping parents understand sensory integration and how to better support kids who are more sensitive—especially post-pandemic.
Disney + Neurodivergent Family Support
This is the one Samantha is most excited about: helping families plan Disney trips in a way that supports neurodivergent kids and children with sensory needs—through an occupational therapist’s perspective.
(And yes, Lindsay is already calling dibs on an affiliate link.)
The Takeaway: Trust Yourself + Trust the Process
This episode is full of wisdom, but the core message is simple:
You don’t become ready by waiting.
You become ready by starting.
Build the plan.
Get the support.
Create the systems.
And then… do the thing.
Connect with Samantha Stern
Website: https://www.empowerkidstherapy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empower.kids.therapy
If you loved this episode, screenshot it, tag @lindsaydollinger and @empower.kids.therapy, and share your biggest takeaway—because we LOVE seeing what lands for you.
And as always… keep creating and owning your magic. ✨