Kristen Sellars

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Kristen Sellars, also known as @ot.insider on Instagram and TikTok. I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) based in Upstate NY. I currently work full time with adults in a Skilled Nursing Facility and dabble in outpatient. I created my social accounts while I was in grad school; my hope was to spread awareness of what occupational therapy is and to just document my journey. My page gained popularity, and with that came a lot of great opportunities! I have created a sensory-based play class called Guided Giggles at my local gym, as well as a podcast with my friend Kiana, who is a Physical Therapist (PT). Some other miscellaneous facts about me are that I am very active and enjoy running and attending workout classes, I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and I am currently engaged to my high school sweetheart and in the process of wedding planning!

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

I am based in Upstate NY and absolutely love the change in seasons. Fall is my favorite season because I love all of the beautiful colors of the leaves changing, and there are plenty of fun fall activities to do near me, such as hiking, pumpkin patches, and more.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

I created my social accounts while I was in grad school; my hope was to spread awareness of what occupational therapy is and to just document my journey. My page gained popularity, and with that came a lot of great opportunities! I have created a sensory-based play class called Guided Giggles at my local gym, as well as a podcast with my friend Kiana, who is a Physical Therapist (PT).

I wouldn't necessarily say I have customers, but my followers primarily consist of therapy students, therapy practitioners and healthcare practitioners. I post a lot of images, videos and reels offering advice and intervention ideas, and I share my personal experiences to help others learn. I often share products that will help others with their school or work experience as well.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My advice is to just go for it! It can be intimidating to put yourself out there or to post on social media, but your experiences and what you're offering will help others and their patients. The biggest thing about starting a brand or page is to be consistent. You likely won't get results or publicity right away, but if you're consistent, passionate and put time into your approach, then it will work out.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

I have many individuals who message me asking for advice regarding the boards exam. I myself had difficulty passing the exam and did not pass on the first attempt. I am always happy to give advice and do my best to help guide those who need it through the process. It warms my heart when people message me and give me feedback stating that they finally passed their exam and overcame this obstacle!

Where do you see your company in the future?

My hope is to continue connecting with other therapists and sharing intervention ideas. My hope is to create more electronic products to share with others and to hopefully continue teaching classes such as the Guided Giggles play class and more. I would like to obtain my certification in a certain specialty and create further classes or opportunities with that as well.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The biggest misconception is honestly the misunderstanding of what occupational therapy is as a whole, and what we do. A lot of people do not know the difference between occupational and physical therapy. The goal of my account is to advocate for the profession of OT and bring more awareness of our skills and what we can offer in a variety of settings. Our scope is so broad and can be applied to the entire lifespan, which I think is so special.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can follow me on Instagram or TikTok at @ot.insider. The OT Insider Podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. My private messages are always open to any and all questions!