You run a therapy clinic. Your patients need to know what’s at stake when they decide not to work with you, when they decide not to get any therapy with you.
My name is Hoang Tran. I’m an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist. Over the last 10 years, I’ve been running my therapy clinic, and over five years ago, I started Hand Therapy Secrets to help therapists develop their clinical skills and have more choices in their careers.
If you’re reading this, maybe you’re starting your business, or maybe you’re growing your business. Either way, you’re looking for more options, more freedom. I often talk about developing clinical skills, but we also have to build our business skills.
One of the things I’m trying to do more in my clinic is talk about what’s at stake when people decide not to work with us.
The Power of Education and Consistency
As a therapist—specifically, as a hand therapist—I’ve been putting out videos for over eight years, very consistently, to educate my patients or potential patients. They’re not always my patients yet, but I want to educate them on different types of injuries. This is a reminder to myself: I need to talk more about what’s at stake. What are the consequences when people don’t take action, when they don’t work with me?
Recently, I’ve been seeing more patients coming in with flexor tendon injuries. If you’re a hand therapist, you know flexor tendon injuries can be tough. So, what’s the tough thing for you? What’s your area of expertise? For me, it’s flexor tendons. Flexor tendon cases can be straightforward, but more often than not, they come in because something’s wrong.
Consequences of Not Getting the Right Help
What’s at stake when someone doesn’t have a good surgeon, doesn’t have a great therapist, or isn’t doing what they need to be doing? The consequences are real—you can get stuck, you may need a second surgery, and your rehab could become really long.
That’s just one example I can use to show what’s at stake. We, as small business owners and therapy clinics, need to share not just what to do but what happens if people don’t do something.
Lessons from Everyday Life
This came up for me recently because my son went to the dentist, and they found a ton of cavities. Why now, after he’s 18? When he was younger, he had lots of cavities, and we couldn’t figure out why. Turns out it could be linked to using inhalers—and no one told me that. When he was younger, they blamed us as parents. Too much sugar. Not brushing enough.
But we were brushing. We were doing all the right things. It turns out that something as simple as using an inhaler without rinsing could’ve contributed to it. No one told us—not the doctor who prescribed it, not the dentist in 18 years.
There are consequences to missing pieces of information like that.
Talk About the Consequences
So why, as therapy business owners, are we not talking about the consequences? What is one problem you can speak on with clarity—something you can share to attract and educate your patients? We like to talk about the good stuff, but you also have to talk about the bad stuff.
This blog isn’t just for you. It’s for me too. It’s a reminder: “Hey Hoang, what are the consequences of people not working with me?”
If you’re a therapist and you’re reading my blogs or watching my videos (which I put out for free) and you’re on my email list—by the way, if you’re not, click the link here. I share videos, insights, and what I’m doing in my business so that you can learn how to grow yours too.
What Happens When You Try to Do It Alone
There are different ways you can work with me. But I should probably talk more about the consequences of trying to do it alone—of not getting a business coach, of not coming into my program.
Because there are real consequences.
Wasted time. Time is everything. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. You spend so much time going back and forth, not being able to make decisions.
And what’s worse? Not getting the help you need. You might never even start your own business. You might never raise your rates or ask for what you’re worth. You’ll keep making excuses for why it won’t work, or why nobody knows what occupational therapists do.
People will know—if you’re willing to do the work to show them.
What Patients Really Care About
Most patients who come into my clinic? They don’t care whether I’m an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, or a certified hand therapist. They care about their problem. Can I help them?
Only after we’ve solved their problem do I mention that I’m a certified hand therapist. That’s when it matters.
But I didn’t get that certification overnight. If you’re wondering how to become a certified hand therapist, I actually created a whole guide that outlines what it takes and what you need to do. You can check it out here: Certified Hand Therapist Requirements
If you’re considering this path, I also highly recommend exploring the Hand Therapy Certification options we offer. It’s a great starting point.
Speak Up About What You Know
Marketing is a huge part of running a therapy clinic. How are people going to know about you if you’re not out there telling them?
Share what you know. Talk about how you help people. But don’t forget to share what’s at stake when someone doesn’t choose to work with you.
Don’t Do It Alone
If you’re a therapist looking to start or grow your business, and you’re asking yourself, “How can I do this?”—don’t do it alone.
The risk of not getting help is that you might not even start. And that’s a lost opportunity.
If you want my help, the link is below.
By the way, this blog was inspired by a recent video I recorded on this exact topic. If you’d rather watch and hear me explain it in my own words, you can check it out here: Watch the full video on YouTube:
If the video resonates with you, don’t forget to like, leave a comment, and subscribe to my channel. Your feedback helps me create more content that actually supports you in your journey.
Looking for Mentorship in Hand Therapy?
If this post resonated with you and you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels, consider joining our hand therapy mentorship program. We offer mentorship that meets you where you’re at—whether you’re trying to build confidence in your clinical skills or figure out the next step in your business journey.
You can also check out our online occupational therapy courses, which are perfect for therapists who want to study at their own pace, gain clarity, and feel more confident when treating patients.
You don’t have to do it alone. Let me help you move forward with confidence so you can build the career you deserve.
— Hoang Tran
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The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
