By: Alexandra Perez
Liz DeFinnis has always known her calling lies in service—first as a dedicated occupational therapist, and now as a pioneering entrepreneur guiding high‑achieving moms and fellow OTs toward lives of freedom, fulfillment, and impact.
Her transformation unfolded in 2020, in a moment that tested both her spirit and her resolve. Armed with a master’s in occupational therapy and a PhD in psychology, she’d explored blogging and marketing without landing the right fit. Then her newborn daughter suffered a stroke at birth, and Liz faced the stark reality that she still hadn’t figured out how to earn income from home, yet. “I couldn’t believe I was having my third child and still hadn’t figured out how to stay home with the kids,” she recalls. In that instant, she resolved to leverage what she already knew—her clinical expertise, her psychological insight, her compassion—and channel it into a business that would serve others on her terms.
What followed was a whirlwind of reinvention. By March 2020, Liz had penned her first book, crystallizing her passion for helping busy women reclaim their time. Two months later, she was laid off from her six-figure OT home-health role when COVID-19 shut down services. Far from derailing her, the layoff became a launchpad: she dove headfirst into building her coaching practice, determined to replace her previous income as an occupational therapist. Within months, Liz recouped her six-figure salary and has now nearly doubled it, demonstrating that her expertise thrives in the digital arena.
Finding her first clients wasn’t as simple as it was in clinical settings as an OT, as clients were typically obtained by healthcare companies. In entrepreneurship, she discovered she needed to learn attraction marketing from scratch. Diving into books, devouring coaching programs, and experimenting with authentic messaging, Liz gradually shed the “hard‑sell” energy. She focused instead on showing up as her true self and working through money‑mindset blocks, inviting the right people to connect. That shift—from pushing offers to creating genuine conversations—became her secret to consistent, month‑after‑month growth.
Out of those early lessons emerged Liz’s signature approach. She guides high-achieving moms to rewrite their inner scripts and design lives of overflow rather than constant depletion. In her Time Bending Challenge, clients learn to overcome time resistance, crafting routines that feel joyful rather than forced. Her signature program, Path to the Aligned Soul, uses a proprietary Reiki Aligned Psychology methodology to help clients align their lives with their destined path of purpose, ensuring that every decision resonates with their deepest values.
Although she has fully embraced entrepreneurship, Liz never forgets her OT roots. She urges colleagues to monetize their unique skill sets—whether that’s crafting sensory-friendly environments, designing workplace ergonomics, or coaching stress-management strategies—by leaping into business ownership. “This isn’t just a certification you get from WebMD;” she reminds peers. “You have years of education and experience.” With healthcare funding models shifting and AI tools reshaping workflows, Liz believes that occupational therapists who build a plan B will secure both the flexibility and financial security they deserve.
Every success story powers her mission forward. When a client sends a message of gratitude for reclaiming her mornings, Liz feels that familiar spark of fulfillment. When another therapist transforms her ergonomic expertise into a thriving corporate wellness niche, Liz celebrates the profession uplifted. And when high‑achieving moms experience increased energy and emotional resilience, they know their vision has truly taken shape.
Looking ahead, Liz envisions a decade in which occupational therapists reclaim “occupation‑based healing” while stepping confidently into entrepreneurship. To amplify that wave of impact, she’s writing The Eight Keys of Ascension, a book slated for 2026 that will share her framework with a global audience.
Through every pivot—from blogging experiments and PhD research to home‑health roles and online coaching—Liz DeFinnis has lived by a single guiding principle: transform yourself, and you transform others. Her journey from a sleep‑deprived therapist to a trailblazing coach reminds us that reinvention isn’t about chasing the next trend, but about turning our profound expertise into lives of impact, purpose, and joy.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and Liz DeFinnis and are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to provide medical, psychological, or financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals before making any decisions that affect their health, career, or finances. Results from coaching programs and business strategies may vary depending on individual circumstances.
