Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea West
Hi Chelsea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, my mother worked as a special education teacher and I loved when I got to help out in her classroom. My mother is the one that first introduced me to the occupational therapy profession. She knew I loved working with children, had a teaching heart like her, and had always raised me to be independent myself, which is the main foundation for occupational therapy, so that really resonated with me. Originally from Indiana, I completed my undergraduate in Sociology at Ball State University then went on to pursue my Master of Science degree in occupational therapy at Indiana State University. My graduate program lead me to complete my 6 months of clinical rotations in Columbia, SC where I met my husband and decided to start putting down roots! I have experience working with several different pediatric companies, however, my professional dream has always been to open my own outpatient clinic. After having my son in 2023, I was determined to make it happen! He has been my biggest motivator and has even provided inspiration for my company’s logo (his initials are hidden in it). This spring, we opened our doors and hit the ground running! It has been a wild ride learning the business, taking risks, and building new relationships, but I am really happy with how everything has developed and I am looking forward to the years to come!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs along the way. The past year and a half alone have been such a learning curve both personally as a new mom and professionally as a new business owner. I have gone from learning all of the ins and outs of breastfeeding and raising a baby to medical billing and navigating construction plans for our clinic space. It’s been busy, but it’s all been so good and rewarding. I wouldn’t change a thing!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
New Heights Pediatric Therapy provides occupational and speech therapy services to children in West Columbia, SC and the surrounding areas. We see clients at their homes, at their daycares or preschools, and at our clinic located at 1004 Meeting Street. Our business model focuses on building strong relationships with our clients and their families. We want to be known within the community for providing quality care through an interdisciplinary approach that is individualized for each client and centered around education and caregiver support. Our therapists are innovative, personable, and continuously widening their knowledge base by staying up to date on the latest research and treatment strategies. We have extensive training and experience in sensory processing, feeding difficulties, language delays, articulation errors, handwriting, executive functioning, oral motor impairments, swallowing, reflex integration, self-care skills, and so much more! We have big plans for the future of NHPT and are excited to continue to grow our company, expand the services we offer, and serve a wider network of clients within the Midlands in the years to come.
How do you think about luck?
Luck indicates that something has occurred by chance alone, and honestly, I don’t think luck has much to do with anything in my life. I have prayed hard, and for many years, to be in the position that I am now, both professionally and personally. And I have been blessed that God has given me the motivation, drive, and resources to achieve my goals, including my exceptionally supportive family and friends. I had dreamt of opening up my own business for years, however, the timing of when I actually started getting the ball rolling was completely unexpected to me. Given some circumstances in my life at the time, I felt I was being pulled into this direction by God and the more I prayed over it, the stronger that pull felt. Starting my own business and leaving a secure job to fully pursue it has been the biggest risk of my life, and I definitely felt that anxiousness throughout the entire process, but somehow, I also felt an underlying peace from God knowing I was making the right move. There have been so many things that have needed to line up just right to make this dream a reality, but I truly believe that has been divine intervention, not luck. It has been a thousand little answered prayers wrapped into one and I am so thankful!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.newheightspediatrictherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newheightspeds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewHeightsPediatricTherapy
