April 11, 2024 • 32 mins
#052 Ali Arena is a source of knowledge for anyone navigating neurodiversity, relationships, and the personal challenges that come with ADHD. In this episode, we discuss the challenges and experiences of running a therapy practice. And Ali shares her journey from academia, working at a private practice to being a business owner with her own private practice.
As a person with ADHD, Ali shares her strategies for tackling time management and executive functioning issues. For the entrepreneurially-minded, we also share pieces of wisdom on delegation and system creation that can transform a business from frantic to flourishing. From her transition to private practice to the nitty-gritty of running a business, Ali highlights the importance of genuine passion for the field and the necessity of being prepared for the initial difficulties, such as finding clients and managing various aspects of the business. Whether seeking personal growth or professional efficiency, our conversation with Ali Arena is a must-listen for everyone.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Intro (00:01):
Welcome to the Rehab Rebels podcast.
Are you a rehab professionalready to transition to an
alternative career?
Hear inspiring stories fromothers just like you and learn
the best ways to bridge yourcareer gap.
This podcast has you covered.
Now here's your host, doctor ofphysical therapy and podcaster,
tanner Welsh.
Tanner Welsch (00:20):
Thank you for taking the time to be on and
have me interview you.
I know we've been trying to dothis since I think it was July.
What I'll have you do, like Ihave everybody do, is just
introduce yourself where youwent to school and what you're
doing now, and then we'll leadinto how you got there.
Ali Arena (00:37):
Hi, thank you so much for having me.
I'm Ali Arena.
My background is that I'm aBCBA, an SLP and an educational
psychologist, so we can't tell Ireally, really like school.
But currently I own a privatepractice where I work with
neurodiverse adults in whatevercapacity they may need.
(01:00):
So that might need that mightbe support around communication.
It might be support with somesocial skills in the corporate
or academic environment and alsothe relationship skills for
couples.
So looking at that as well,that's cool.
Tanner Welsch (01:16):
You're definitely all about the communication and
relationships and all that.
I thought that was reallyunique about your niche.
So before we dive into all that, let's talk about after you
graduated from speech pathschool.
What did you do right afterthat and what was that like for
you?
Ali Arena (01:33):
Yeah, so I am currently in LA, but I was
living in New Jersey then.
That's where my family's from.
So I went to Seaton Hall for mymaster's in speech therapy and
then my CF was, and that's thatclinical placement you have to
do was actually my lastinternship and I was at a
children's hospital and it waswhat I really wanted and I loved
(01:54):
it.
I did that for about two years.
I look back so fondly on thatbecause I just got to see every
type of diagnosis and work withmultiple teams.
But I feel in typical mefashion after about two years I
was okay, I want somethingdifferent and I knew I always
wanted to live on the West Coast.
It was just a thing that I feltvery strongly I needed to do,
(02:15):
but I'm also a person that I'mnot gonna just take a leap.
So I was oh, I also want to getmy doctorate.
So I only applied to West Coastschools and then that's what
brought me out here.
Tanner Welsch (02:26):
Okay, cool, your doctorate is in psychology, is
that right?
Ali Arena (02:30):
Educational psychology and my thesis was
about autistic dating and whatare the challenges within dating
.
And what was really cool is soI finished in 2019.
So I remember reading all theneurodiverse affirming research
and I was, oh wow, we could betalking about this so
(02:51):
differently.
And then in 2020, the wholemovement really burst open.
But what was really cool is soI did my thesis from a lens of
socially informed lens, sotrying to take myself out and
really just think about thepeople I'm working with, and I
realized I assumed communicationwas gonna be the biggest
challenge and it wasn't.
A lot of people were moreconcerned with maintaining
(03:11):
boundaries, how to say theirneeds, what's even the
trajectory of dating.
It was a lot different than Ihad thought, which was really
insightful because I could havebeen thinking I was helping
people and not really addressingthings that mattered.
Tanner Welsch (03:25):
For sure.
Now you got me interested here.
What's this trajectory ofdating?
Can you explain a little bitabout what that means and what
that looks like?
I've never heard of that before.
Ali Arena (03:36):
So I did a few focus groups and what they were really
concerned about, which I get,is okay.
So how does it work?
I just take a person on a dateand then I take them on another
date.
When do I kiss them?
When do I have sex?
When do I meet their parents?
When do I propose?
These were the thoughts.
So timeline I guess what is aloose timeline and, as we know,
dating is different for everyonebut just sort of a very loose
(03:59):
roadmap of appropriate orinappropriate or too rushed
behaviors, because a lot of ourneurodivergent people, they're
learning stuff from movies,maybe even from porn, maybe from
one sibling, so they're notalways getting a full picture of
what dating could look like.
Tanner Welsch (04:18):
Absolutely.
I love that explanation and itis complicated.
It's trial by fire almost,because you don't really know
and if you don't have a verygood, I would say, sample size
or resource, then you're limitedon what you know and what you
have experience to you know.
So that's awesome, that'sreally interesting.
Okay, so you got your doctorateWest Coast, oh, and you did
(04:41):
your advisor.
Ali Arena (04:42):
My advisor was at UCLA.
One of them and Dr Liz Loggisonshe is who I was able to run
focus groups with.
They're her peers group.
So peers is a social skillscurriculum, essentially out of
UCLA, but it was what was used.
She was a I guess a consultantis the right word On love on the
(05:05):
spectrum.
If you watch the first seasonin Australia, she's talking to
one of the groups and sheactually has created a full
peers dating curriculum throughsome of the stuff that we had
noticed right Around boundaries.
And also she does this reallybeautifully and she's really
good at constantly updating it.
Communication channels right,so texting, but then in pandemic
(05:26):
everyone started doing Zoom, soshe just is really good about
talking about how to do that.
Tanner Welsch (05:31):
Yeah, I remember you said about the love on the
spectrum and I've seen it onNetflix.
I really enjoyed it.
It was pretty awesome.
So I think it just goes to showeverybody every human being has
to go through these experiencesor interactions and figure it
out.
I think they do a great job ofpresenting it.
Okay, what is after yourgraduation for your PhD?
(05:52):
What's next for you?
Ali Arena (05:54):
So end of 2019, I graduated.
I was working for a privatepractice At the time.
My boyfriend and I moved only20 miles in LA, 20 minutes away,
but in LA that's an hour and ahalf.
I had to leave the privatepractice I was at.
So I thought, january 2020,let's start a private practice.
And we also got engaged in 2020.
(06:15):
So I was like, okay, this is myyear, and then pandemic it.
But I will say pandemic in away, I always wanted to be
virtual, so it made it happen.
And then, additionally, I thinka lot of people during that
time started to realize I hadcertain skills, certain social
skills that only work when I'min the context of either the
(06:37):
office or the context of certainthings.
So I was able to help a lotwith social skills.
And then, additionally, I knewI had ADHD at 30, but it wasn't
until we were in pandemic that Irealized, wait, I'm not
commuting, I don't have myroutines.
It really hit me.
So I also was able to really doa deep dive into what is ADHD
(06:59):
really doing, what is it?
What is neurodivergence really?
And so that's another part ofmy private practice I look at a
lot.
How does it feel to be lateidentified and figure out how
it's impacting your life.
Tanner Welsch (07:09):
For sure.
I want to dive into that deeperwith what to look out for or
when should you seek services.
But before we get into that,let's talk about what were some
things that were going on thatmade you just decide to go ahead
and open up your own businessand practice instead of keep
working in the health systemthat we have and all that.
Ali Arena (07:32):
I have done all of the things that you could do
within our field.
I worked at a school, I workedat a hospital, I did private
practice and I also did them allto the highest degree.
I know that can sound a littlecocky, it's not meant to.
I got to the part where I wassupervising and managing people,
and I was I don't.
I love it, but I hated my longhours.
(07:53):
This doesn't work.
What I really like is when aparent once talked to me about
their neurodivergent child and Ican give them the time that
they deserve, as opposed to a 10minute slot where you got to
get out of my room becausesomeone else is coming in for
therapy, so it just didn't feelright.
I've also learned about myself.
I could literally work 13 hourday, see clients all day, and
(08:13):
I'd be, I'd be good, but then Ineed the next day to breathe and
chill, and you can't do thatwithin an environment of nine to
five.
I'm so burnt out all the time.
This system isn't working forme.
And then I'm also a person thatI don't do unbelievably well
with making sure my notes areimpeccable and all my reports
(08:34):
are in perfectly, and so now youknow I have the luxury of.
I still have people who needinsurance and reports, but it's
few and far between.
So if I have a report due, Ican do that.
It's not feeling overwhelming,as opposed to a whole caseload
that has IEPs all in October.
Tanner Welsch (08:51):
For sure.
On that note, I really believethat this applies to everybody
in the health field and maybeeven branches outside of that.
But what's happening is justthere's so much stress and
there's so much you just can'tbe present and you don't have
time to necessarily do maybeeven the quality of job that you
would like to do and or enoughtime to rest and recharge within
(09:12):
this typical nine to five, 40hour a week schedules, and I
believe that it is causing a lotof health problems for our
industry and even outside of ourindustry, and people have
really just had enough and thisisn't working.
You know what are my otheroptions, what else can I do?
And they're really trying tofigure out how to bridge that
(09:33):
gap and I love you coming on andtalking about this journey and
some of these struggles thatyou're facing, and you went the
route of opening up your ownpractice and it's time for a
change and we all need to getdown and talk to each other and
communicate and figure outreally what's best for us as
individuals, but also supporteach other with trying to find
these alternative solutions tothis system.
(09:55):
That's not good for usindividually as being employed.
It's not good for the peoplewe're serving is a failing thing
.
So I'll get off my soapbox.
Let's talk about theneurodiverse versus the
neurotypical and then we candive into some of the services
and who you're for and signs tolook out for and stuff.
Ali Arena (10:13):
Neurodiverse means anything that is deviating or
different than neurotypical,which is supposed to be the
standard.
Right, really cautious.
Different, not worse, not bad.
Different within that couldencompass autism, adhd, learning
differences, dyspraxia,dyslexia, dyscalcula, I think
(10:35):
under some umbrellas bipolar isin there.
It's interesting in the UK Ithink it includes bipolar, but
here it doesn't.
Some people even say if youhave complex PTSD, that counts
as neurodiverse, like anythingthat makes your brain chemistry
a little different.
Neurotypical is meant to be thestandard.
It's supposed to be, that thebrain chemistry isn't affected.
(10:56):
I will say though I don't knowvery many people that would be I
am neuro-typical.
There is nothing going on,because we all probably have
some degree now of anxiety ordepression hanging out at times,
and I think all of ourattention spans are shot because
of so much media.
I would venture we're going tohave to get a little bit more
(11:17):
stripped on what is neurodiverseand what isn't and what areas
need accommodations and in whatareas.
Do just everyone needaccommodations?
I think most people would likeif they got agendas before a
work meeting.
That doesn't need to be anaccommodation, that just feels
an inclusive practice.
Tanner Welsch (11:36):
For sure.
Going diving into this deepernow makes me realize just how
broad and big this topic andscope is, and how much it just
applies to everybody.
So what are some things wementioned before about some
individuals maybe discoveringthat they're neurodiverse or
that they have ADHD, but laterin life, let's talk about what
are some things to maybe lookout for, what are some things
that you see and guiding theminto, maybe some services or
(12:00):
direction for.
Okay, this would be a placethat you could go, or this is a
time, a good time for you to goand seek some additional care
services.
Let's talk about all that.
Ali Arena (12:10):
Yeah, so I think with ADHD, what really dawned on me
was so I've always had anxiety.
I don't think I was labeling andis that though?
I just thought I was a veryproductive person.
I just loved being productive,but really I think I was trying
to compensate for anxiety and Ialways was really late on things
(12:31):
.
But I'm a good in-person.
I'm really good at being atherapist in person, so people
would not care that I was lateon things as much or maybe
that's the lie I told myself.
But I really started to look at.
I had a lot of these higherlevel skills, but lower level
ones, of just time management,being able to keep up with
workload.
I truly could not figure outhow to food shop myself, that
(12:54):
executive functioning skill ofhow much do you buy and what are
you going to cook.
Anyone with ADHD, I'm sure, isgoing to relate to that
statement.
Really, looking at what areasof my life are really
challenging for me, that maylook easier to other people.
I think that was another reasonthis journey to having my own
business happened is this seemsso little, but I have a dog and
(13:17):
I had a dog when I was workingfor a private practice, and just
even that time management ofhow do I walk her, get to the
office, come back and walk herat lunch.
It was genuinely hard for me tofigure that out because of some
time blindness and I didn'tknow what that was.
I was just shaming myself, butreally it was having challenges
(13:37):
with time and time blindnessissues.
Tanner Welsch (13:40):
For sure.
Thank you so much for openingup and sharing these experiences
, because that's how we're allgoing to learn from each other,
right?
So you shared some, maybe somethings that you noticed and some
struggles you were having.
How did you personally overcomesome of these things?
What did you realize aftergetting through it and being
able to manage things and manageyour time better?
(14:00):
How did all that come out?
Ali Arena (14:02):
Well, one was a real acceptance of I don't have to do
it all, I don't have to havethat many clients in one day,
right, and then also making itvisual.
So now I've really started torealize for every client you
have, they have notes.
They might ever report that youmight be consulting.
I do a lot of consultation withsomeone like psychiatrist or
(14:25):
psychologist, so I reallystarted to look at one person as
a three-hour entity as opposedto a one-hour right.
So really thinking about myschedule differently.
Another thing that's helped toois learning limitations.
During the week my husband andI do hungry route like a meal to
service thing.
I have no affiliation, I justlike them and that's really
(14:46):
helped.
And then on the weekend I willcook because I enjoy it, but I
just don't know if I figure itout during the week.
And I think a big thing thathelped me was not shaming myself
.
I'm really looking at where amI saying should and can I do it,
or do I actually have thecapacity to do it?
If I don't, that's okay.
I also did during COVID startADHD medication.
(15:08):
That did really help me withjust some of that initial
starting of projects andeveryone has a different journey
with that.
It did help me.
Other people feel differentlyabout that and then, knowing I
had ADHD, I love my therapist.
I've always been in therapywith her, but we shifted how
we're doing therapy a little bitbecause she had that lens.
The more you know aboutyourself, the more you can
(15:32):
change behaviors and start tounderstand why you're doing
certain things.
I could totally say my parentsthink, oh, that's Allie, but
actually that's not a goodreason, I can't get it together
on certain things.
And when I started to look atthat, I was able to bring in
some strategies like we would dofor our clients scaffolding it
or making the goal smaller andtrying to shape the behavior
(15:54):
over time, and exactly what wewould do.
I just was looking at myselffinally and thinking about it.
Tanner Welsch (16:00):
For sure, and it's always hard to look
basically at ourselves from athird person point of view,
Right?
So a lot of different coursesthat I've taken about starting
your own business, entrepreneurstuff they want you to figure
out what your superpower is,what you're really good at, what
your special skills are, andwhen we try to think of that on
our own it's I don't even knowwhat to put down.
So a lot of the exercises thatthey say is to ask friends,
(16:23):
family, trusted individuals whatthey come to you for.
From their point of view, it'sreally easy usually to pick out
what you're really good at andwhat you're maybe not good at,
and I think that's important toknow in part of that journey of
self-discovery and really tryingto grow.
Let's say that maybe ourlisteners out there that have
(16:44):
experienced some of the thingsthat you're talking about, where
do you recommend that theystart if they're wanting to
address some of these issues?
Where would you point them togo?
What are some resources or whenis a good time for them to
start seeking some of thesethings?
Ali Arena (17:00):
Most things like ADHD , autism, I think, some learning
differences as well.
There are online self-reportedtests, right, so you could take
those and start to see.
There's a company calledEmbrace Autism who has some
really cool tests that aredifferent from maybe what you
might find if you go to aneuropsych.
(17:22):
They have one on helpingdetermine how much you're
masking, which is super cool, soI would start to look at that.
I actually I can't believe I'msaying this, but Instagram does
have some people out there withat least some nice precursor
lists of does this sound likeyou?
My only caveat is make sureit's not just a person who has
(17:46):
their own experience.
They're only talking abouttheir own.
See if the person has talked toa bunch of people or it's a
professional, and then the lastroute would be to go to a
neuropsych and get some testing.
There's something called QVCheck for ADHD, which could be a
really quick, easy way to lookat an assessment.
It will tell you your basicallyyour working memory capacity
(18:08):
and then also for you to thinkabout okay, how much in depth do
I need?
Am I a person that's debatingif I have a bunch of things?
Because then maybe it is worthgoing to neuropsych because
they'll really be able to giveyou a full profile.
Am I a person who?
I really suspect I have this.
I just want a professional tovalidate that I do.
(18:28):
I don't think you have to do afull battery because the more
testing, the more expensive.
I guess is what I'm saying,right.
So really figure out what theneed is.
For a lot of us, if you're past, let's say, school and you're
not doing any more academics,you don't always need the ND PhD
to be siding off the diagnosisbecause it's not giving you
accommodation or medication orwhatever.
(18:49):
So I did neuropsych testing,but honestly, because I was
interested in it and I was withUCLA at the time, so I was able
to go in as a student and do thetesting.
I've seen upwards of $12,000for full batteries of tests.
I will say, though, if you havelike an eight-year-old and I
don't know what's going on, I dothink getting that full battery
(19:10):
is really helpful.
But by the time you're in your20s or 30s, you probably have a
pretty good idea of this.
Sounds like me.
I think this is it.
Let me just sort of steermyself down that one path.
I remember going home andtalking to my husband and being
yeah, my therapist thinks I'mADHD and I accept as my parents.
It was a slotting.
How many people relate?
Do you not know that?
(19:30):
We just all assumed this was apart of you that you were fully
aware of.
So that's also very valid.
Tanner Welsch (19:36):
People in your library yeah, so if I'm hearing
and understanding right, theprofessional I guess to seek out
would be a neuropsychologist.
Is that the direction that theyshould go?
Ali Arena (19:49):
I did the neuropsych testing honestly for fun, but my
psychiatrist that ended upworking with could have done
that in an hour visit with me aswell, so you could just go to
your.
You can go to your psychiatrist, I believe any clinical
psychologist.
You might just be going to thatfor therapy, right, they could
also diagnose an educationalpsychologist can, but it's more,
(20:10):
it's for educational purposes.
One of my really good friends,her therapist, is an LMFT who
also is ADHD, who is highlyunderstanding, and they were
able to just have a reallyvalidating conversation of look,
if I'm looking at the criteriaon the DSM, I can tell you very
confidently that you are hittingall these marks.
(20:31):
She did self assessments so shenow identifies as someone with
ADHD.
She didn't need to necessarilygo down the path of all sorts of
assessments.
I think it's more just makingsure you have a conversation
with a professional to guide you.
Tanner Welsch (20:45):
For sure, can you define LMFT or what that is
exactly?
Ali Arena (20:50):
Oh yeah, a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Yeah, there's a good chance.
If you're going to therapy,you're probably being seen by an
LSCW, the licensed socialworker, or a marriage and family
therapist.
Tanner Welsch (21:01):
Yeah, Okay, what are some maybe pros and cons of
actually getting an officialdiagnosis of some of this
neurodiverse diagnoses?
Ali Arena (21:12):
So one again, I think it's your dependence on your
brain.
I tend to find many of myautistic clients.
I want to know definitively andI want to understand my
neurology better.
I want all the fine detailstype of thing, so whatever is
going to satisfy that.
And then also, I am not wellversed in this enough, but if
(21:35):
you do want to do anything withyour insurance or with
disability insurance or I thinkeven if you wanted
accommodations legally throughwork I think that's where it's
yes, you do need more of asigned piece of paper saying you
know this is what's happening,just like if you're taking
(21:56):
maternity leave or something,you have to actually show that
you're pregnant.
Same thing.
There needs to be some validdocumentation.
Tanner Welsch (22:02):
Of course, okay.
So if you're running your owntherapy practice, who would be a
good person to run their ownbusiness Traits you know that I
think are important to runningyour own practice.
Ali Arena (22:15):
I think you have to actually really want to.
I think a lot of people go intoit being well, I just don't
like what I'm doing, or I knowit's.
It makes good money.
I'm not really sure if that'sreally valid, but I think it's
like I've heard.
So I think you have to actuallywant to, because it can be
challenging in the beginning.
I mean, you literally have tofind clients.
The amount of things that I didpoorly and I didn't know.
(22:38):
I didn't have a system foronboarding, I wouldn't always
get everyone's initialinformation, I didn't have a
good system for notes.
There were just a lot of thingsthat I learned over time.
But if you have a strong desireto make it work, because you
know it works for your ownlifestyle, I think that makes a
big difference.
I also think there's this wholething out here I work for
(22:59):
myself or I don't, and I don'tthink that has to be true.
A lot of people have their ownprivate practice and then work
for a school district three daysa week because they want to
fill morning hours or whatever.
Right, there's nothing wrongwith doing a balance.
It doesn't need to be, you know, fully on your own for you to
really be owning a privatepractice.
(23:20):
I would also say it took me along time to even say I had my
own business.
So, really to feel you're ready, I used to say stuff oh yeah, I
just see clients.
In reality, I had an LLC and afull business and I guess I
would say this entrepreneurshipwill bring all of your stuff out
.
I did not realize how trulydisorganized I was, or that I
(23:43):
didn't really have a flow forthings until all of everyone
else's materials went away and Ihad to figure it out on my own
right.
So be ready for some of yourown stuff.
And rejection right.
I remember the first time I hadan intake call with a client
and they didn't want to workwith me and I was so hurt, which
just sounds so conceited, butit hadn't happened before,
(24:06):
because normally I just work forsomeone and they put people on
my caseload.
I never thought about the factthat someone might not want to
work with me, which is totallyvalid and acceptable.
But yeah, just to be ready forthat.
Tanner Welsch (24:18):
For sure.
I completely agree 100%.
I've heard what you said beforerepeated by other, actually
healthcare business owners andeven, I think, in any business
that you open and you're gonnafind that you're gonna learn a
lot about yourself, becausethere's a lot you got to figure
out on your own that isn'tnormally down like what you're
talking about and what.
(24:39):
Something simple.
Just pick one thing.
One aspect about owning andoperating your business is even
hiring people or finding theright person or Letting somebody
go to find a better replacementthat fits, and you learn a lot
about yourself and I think it'sgood to keep in mind.
What kind of business owner doyou want to be?
What kind of leader do you wantto be?
(25:00):
What kind of role model do youwant to be?
I think it's important to selfreflect and it definitely puts
you in a position where, if youhaven't figured it out or
realize these things, if you goand try to start your own
business, you're gonna, becauseit's gonna put you in situations
where it's man, this isuncomfortable, this is new, I
haven't done this before and yougot to figure it out man, what
(25:21):
do I do?
So, on that note, what have youfound has been really helpful
for you in growing and openingand this own business that's
yours.
What has been really helpfulfor you with getting through
some of these challenges ofbeing a business owner?
Ali Arena (25:38):
Go asking for help.
I was very much.
I'm doing this is my thing, andmy husband is an engineer, so
he's actually really good atsystems, and I finally let him
in, and he was.
You are making your life somuch harder.
Why are you building this way?
He was able to come in at leastgive me some systems.
And I also now have a virtualassistant who I mean, I adore.
(25:59):
She's my lifesaver.
She'll literally be the one totext me and say hey, you just
got a new client inquiry,because I am truly bad at email.
It's a skill I wish I'vedeveloped.
It's haven't, but I'm.
She's my fail safe, right.
Okay, look, you got this email.
Make sure you call them.
That's really helped me.
I've gotten pretty strict.
I don't put more than fivethings on my to do list.
(26:21):
I mean, I used to be a personthat had 100.
And so when I was doing that, Iwas not doing things like
calling a client back, and Iremember one time I called and
the lady was oh, I didn't hearfrom you, we went with someone
else.
Totally fair makes total sense,right.
And so it started to hit me.
These behaviors will negativelyaffect my build of clients,
right.
(26:41):
So really keeping my to do listsmall and then creating systems
along the way.
For example, a lot of peopleask me hey, do you have a list
of books for newly diagnosedADHD women?
So I finally was oh wait, I dothis all the time.
I should make a list.
And then this is where myvirtual assistant is amazing.
I am terrible at graphic design.
(27:02):
I give her the list.
She put it in canva announcespre PDF handout that I would
have never known how to do.
The other day I finally made athing on how to submit a super
bill because I was verballysaying it over and over again.
And then I was wait, I can justmake a video so people
understand how to do it.
So, really, looking at what waseating up my time and that I
was doing over and over andtrying to put it into a system,
(27:25):
and streamlining that.
Tanner Welsch (27:26):
I love that.
Yes, what is your typical daylike?
And then, what is your actualweek?
Like you know, are you workingfive days a week.
Ali Arena (27:35):
A typical day is I am a really big person.
I like my mornings, go to walk,I do a workout class, I have my
dog and then I typically havemy first client tennis.
I will work probably frombetween 10 till 7pm.
I'm not seeing clients thatwhole time.
It's not getting filled withclients, but that's my hours.
I don't do Fridays.
(27:56):
My husband, his company, is offevery other Friday, so I like
to keep it open so we can dothings and also just to catch up
on life is Fridays.
I am a person that will do aweekend.
Some people are very strictabout that, with it being LA.
I do.
I'm 90% online, but I do do alittle in person.
And I this one kid.
(28:18):
I adore him, he's eight, he hasADHD and he wouldn't be able to
do online, so I will see himSaturday mornings in person
because there isn't traffic.
I think this is another bigthing.
Know yourself, I'm up early, soI go see this kid at 8am and
come back my husband's not evenup yet, my dogs barely out of
bed.
No one even knows I left.
It doesn't like my weekend inany way.
(28:39):
Really just figuring out whatworks for you the other thing
that I'm slowly trying to do andthis has been quite an
undertaking and I'm sure otherpeople can relate to this and I
need to follow other people'sfootsteps is my husband and I
are trying to get pregnant,which means eventually this
practice has to go to someoneelse, or or I take a break, or
(28:59):
so I'm slowly bringing on peopleto have some clients now to
maybe start transitioning.
So you know, on Wednesdaysomeone else is actually seeing
for my clients, so during thattime I'm able to do other office
work type things.
Tanner Welsch (29:13):
I love that.
So a broad question I ask iswhat have you realized from this
journey you know, graduatingspeech, pass school to getting
where you are today?
What have you learned andrealized from this that you
didn't know before?
Ali Arena (29:27):
One thing that I think it's true most therapeutic
fields is I came out of gradschool being I am a speech
therapist.
I'm going to work with allthese populations and I'm going
to do all the things and I wasstill in such academic yeah,
speech therapy.
And I think really what I'velearned is I love being a speech
therapist, I love helpingpeople, but it's not my identity
(29:48):
, it's not my end all be all.
I also actually really likewhat entrepreneurship is,
leadership and learning moreabout business.
You know, I'm always looking atdifferent way, different models
and not just the one on oneright, or could I do groups?
Could I do cohort?
I'm always thinking differentlyabout that.
So I think I've really shiftedout of I'm just this one
(30:12):
identity and I think I'vestarted just thinking bigger and
really always coming back to Ijust want to help people.
That's really the goal.
Whatever that looks like for mylife at the moment, that's what
it is.
Tanner Welsch (30:23):
Absolutely.
Do you have any bookrecommendations?
For it can be anything.
It can be about business, itcan be about you know those
individuals that you know maybegot a new diagnosis, or finding
out late that they got some ofthese other neurodiverse things
going on.
What would you recommend?
Ali Arena (30:39):
So business, I reread essentialism a bunch of times
and then the Body Keep Score wasprobably the most impactful
book, just for me personally,looking at trauma and who I am,
I think, for just beginning aneurodiverse journey.
Neurotribes is an awesome book.
It just sort of explains whatneurodiversity is.
(31:01):
Those are three that I wouldreally recommend.
Tanner Welsch (31:03):
Perfect.
Is there anything else that youwould like to share with other
rehab rebel listeners that maybethey're?
They're in the field justgetting started and not sure
where to go, or they're lookingfor ways to transition or move
outside of their current jobwithin a typical therapy role?
Ali Arena (31:22):
I think, lean into what you're really good at.
Yes, I'm a speech therapist,but I actually hate treating our
tick and I'm not that good atit.
I just actually got a phonecall for an R kiddo and I was
you don't want me.
I referred to another person.
Really being able to own, thathas been super helpful.
And also being okay with, yeah,starting to specialize.
(31:44):
I used to see a lot moreyounger kids Younger kids equals
owning a lot of toys and youprobably can't do telehealth,
and so, again, I think it'sreally important to have a good
referral source.
I never want to leave anyonehanging, but there are plenty of
private practices in LA thatare going to see a two-year-old
and do it really well and thatisn't me right.
So, really being okay with whatare you good at, what do you
(32:05):
like, and lean in on it.
Tanner Welsch (32:07):
For sure, no one.
Your strengths and weaknessesabsolutely Allie.
Thank you so much for takingthe time to come on and share
your journey and your stories.
Thank you so much.
Ali Arena (32:16):
Yeah, thank you for having me.
Intro (32:18):
Thank you for listening to the Rehab Rebels podcast.
If this podcast was useful,make sure to hit that subscribe
button and leave a review.
For more information abouttransitioning to alternative
careers, head to rehabrebelsorgor follow us on Instagram at
Rehab Rebels podcast.
We'll see you next time.
Welcome to the Rehab Rebels podcast.
Are you a rehab professionalready to transition to an
alternative career?
Hear inspiring stories fromothers just like you and learn
the best ways to bridge yourcareer gap.
This podcast has you covered.
Now here's your host, doctor ofphysical therapy and podcaster,
tanner Welsh.
Tanner Welsch (00:20):
Thank you for taking the time to be on and
have me interview you.
I know we've been trying to dothis since I think it was July.
What I'll have you do, like Ihave everybody do, is just
introduce yourself where youwent to school and what you're
doing now, and then we'll leadinto how you got there.
Ali Arena (00:37):
Hi, thank you so much for having me.
I'm Ali Arena.
My background is that I'm aBCBA, an SLP and an educational
psychologist, so we can't tell Ireally, really like school.
But currently I own a privatepractice where I work with
neurodiverse adults in whatevercapacity they may need.
(01:00):
So that might need that mightbe support around communication.
It might be support with somesocial skills in the corporate
or academic environment and alsothe relationship skills for
couples.
So looking at that as well,that's cool.
Tanner Welsch (01:16):
You're definitely all about the communication and
relationships and all that.
I thought that was reallyunique about your niche.
So before we dive into all that, let's talk about after you
graduated from speech pathschool.
What did you do right afterthat and what was that like for
you?
Ali Arena (01:33):
Yeah, so I am currently in LA, but I was
living in New Jersey then.
That's where my family's from.
So I went to Seaton Hall for mymaster's in speech therapy and
then my CF was, and that's thatclinical placement you have to
do was actually my lastinternship and I was at a
children's hospital and it waswhat I really wanted and I loved
(01:54):
it.
I did that for about two years.
I look back so fondly on thatbecause I just got to see every
type of diagnosis and work withmultiple teams.
But I feel in typical mefashion after about two years I
was okay, I want somethingdifferent and I knew I always
wanted to live on the West Coast.
It was just a thing that I feltvery strongly I needed to do,
(02:15):
but I'm also a person that I'mnot gonna just take a leap.
So I was oh, I also want to getmy doctorate.
So I only applied to West Coastschools and then that's what
brought me out here.
Tanner Welsch (02:26):
Okay, cool, your doctorate is in psychology, is
that right?
Ali Arena (02:30):
Educational psychology and my thesis was
about autistic dating and whatare the challenges within dating
.
And what was really cool is soI finished in 2019.
So I remember reading all theneurodiverse affirming research
and I was, oh wow, we could betalking about this so
(02:51):
differently.
And then in 2020, the wholemovement really burst open.
But what was really cool is soI did my thesis from a lens of
socially informed lens, sotrying to take myself out and
really just think about thepeople I'm working with, and I
realized I assumed communicationwas gonna be the biggest
challenge and it wasn't.
A lot of people were moreconcerned with maintaining
(03:11):
boundaries, how to say theirneeds, what's even the
trajectory of dating.
It was a lot different than Ihad thought, which was really
insightful because I could havebeen thinking I was helping
people and not really addressingthings that mattered.
Tanner Welsch (03:25):
For sure.
Now you got me interested here.
What's this trajectory ofdating?
Can you explain a little bitabout what that means and what
that looks like?
I've never heard of that before.
Ali Arena (03:36):
So I did a few focus groups and what they were really
concerned about, which I get,is okay.
So how does it work?
I just take a person on a dateand then I take them on another
date.
When do I kiss them?
When do I have sex?
When do I meet their parents?
When do I propose?
These were the thoughts.
So timeline I guess what is aloose timeline and, as we know,
dating is different for everyonebut just sort of a very loose
(03:59):
roadmap of appropriate orinappropriate or too rushed
behaviors, because a lot of ourneurodivergent people, they're
learning stuff from movies,maybe even from porn, maybe from
one sibling, so they're notalways getting a full picture of
what dating could look like.
Tanner Welsch (04:18):
Absolutely.
I love that explanation and itis complicated.
It's trial by fire almost,because you don't really know
and if you don't have a verygood, I would say, sample size
or resource, then you're limitedon what you know and what you
have experience to you know.
So that's awesome, that'sreally interesting.
Okay, so you got your doctorateWest Coast, oh, and you did
(04:41):
your advisor.
Ali Arena (04:42):
My advisor was at UCLA.
One of them and Dr Liz Loggisonshe is who I was able to run
focus groups with.
They're her peers group.
So peers is a social skillscurriculum, essentially out of
UCLA, but it was what was used.
She was a I guess a consultantis the right word On love on the
(05:05):
spectrum.
If you watch the first seasonin Australia, she's talking to
one of the groups and sheactually has created a full
peers dating curriculum throughsome of the stuff that we had
noticed right Around boundaries.
And also she does this reallybeautifully and she's really
good at constantly updating it.
Communication channels right,so texting, but then in pandemic
(05:26):
everyone started doing Zoom, soshe just is really good about
talking about how to do that.
Tanner Welsch (05:31):
Yeah, I remember you said about the love on the
spectrum and I've seen it onNetflix.
I really enjoyed it.
It was pretty awesome.
So I think it just goes to showeverybody every human being has
to go through these experiencesor interactions and figure it
out.
I think they do a great job ofpresenting it.
Okay, what is after yourgraduation for your PhD?
(05:52):
What's next for you?
Ali Arena (05:54):
So end of 2019, I graduated.
I was working for a privatepractice At the time.
My boyfriend and I moved only20 miles in LA, 20 minutes away,
but in LA that's an hour and ahalf.
I had to leave the privatepractice I was at.
So I thought, january 2020,let's start a private practice.
And we also got engaged in 2020.
(06:15):
So I was like, okay, this is myyear, and then pandemic it.
But I will say pandemic in away, I always wanted to be
virtual, so it made it happen.
And then, additionally, I thinka lot of people during that
time started to realize I hadcertain skills, certain social
skills that only work when I'min the context of either the
(06:37):
office or the context of certainthings.
So I was able to help a lotwith social skills.
And then, additionally, I knewI had ADHD at 30, but it wasn't
until we were in pandemic that Irealized, wait, I'm not
commuting, I don't have myroutines.
It really hit me.
So I also was able to really doa deep dive into what is ADHD
(06:59):
really doing, what is it?
What is neurodivergence really?
And so that's another part ofmy private practice I look at a
lot.
How does it feel to be lateidentified and figure out how
it's impacting your life.
Tanner Welsch (07:09):
For sure.
I want to dive into that deeperwith what to look out for or
when should you seek services.
But before we get into that,let's talk about what were some
things that were going on thatmade you just decide to go ahead
and open up your own businessand practice instead of keep
working in the health systemthat we have and all that.
Ali Arena (07:32):
I have done all of the things that you could do
within our field.
I worked at a school, I workedat a hospital, I did private
practice and I also did them allto the highest degree.
I know that can sound a littlecocky, it's not meant to.
I got to the part where I wassupervising and managing people,
and I was I don't.
I love it, but I hated my longhours.
(07:53):
This doesn't work.
What I really like is when aparent once talked to me about
their neurodivergent child and Ican give them the time that
they deserve, as opposed to a 10minute slot where you got to
get out of my room becausesomeone else is coming in for
therapy, so it just didn't feelright.
I've also learned about myself.
I could literally work 13 hourday, see clients all day, and
(08:13):
I'd be, I'd be good, but then Ineed the next day to breathe and
chill, and you can't do thatwithin an environment of nine to
five.
I'm so burnt out all the time.
This system isn't working forme.
And then I'm also a person thatI don't do unbelievably well
with making sure my notes areimpeccable and all my reports
(08:34):
are in perfectly, and so now youknow I have the luxury of.
I still have people who needinsurance and reports, but it's
few and far between.
So if I have a report due, Ican do that.
It's not feeling overwhelming,as opposed to a whole caseload
that has IEPs all in October.
Tanner Welsch (08:51):
For sure.
On that note, I really believethat this applies to everybody
in the health field and maybeeven branches outside of that.
But what's happening is justthere's so much stress and
there's so much you just can'tbe present and you don't have
time to necessarily do maybeeven the quality of job that you
would like to do and or enoughtime to rest and recharge within
(09:12):
this typical nine to five, 40hour a week schedules, and I
believe that it is causing a lotof health problems for our
industry and even outside of ourindustry, and people have
really just had enough and thisisn't working.
You know what are my otheroptions, what else can I do?
And they're really trying tofigure out how to bridge that
(09:33):
gap and I love you coming on andtalking about this journey and
some of these struggles thatyou're facing, and you went the
route of opening up your ownpractice and it's time for a
change and we all need to getdown and talk to each other and
communicate and figure outreally what's best for us as
individuals, but also supporteach other with trying to find
these alternative solutions tothis system.
(09:55):
That's not good for usindividually as being employed.
It's not good for the peoplewe're serving is a failing thing
.
So I'll get off my soapbox.
Let's talk about theneurodiverse versus the
neurotypical and then we candive into some of the services
and who you're for and signs tolook out for and stuff.
Ali Arena (10:13):
Neurodiverse means anything that is deviating or
different than neurotypical,which is supposed to be the
standard.
Right, really cautious.
Different, not worse, not bad.
Different within that couldencompass autism, adhd, learning
differences, dyspraxia,dyslexia, dyscalcula, I think
(10:35):
under some umbrellas bipolar isin there.
It's interesting in the UK Ithink it includes bipolar, but
here it doesn't.
Some people even say if youhave complex PTSD, that counts
as neurodiverse, like anythingthat makes your brain chemistry
a little different.
Neurotypical is meant to be thestandard.
It's supposed to be, that thebrain chemistry isn't affected.
(10:56):
I will say though I don't knowvery many people that would be I
am neuro-typical.
There is nothing going on,because we all probably have
some degree now of anxiety ordepression hanging out at times,
and I think all of ourattention spans are shot because
of so much media.
I would venture we're going tohave to get a little bit more
(11:17):
stripped on what is neurodiverseand what isn't and what areas
need accommodations and in whatareas.
Do just everyone needaccommodations?
I think most people would likeif they got agendas before a
work meeting.
That doesn't need to be anaccommodation, that just feels
an inclusive practice.
Tanner Welsch (11:36):
For sure.
Going diving into this deepernow makes me realize just how
broad and big this topic andscope is, and how much it just
applies to everybody.
So what are some things wementioned before about some
individuals maybe discoveringthat they're neurodiverse or
that they have ADHD, but laterin life, let's talk about what
are some things to maybe lookout for, what are some things
that you see and guiding theminto, maybe some services or
(12:00):
direction for.
Okay, this would be a placethat you could go, or this is a
time, a good time for you to goand seek some additional care
services.
Let's talk about all that.
Ali Arena (12:10):
Yeah, so I think with ADHD, what really dawned on me
was so I've always had anxiety.
I don't think I was labeling andis that though?
I just thought I was a veryproductive person.
I just loved being productive,but really I think I was trying
to compensate for anxiety and Ialways was really late on things
(12:31):
.
But I'm a good in-person.
I'm really good at being atherapist in person, so people
would not care that I was lateon things as much or maybe
that's the lie I told myself.
But I really started to look at.
I had a lot of these higherlevel skills, but lower level
ones, of just time management,being able to keep up with
workload.
I truly could not figure outhow to food shop myself, that
(12:54):
executive functioning skill ofhow much do you buy and what are
you going to cook.
Anyone with ADHD, I'm sure, isgoing to relate to that
statement.
Really, looking at what areasof my life are really
challenging for me, that maylook easier to other people.
I think that was another reasonthis journey to having my own
business happened is this seemsso little, but I have a dog and
(13:17):
I had a dog when I was workingfor a private practice, and just
even that time management ofhow do I walk her, get to the
office, come back and walk herat lunch.
It was genuinely hard for me tofigure that out because of some
time blindness and I didn'tknow what that was.
I was just shaming myself, butreally it was having challenges
(13:37):
with time and time blindnessissues.
Tanner Welsch (13:40):
For sure.
Thank you so much for openingup and sharing these experiences
, because that's how we're allgoing to learn from each other,
right?
So you shared some, maybe somethings that you noticed and some
struggles you were having.
How did you personally overcomesome of these things?
What did you realize aftergetting through it and being
able to manage things and manageyour time better?
(14:00):
How did all that come out?
Ali Arena (14:02):
Well, one was a real acceptance of I don't have to do
it all, I don't have to havethat many clients in one day,
right, and then also making itvisual.
So now I've really started torealize for every client you
have, they have notes.
They might ever report that youmight be consulting.
I do a lot of consultation withsomeone like psychiatrist or
(14:25):
psychologist, so I reallystarted to look at one person as
a three-hour entity as opposedto a one-hour right.
So really thinking about myschedule differently.
Another thing that's helped toois learning limitations.
During the week my husband andI do hungry route like a meal to
service thing.
I have no affiliation, I justlike them and that's really
(14:46):
helped.
And then on the weekend I willcook because I enjoy it, but I
just don't know if I figure itout during the week.
And I think a big thing thathelped me was not shaming myself
.
I'm really looking at where amI saying should and can I do it,
or do I actually have thecapacity to do it?
If I don't, that's okay.
I also did during COVID startADHD medication.
(15:08):
That did really help me withjust some of that initial
starting of projects andeveryone has a different journey
with that.
It did help me.
Other people feel differentlyabout that and then, knowing I
had ADHD, I love my therapist.
I've always been in therapywith her, but we shifted how
we're doing therapy a little bitbecause she had that lens.
The more you know aboutyourself, the more you can
(15:32):
change behaviors and start tounderstand why you're doing
certain things.
I could totally say my parentsthink, oh, that's Allie, but
actually that's not a goodreason, I can't get it together
on certain things.
And when I started to look atthat, I was able to bring in
some strategies like we would dofor our clients scaffolding it
or making the goal smaller andtrying to shape the behavior
(15:54):
over time, and exactly what wewould do.
I just was looking at myselffinally and thinking about it.
Tanner Welsch (16:00):
For sure, and it's always hard to look
basically at ourselves from athird person point of view,
Right?
So a lot of different coursesthat I've taken about starting
your own business, entrepreneurstuff they want you to figure
out what your superpower is,what you're really good at, what
your special skills are, andwhen we try to think of that on
our own it's I don't even knowwhat to put down.
So a lot of the exercises thatthey say is to ask friends,
(16:23):
family, trusted individuals whatthey come to you for.
From their point of view, it'sreally easy usually to pick out
what you're really good at andwhat you're maybe not good at,
and I think that's important toknow in part of that journey of
self-discovery and really tryingto grow.
Let's say that maybe ourlisteners out there that have
(16:44):
experienced some of the thingsthat you're talking about, where
do you recommend that theystart if they're wanting to
address some of these issues?
Where would you point them togo?
What are some resources or whenis a good time for them to
start seeking some of thesethings?
Ali Arena (17:00):
Most things like ADHD , autism, I think, some learning
differences as well.
There are online self-reportedtests, right, so you could take
those and start to see.
There's a company calledEmbrace Autism who has some
really cool tests that aredifferent from maybe what you
might find if you go to aneuropsych.
(17:22):
They have one on helpingdetermine how much you're
masking, which is super cool, soI would start to look at that.
I actually I can't believe I'msaying this, but Instagram does
have some people out there withat least some nice precursor
lists of does this sound likeyou?
My only caveat is make sureit's not just a person who has
(17:46):
their own experience.
They're only talking abouttheir own.
See if the person has talked toa bunch of people or it's a
professional, and then the lastroute would be to go to a
neuropsych and get some testing.
There's something called QVCheck for ADHD, which could be a
really quick, easy way to lookat an assessment.
It will tell you your basicallyyour working memory capacity
(18:08):
and then also for you to thinkabout okay, how much in depth do
I need?
Am I a person that's debatingif I have a bunch of things?
Because then maybe it is worthgoing to neuropsych because
they'll really be able to giveyou a full profile.
Am I a person who?
I really suspect I have this.
I just want a professional tovalidate that I do.
(18:28):
I don't think you have to do afull battery because the more
testing, the more expensive.
I guess is what I'm saying,right.
So really figure out what theneed is.
For a lot of us, if you're past, let's say, school and you're
not doing any more academics,you don't always need the ND PhD
to be siding off the diagnosisbecause it's not giving you
accommodation or medication orwhatever.
(18:49):
So I did neuropsych testing,but honestly, because I was
interested in it and I was withUCLA at the time, so I was able
to go in as a student and do thetesting.
I've seen upwards of $12,000for full batteries of tests.
I will say, though, if you havelike an eight-year-old and I
don't know what's going on, I dothink getting that full battery
(19:10):
is really helpful.
But by the time you're in your20s or 30s, you probably have a
pretty good idea of this.
Sounds like me.
I think this is it.
Let me just sort of steermyself down that one path.
I remember going home andtalking to my husband and being
yeah, my therapist thinks I'mADHD and I accept as my parents.
It was a slotting.
How many people relate?
Do you not know that?
(19:30):
We just all assumed this was apart of you that you were fully
aware of.
So that's also very valid.
Tanner Welsch (19:36):
People in your library yeah, so if I'm hearing
and understanding right, theprofessional I guess to seek out
would be a neuropsychologist.
Is that the direction that theyshould go?
Ali Arena (19:49):
I did the neuropsych testing honestly for fun, but my
psychiatrist that ended upworking with could have done
that in an hour visit with me aswell, so you could just go to
your.
You can go to your psychiatrist, I believe any clinical
psychologist.
You might just be going to thatfor therapy, right, they could
also diagnose an educationalpsychologist can, but it's more,
(20:10):
it's for educational purposes.
One of my really good friends,her therapist, is an LMFT who
also is ADHD, who is highlyunderstanding, and they were
able to just have a reallyvalidating conversation of look,
if I'm looking at the criteriaon the DSM, I can tell you very
confidently that you are hittingall these marks.
(20:31):
She did self assessments so shenow identifies as someone with
ADHD.
She didn't need to necessarilygo down the path of all sorts of
assessments.
I think it's more just makingsure you have a conversation
with a professional to guide you.
Tanner Welsch (20:45):
For sure, can you define LMFT or what that is
exactly?
Ali Arena (20:50):
Oh yeah, a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Yeah, there's a good chance.
If you're going to therapy,you're probably being seen by an
LSCW, the licensed socialworker, or a marriage and family
therapist.
Tanner Welsch (21:01):
Yeah, Okay, what are some maybe pros and cons of
actually getting an officialdiagnosis of some of this
neurodiverse diagnoses?
Ali Arena (21:12):
So one again, I think it's your dependence on your
brain.
I tend to find many of myautistic clients.
I want to know definitively andI want to understand my
neurology better.
I want all the fine detailstype of thing, so whatever is
going to satisfy that.
And then also, I am not wellversed in this enough, but if
(21:35):
you do want to do anything withyour insurance or with
disability insurance or I thinkeven if you wanted
accommodations legally throughwork I think that's where it's
yes, you do need more of asigned piece of paper saying you
know this is what's happening,just like if you're taking
(21:56):
maternity leave or something,you have to actually show that
you're pregnant.
Same thing.
There needs to be some validdocumentation.
Tanner Welsch (22:02):
Of course, okay.
So if you're running your owntherapy practice, who would be a
good person to run their ownbusiness Traits you know that I
think are important to runningyour own practice.
Ali Arena (22:15):
I think you have to actually really want to.
I think a lot of people go intoit being well, I just don't
like what I'm doing, or I knowit's.
It makes good money.
I'm not really sure if that'sreally valid, but I think it's
like I've heard.
So I think you have to actuallywant to, because it can be
challenging in the beginning.
I mean, you literally have tofind clients.
The amount of things that I didpoorly and I didn't know.
(22:38):
I didn't have a system foronboarding, I wouldn't always
get everyone's initialinformation, I didn't have a
good system for notes.
There were just a lot of thingsthat I learned over time.
But if you have a strong desireto make it work, because you
know it works for your ownlifestyle, I think that makes a
big difference.
I also think there's this wholething out here I work for
(22:59):
myself or I don't, and I don'tthink that has to be true.
A lot of people have their ownprivate practice and then work
for a school district three daysa week because they want to
fill morning hours or whatever.
Right, there's nothing wrongwith doing a balance.
It doesn't need to be, you know, fully on your own for you to
really be owning a privatepractice.
(23:20):
I would also say it took me along time to even say I had my
own business.
So, really to feel you're ready, I used to say stuff oh yeah, I
just see clients.
In reality, I had an LLC and afull business and I guess I
would say this entrepreneurshipwill bring all of your stuff out
.
I did not realize how trulydisorganized I was, or that I
(23:43):
didn't really have a flow forthings until all of everyone
else's materials went away and Ihad to figure it out on my own
right.
So be ready for some of yourown stuff.
And rejection right.
I remember the first time I hadan intake call with a client
and they didn't want to workwith me and I was so hurt, which
just sounds so conceited, butit hadn't happened before,
(24:06):
because normally I just work forsomeone and they put people on
my caseload.
I never thought about the factthat someone might not want to
work with me, which is totallyvalid and acceptable.
But yeah, just to be ready forthat.
Tanner Welsch (24:18):
For sure.
I completely agree 100%.
I've heard what you said beforerepeated by other, actually
healthcare business owners andeven, I think, in any business
that you open and you're gonnafind that you're gonna learn a
lot about yourself, becausethere's a lot you got to figure
out on your own that isn'tnormally down like what you're
talking about and what.
(24:39):
Something simple.
Just pick one thing.
One aspect about owning andoperating your business is even
hiring people or finding theright person or Letting somebody
go to find a better replacementthat fits, and you learn a lot
about yourself and I think it'sgood to keep in mind.
What kind of business owner doyou want to be?
What kind of leader do you wantto be?
(25:00):
What kind of role model do youwant to be?
I think it's important to selfreflect and it definitely puts
you in a position where, if youhaven't figured it out or
realize these things, if you goand try to start your own
business, you're gonna, becauseit's gonna put you in situations
where it's man, this isuncomfortable, this is new, I
haven't done this before and yougot to figure it out man, what
(25:21):
do I do?
So, on that note, what have youfound has been really helpful
for you in growing and openingand this own business that's
yours.
What has been really helpfulfor you with getting through
some of these challenges ofbeing a business owner?
Ali Arena (25:38):
Go asking for help.
I was very much.
I'm doing this is my thing, andmy husband is an engineer, so
he's actually really good atsystems, and I finally let him
in, and he was.
You are making your life somuch harder.
Why are you building this way?
He was able to come in at leastgive me some systems.
And I also now have a virtualassistant who I mean, I adore.
(25:59):
She's my lifesaver.
She'll literally be the one totext me and say hey, you just
got a new client inquiry,because I am truly bad at email.
It's a skill I wish I'vedeveloped.
It's haven't, but I'm.
She's my fail safe, right.
Okay, look, you got this email.
Make sure you call them.
That's really helped me.
I've gotten pretty strict.
I don't put more than fivethings on my to do list.
(26:21):
I mean, I used to be a personthat had 100.
And so when I was doing that, Iwas not doing things like
calling a client back, and Iremember one time I called and
the lady was oh, I didn't hearfrom you, we went with someone
else.
Totally fair makes total sense,right.
And so it started to hit me.
These behaviors will negativelyaffect my build of clients,
right.
(26:41):
So really keeping my to do listsmall and then creating systems
along the way.
For example, a lot of peopleask me hey, do you have a list
of books for newly diagnosedADHD women?
So I finally was oh wait, I dothis all the time.
I should make a list.
And then this is where myvirtual assistant is amazing.
I am terrible at graphic design.
(27:02):
I give her the list.
She put it in canva announcespre PDF handout that I would
have never known how to do.
The other day I finally made athing on how to submit a super
bill because I was verballysaying it over and over again.
And then I was wait, I can justmake a video so people
understand how to do it.
So, really, looking at what waseating up my time and that I
was doing over and over andtrying to put it into a system,
(27:25):
and streamlining that.
Tanner Welsch (27:26):
I love that.
Yes, what is your typical daylike?
And then, what is your actualweek?
Like you know, are you workingfive days a week.
Ali Arena (27:35):
A typical day is I am a really big person.
I like my mornings, go to walk,I do a workout class, I have my
dog and then I typically havemy first client tennis.
I will work probably frombetween 10 till 7pm.
I'm not seeing clients thatwhole time.
It's not getting filled withclients, but that's my hours.
I don't do Fridays.
(27:56):
My husband, his company, is offevery other Friday, so I like
to keep it open so we can dothings and also just to catch up
on life is Fridays.
I am a person that will do aweekend.
Some people are very strictabout that, with it being LA.
I do.
I'm 90% online, but I do do alittle in person.
And I this one kid.
(28:18):
I adore him, he's eight, he hasADHD and he wouldn't be able to
do online, so I will see himSaturday mornings in person
because there isn't traffic.
I think this is another bigthing.
Know yourself, I'm up early, soI go see this kid at 8am and
come back my husband's not evenup yet, my dogs barely out of
bed.
No one even knows I left.
It doesn't like my weekend inany way.
(28:39):
Really just figuring out whatworks for you the other thing
that I'm slowly trying to do andthis has been quite an
undertaking and I'm sure otherpeople can relate to this and I
need to follow other people'sfootsteps is my husband and I
are trying to get pregnant,which means eventually this
practice has to go to someoneelse, or or I take a break, or
(28:59):
so I'm slowly bringing on peopleto have some clients now to
maybe start transitioning.
So you know, on Wednesdaysomeone else is actually seeing
for my clients, so during thattime I'm able to do other office
work type things.
Tanner Welsch (29:13):
I love that.
So a broad question I ask iswhat have you realized from this
journey you know, graduatingspeech, pass school to getting
where you are today?
What have you learned andrealized from this that you
didn't know before?
Ali Arena (29:27):
One thing that I think it's true most therapeutic
fields is I came out of gradschool being I am a speech
therapist.
I'm going to work with allthese populations and I'm going
to do all the things and I wasstill in such academic yeah,
speech therapy.
And I think really what I'velearned is I love being a speech
therapist, I love helpingpeople, but it's not my identity
(29:48):
, it's not my end all be all.
I also actually really likewhat entrepreneurship is,
leadership and learning moreabout business.
You know, I'm always looking atdifferent way, different models
and not just the one on oneright, or could I do groups?
Could I do cohort?
I'm always thinking differentlyabout that.
So I think I've really shiftedout of I'm just this one
(30:12):
identity and I think I'vestarted just thinking bigger and
really always coming back to Ijust want to help people.
That's really the goal.
Whatever that looks like for mylife at the moment, that's what
it is.
Tanner Welsch (30:23):
Absolutely.
Do you have any bookrecommendations?
For it can be anything.
It can be about business, itcan be about you know those
individuals that you know maybegot a new diagnosis, or finding
out late that they got some ofthese other neurodiverse things
going on.
What would you recommend?
Ali Arena (30:39):
So business, I reread essentialism a bunch of times
and then the Body Keep Score wasprobably the most impactful
book, just for me personally,looking at trauma and who I am,
I think, for just beginning aneurodiverse journey.
Neurotribes is an awesome book.
It just sort of explains whatneurodiversity is.
(31:01):
Those are three that I wouldreally recommend.
Tanner Welsch (31:03):
Perfect.
Is there anything else that youwould like to share with other
rehab rebel listeners that maybethey're?
They're in the field justgetting started and not sure
where to go, or they're lookingfor ways to transition or move
outside of their current jobwithin a typical therapy role?
Ali Arena (31:22):
I think, lean into what you're really good at.
Yes, I'm a speech therapist,but I actually hate treating our
tick and I'm not that good atit.
I just actually got a phonecall for an R kiddo and I was
you don't want me.
I referred to another person.
Really being able to own, thathas been super helpful.
And also being okay with, yeah,starting to specialize.
(31:44):
I used to see a lot moreyounger kids Younger kids equals
owning a lot of toys and youprobably can't do telehealth,
and so, again, I think it'sreally important to have a good
referral source.
I never want to leave anyonehanging, but there are plenty of
private practices in LA thatare going to see a two-year-old
and do it really well and thatisn't me right.
So, really being okay with whatare you good at, what do you
(32:05):
like, and lean in on it.
Tanner Welsch (32:07):
For sure, no one.
Your strengths and weaknessesabsolutely Allie.
Thank you so much for takingthe time to come on and share
your journey and your stories.
Thank you so much.
Ali Arena (32:16):
Yeah, thank you for having me.
Intro (32:18):
Thank you for listening to the Rehab Rebels podcast.
If this podcast was useful,make sure to hit that subscribe
button and leave a review.
For more information abouttransitioning to alternative
careers, head to rehabrebelsorgor follow us on Instagram at
Rehab Rebels podcast.
We'll see you next time.
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