In this episode of the Will Power Podcast, Will sits down with Stephanie Wagers to dive deep into why mentorship is the lifeblood of a successful practice. Stephanie shares her fascinating journey, from a sociology professor who steered her toward OT to working with coaching experts like Greg Todd to scale her impact.

If you’ve ever felt like your clinical skills are 10/10 but your patient engagement is lagging, this episode is for you. Stephanie breaks down the "soft skills" that aren't taught in school but are essential for survival in the rehab world.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• Defining Mentorship: Moving beyond clinical tips to focus on "building into others" and ensuring the next generation of therapists is equipped to lead.
• The "Caring Conversation" Shift: Why reframing "difficult" talks as "caring" ones changes the dynamic with parents and patients, leading to better compliance and fewer "no-shows."
• The Parent Engagement Framework: How Stephanie turned her doctoral research into a program that helps clinics across the country decrease burnout and increase arrival rates.
• Roleplay is King: Why Stephanie is the "Roleplay Queen" and how constant drilling helps therapists handle everything from messy clinic meltdowns to skeptical parents.
• Scaling the Connection: How to use digital courses and community feedback to mentor staff across multiple locations without losing the personal touch.

Connect with Stephanie:

• Website: ctd-learn.com
• Social Handles:
  • IG https://www.instagram.com/ctdlearningcenter/?hl=en
  • FB https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.wagers.3
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-wagers-997b6359/
  • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StephanieWagers
• Podcast: Connect the Dots Learning Center
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ezaez6Gt5uFbgbCApXO20?si=4cd54fb455d9457d
  • Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/connect-the-dots/id1590852103

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Are you a private practice owner hitting a growth ceiling? Many PT entrepreneurs find themselves "trapped" by the very business they built, buried in spreadsheets, compliance, and billing, leaving little time for the clinical passion that started it all.

In this live episode from APTA CSM, Will Humphreys sits down with Bobby Curtis and Casey Russell. They dive deep into the "Brand of Brands" philosophy, explaining how practice owners can leverage the resources of a national powerhouse while maintaining the local identity and community relationships that make their clinics special.

Whether you are a new grad looking for a leadership path or a seasoned owner looking for an exit strategy that preserves your legacy, this conversation is a masterclass in balancing purpose and profit.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Brand of Brands" Strategy: Why maintaining your local identity is more effective than "white-washing" clinics with a national logo.
• Bandwidth Reclamation: How offloading back-office tasks (billing, HR, compliance) allows owners to return to community relations and high-level leadership.
• Quality Before Quantity: Why mastering clinical dosing and movement patterns is the fastest way to drive long-term profitability.
• The Scoreboard Mentality: Using metrics not as a "money grab," but as a report card for patient care and clinical outcomes.
• Internal Impact: The shift from being a technician to being a mentor who empowers the next generation of PT leaders.

Connect with Our Guest:

Casey Russell

• LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyrusselldpt/
• IG: @caseyrusselldpt
• Website: https://www.prnpt.com/careers

Bobby Curtis

• LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-curtis-pt-dpt-scs-cscs-rkc-575aaa82/
• IG: @bobbycutis_scs
• Website: http://prnpt.com/

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Virtual Rockstars specialize in helping support or replace all non-clinical roles.
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Are you a high-achiever stuck in constant “fight or flight”? From running a business to managing a household, today’s leaders operate under relentless pressure. In this episode of the Will Power Project, host Will Humphreys sits down with Amber Humphrey—Occupational Therapist, Reiki practitioner, and owner of Open Door Pediatric Therapy—live from Growth Code.

Amber shares her journey from severe burnout to healing through nervous system regulation. She explains the science of the vagus nerve, how teams “borrow” a leader’s emotional state through co-regulation, and simple 30-second tools to shift from stress to clarity.

Key Takeaways

• The Four Pillars of Dysregulation: Understand how stress manifests as Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn (people-pleasing) and how to recognize these in your leadership style.
• The Vagus Nerve: Learn why this "wandering nerve" is the secret to resilience and how to improve your "vagal tone" just like a muscle.
• Co-Regulation: Why your employees and children mirror your internal state—and how being a regulated leader creates a regulated team.
• Ancient Wisdom vs. Western Medicine: Exploring the intersection of somatic healing, Reiki, and the physiological evidence supporting "woo-woo" practices.
• The "I Am" Power: Why your words are "spells" and how changing your internal narrative can physically shift your health.

Quick Regulation Tools

• The 4-7-8 Breath: Inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8 to signal safety to the brain.
• The Diver’s Reflex: Using cold water or an ice pack on the chest to instantly lower a racing heart rate.
• Vagal Eye Movements: Looking to the far left or right for 30 seconds to trigger a reflexive yawn (a sign of down-regulation).
• Butterfly Tapping: A bilateral stimulation technique to integrate the left and right hemispheres of the brain during high stress.
• Humming/Voo Breathing: Stimulating the vocal cords to vibrate the Vagus nerve and clear "blockages."

Connect with Amber Humphrey

Open Door Pediatric Therapy
Website: www.opendoorpt.com
Instagram/Facebook: @opendoorpt

Light Beyond The Ashes
Instagram/TikTok: @lightbeyondtheashes
YouTube: Light Beyond The Ashes

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Virtual Rockstars specialize in helping support or replace all non-clinical roles.
Learn how a Virtual Rockstar can help scale your physical therapy practice.

Subscribe here to our completely free Stress-Free PT Newsletter for your weekly dose of joy.