Becoming a Non-Clinical Copywriter as an Occupational Therapist
- Krista Frahm
- May 26
- 14 min read
How I Became an OT Copywriter (and then a launch/marketing strategist) when I didn't even know what copywriting was at first.
People ask me how I made the jump from occupational therapy to copywriting regularly. I get questions in my DMs, in comments, in emails from OTs and other practitioners who are exhausted and searching for something different.
So I wrote this blog to be able to share my journey and help other clinicians who are considering non-clinical copywriting or marketing careers. I share income, insights, mistakes, and all the insecurities I faced along the way. I also link to the copywriting program I enrolled in to launch my career pivot since I'm often asked about that as well.
I Loved Being an Occupational Therapist... Until I Didn't
Don’t get me wrong, I loved patient care for a long time. I became an occupational therapist (OT) because I love helping people. I’ve worked in acute care, sub-acute rehab, long-term acute rehab, outpatient, home health, and a critical access hospital.
Each setting provided a new challenge, new ways to improve people’s lives, and helped me grow professionally.
But I was losing my passion for occupational therapy. I wasn’t bringing my best when I showed up to work.
Sound familiar?
I’d worked with therapists who lost their passion. I’d seen their quality of care drop and their attitude turn sour. I’ve been the therapist pulling the extra load as the burned out therapist provided half-hearted treatments.
I would not be that therapist.
Nobody wants to be that therapist -- right?
If I’m going to enter someone’s life at their lowest point, I’m going to bring my best self. When I realized I wasn't passionate about the services I provided, I knew something had to change.
I remember the moment I realized I needed to change. I had a wonderful older gentleman sitting EOB, taking a break. We were looking out the hospital window which overlooked the lake and mountains beyond. Even though I wanted the best for him, I had zero desire to be there. I was tired of the battles to get equipment, tired of the unpredictable shifts, tired of trying to help people regain their lives when the system was working against us.
I knew it was time to step out of clinical care.
I had to find a non-clinical job and a way to use my OT expertise outside of direct patient care.
After a TON of searching, I found copywriting. (And Sarah's WYWTF course.) This became my non-clinical career that flexes with my kids' schedules. As an added bonus, it reignited my love for OT.
How an Occupational Therapist Learned About Copywriting
I'd actually never heard of copywriting a few months before starting my business.
When I learned what copywriting was, I realized I’d been an occupational therapist and copywriter for years without realizing it.
I volunteered for a non-profit school.
Among other things, I wrote blogs, press releases, grant applications, donor letters and social media posts. I didn't have a full strategy, but something was better than nothing.
After a few years, a mom/business owner made a comment that changed everything.
“You write great copy, Krista.”
I write great copy? What did that even mean?
My first thought was, "I didn’t copy this writing from anywhere! I wrote it myself!"
After I scaled back my indignation from the word "copy" she explained that copy is simply the writing on websites, emails, social posts, and sales pages that moves people to take certain actions.
That’s when it clicked. I wanted to be a copywriter! The paid kind though... because writing for free wasn't going to pay any bills.
Copywriting was my non-clinical path into a career with flexibility, creativity, and increased income potential.
How I Started a Non Clinical Copywriting Business in 4 Months While Working
Sounds absurd right? I wouldn’t believe me either if I hadn’t lived through it.
Let me start with this, I have never had a desire to start my own business. Entrepreneur was not part of my game plan.
I didn’t even pay attention during class in OT school when they explained business ownership and non-traditional OT jobs. That’s how sure I was that I would never start a business of my own. It’s just not who I am...or so I thought.
This was different. This wasn’t just starting a business similar to what I was already doing.
I so deeply desired work that could be remote, non-clinical, and flexible so I could be more present with my kids and not re-start my career (again) if/when we moved.
What I Tried Before Purchasing a Copywriting Course
I started with job boards, like many people do. People were asking for writers, but paying $50 or lower for blog posts. I had written blogs for the school. I knew it took hours to research and write well. $50 was not going to work for me.
I took free copywriting courses. I thought I would see what’s out there, and hopefully be able to break into the writing world without paying for a course. (As OTs, we're used to boot-strapping and problem solving, right?)
I also looked into going back to school, or getting a certification. As therapists we always think we need more credentials right?
After hours of searching, reading, and watching masterclasses, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to start a business without investing in something.
How I Ended up Starting My Copywriting Business as an OT
During my searching, I came across Write Your Way to Freedom by Sarah Turner.
I watched her free Masterclass.
She was calm, confident, honest, and she was in the USA, so I knew what she taught would apply for me.
But... her comprehensive program was a big investment! ($2500 at the time.)
I agonized, I panicked, I lost sleep...but deep down I knew I wanted to sign up for the course and give copywriting a try.
I signed up and marked the refund date on my calendar in case the course was anything less than what I was hoping for.
I started the course, still pretty skeptical that an online course from a self-proclaimed expert would actually help me build a business and earn income.
I never requested the refund.
I followed the course, went through the modules, and actually got a business set up.
How Long it Actually Took, and What I Earned as an OT turned Copywriter
I started the course at the end of January, 2021. I was also still working at the hospital, homeschooling my kids, and running the household (because laundry, cleaning, music lessons and soccer practices don’t stop when you’re starting a business).
Some weeks I was able to commit 30+ hours to the business start-up, but typically I worked 10-15 hours a week.
Here’s my approximate timeline & income for my first year:
End of January 2021 – Purchased the course
February - Homeschooling kids & working through the course content.
March – Launched my business website
April – Two paying clients. ≈ $600 income
May – More projects (including repeat customers) ≈ $1500 income
June – Intentionally slowed things down to work on more of the WYWTF course and my portfolio so I could pitch bigger clients. ≈ $1000 income
July ≈ $3,000 income.
August ≈ $1,000 We all have birthdays in August, there was a raging wildfire nearby threatening evacuation, AND we started school... so I'm not surprised this month is LOW!
September ≈ $3,000
October ≈ $4,100
November ≈ $2,500
December ≈ $2,300
Now before you say, "That's not that much money!" – remember I was working part time because I was homeschooling the kids full time.
During this time, I also changed my niche, declined projects that weren't a good fit, and focused more on business growth and sustainability than straight profit.
You may earn more or grow faster than I did - especially if your kids leave the house for school every day. A lot of writers earn more than I do, and I was totally ok with that during this stage of life. I valued my time teaching and investing in my kids - my business always needed to come second.
I also tend to second-guess myself and overthink things. These have been my biggest challenges when it comes to starting a business.
Business growth is all about the work you're willing to put in and balancing your start-up with the obligations from the rest of your life.
By June of 2021, it really struck me - I had started a business! I had clients! and I had really only just begun my non-clinical journey.
Even though I was putting in the work, and receiving payments, I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I still worked on my mindset daily, because I kept thinking this couldn't be real. Other people own businesses, not me!
I switched from occupational therapy to copywriting while juggling my family and life obligations. It wasn’t always easy, but it’s been worth the effort. Many thanks to my family for being patient during the process!
2022 Update: A year full of ups and downs. I still wouldn't have traded it for my clinical job. In January, 2023, I earned $5,400 from copywriting and flew to a mastermind retreat with Sarah Turner and other copywriters. It was beyond what I ever expected from my little business!
2025 Update: I was more consistently earning $5K/month and above while still not working full time. I made incredible connections and was able to travel and attend fun events (with and without the family) because of the business. I have zero regrets!
2026 Update: I've had a small roster of dedicated clients through 2025 and into 2026. I enjoy strategizing and managing their marketing so they can focus on the programs/services they provide. I'm on an AOTA Ad Hoc Committee and continue to earn enough to contribute to our family finances while maintaining my flexibility!
Do You Have to Take a Course to Become a Copywriter?
No and Yes – let me explain.
No – you don’t technically need a course to become a copywriter.
Copywriting isn’t regulated like healthcare. There‘s no credentialing body that gives a copywriting test. You don’t have to sit for the boards (again).
Copywriters are as diverse and unique as the products and companies we promote. All skill levels and writing styles have a niche that can fit.
So technically, no, you are not required to take any courses to become a copywriter. You could try to get a certificate, but since it’s not regulated, it doesn’t carry much weight.
Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists are lifelong learners. We know the power of learning from an expert, getting feedback, and applying it to our practice.
You know continuing education helps you learn and understand a new skill set. You’re on the right track for faster success in copywriting with this line of thinking.
YES – You should take a course to become a copywriter. You know how helpful courses can be when building your skills in a new area.
Copywriting is a new area, you’ll need to expand your knowledge base.
You don’t know what you don’t know. So take a course that tells you what you don’t know!
Really – do you understand SEO, meta-descriptions, what makes great headlines, formatting, H1/H2s in your blogs, backlinks, and all the nitty-gritty details of setting up a business? I didn’t.
I’m an occupational therapist. I know a lot about neurology, biology, musculoskeletal issues, and more. But I didn’t know how to set up a writing business, get clients, and be successful.
Without a comprehensive course and additional training, I would still be staring at job boards, wondering how to write a blog for $40. (And still clocking in at the hospital.)
Yes, you should take a copywriting course to help you start a business, gain skills, network, and turn this idea into a profitable business venture. You need a roadmap. You need an expert to guide you and a community.
I've come to realize that many clinicians think they can start businesses without investing any money. They want free advice and free resources because they're desperate to get something different started. But the reality is we paid for our clinical training and careers, and if we want a new career, we will have to pay for it as well. I don't say this to be mean, because I was the EXACT same way, but it's what I keep seeing and it holds clinicians back.
I took Write Your Way to Freedom. It's currently $1997 and doesn't include live calls or the community. It was $2500 when I enrolled, which felt like a million dollars at the time. I've also invested in equipment, tools, additional training, masterminds, coaching, and more. Starting a business requires investment, but it has absolutely paid off.
How I Got My First Paid Copywriting Gig as an OT
My first paid writing job actually came from within the WYWTF copywriting community. The writers in good copywriting groups support and encourage each other. You share and celebrate successes together, and lift each other up when things are hard.
Early in my writing career, an established writer needed an article about sensory sensitivities and clothing.
As an OT, (and mom) I jumped at the chance. She worked through the process from start to finish with me. I completed a discovery call, sent her a proposal, invoiced her, and got the contract signed. She gave me feedback and requested copy edits just like a real client would. Then I got paid. (It was around $100 I think, but I was over the moon about it!!)
Established copywriters often get leads they don't want or can't take. Most copywriting groups have a place to post those opportunities. Maybe your first gig will be a hand-off too.
How Copywriting Is (and Isn't) Like Clinical Documentation
Copywriting has some similarities to documentation, but very key differences as well.
Both require you to write with a specific reader in mind and a specific purpose behind every word. As clinicians, we already know how to do that.
When you document, you're usually writing to an insurance reviewer, the physician, or case manager. Copywriting works the same way - you learn who the reader is, what they need to hear, and you write directly to them.
The biggest difference is whether you use clarity or complexity to get your desired outcomes.
Documentation includes complex language on purpose. We may write, "Completed a dynamic standing activity with bilateral integration, reaching forward and laterally with graded cognitive demands. What really happened was, "Client stood and hung up clothing, sorting them by color."
Copywriting goes the other direction. Being clear, direct, and conversational leads to the best results.
Here's where it gets interesting for clinicians who switch into copywriting:
If documentation frustrates you, copywriting's directness will probably feel like a relief. You get to say what you actually mean.
If you're the clinician who loved writing a good appeal or equipment justification letter, you'll be able to channel that passion into persuasive copywriting.
Personally, I was clinician number two. When we were told insurance was planning an early (and unsafe) discharge, I'd tell them to look for my next note and fire it off to the reviewer. I'd layer in the full clinical picture - the fall risk, what going home at that level actually meant, the realistic likelihood of readmission or need for a higher level of care if we didn't continue rehabilitation. I was able to fight for my patients' needs through writing. What I do today in my business is similar.
Why OTs (and Other Clinicians) Shouldn't Avoid Marketing
Marketing gets a bad rap because it's often done poorly. High pressure, manipulation, or saying whatever it takes to get a sale. The fear of being viewed as a sleazy marketer holds many clinicians back from entering marketing or marketing their own businesses.
But people can't find the solutions they want and need if you don't market. And you don't have to be pushy, sleazy, or manipulative to be effective.
Think about the products, equipment, or services you've recommended to patients because you genuinely believed they'd help. Think about the restaurant you told a coworker about, or the shoes you've convinced three people to buy because they're THAT comfortable. You weren't selling. You were sharing something you believed in with someone who needed it.
As a copywriter, I'm essentially doing the same thing, just in written form instead of verbally.
Non-clinical OTs bring something most copywriters don't have: real clinical experience. You understand the patient behind the product, the practitioner behind the program, the stakes behind the marketing. That perspective makes your writing more credible and more useful to the right clients.
Writing to connect people with something that will genuinely help them isn't shady. It took me awhile to really believe this, but it's the truth. Seeing fake experts confidently sell their "snake oils" also motivated me to get really good at helping clinicians market and sell.
It feels good to do good.
Thinking About Becoming a Non-Clinical OT Copywriter?
Most copywriting courses offer free training before you ever spend a dollar. That's how you find the right fit before you commit. Go through a few, see whose teaching style resonates, and then invest in the one that makes sense for you.
Any copy course worth its salt will include professional training and guidance to help you overcome typical stumbling blocks such as mindset issues, imposter syndrome, and fear of picking a niche.
You should also get very specific, organized steps to follow to start your own business. When you walk through the modules and do the “homework,” you ARE building a business without realizing it. Just keep taking small, purposeful steps. You won’t have to wonder what you should do next.
When the course is self-paced, you can take as long as you want or need. Many people take courses while working full time and very slowly build their writing business.
Betting on yourself, even if you end up going a totally different direction after gaining copywriting skills and experience, is worth it.
I'm not worried about other OTs becoming copywriters. There is more than enough work to go around.
Whatever business path you choose, marketing knowledge will serve you. Copywriting, coaching, consulting, course creation -- they all require you to communicate clearly with the right audience. Learning the foundations of marketing before handing everything off to AI is worth the effort. Just like understanding the neurology and physiology behind a diagnosis matters before you let a search engine or AI tool generate your treatment plan.
Remember your fieldwork rotations?
You felt like you didn't know enough. Everything took too long. You were sure everyone around you could tell you had no idea what you were doing.
You felt like a total fraud even though you'd been through years of school to get there.
Switching to copywriting is similar. Things will take too long, you'll question yourself, and imposter syndrome will show up uninvited. Then you'll grow. You'll gain skills and confidence. The things that felt impossible in month one will feel automatic by month six.
Think about how far you've come as a clinician from that first fieldwork placement. Writing is the same.
Really, if I can do this, so can you. I'm a pretty average therapist and mom. The difference is I took the leap.
To read more mom-specific insights about starting an online business, check out this blog.
If WYWTF doesn't resonate with you, try the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy, The Copywriter Club, and Alex Cattoni. Go through their free trainings and read their marketing to see who resonates with you.
OT Copywriter to Marketing Strategist - Krista Frahm Agency 2026 Update
It's mid 2026 as I write this, and my business is still running.
AI has thrown curveballs at marketing, like it has at almost every industry. But there is still a clear need for humans in this work, especially in clinically adjacent areas where nuance, credentials, and trust matter.
I'm not just a copywriter anymore. I'm a strategist first. I assess needs, goals, strengths, and gaps before I ever write a word -- which, if you think about it, is exactly how good clinical practice works too. The writing is still part of what I do, but it's a smaller piece than it was in year one.
What I actually wanted when I started was to write blogs and nothing else. What I want now is to understand my clients' businesses well enough to help them have a greater impact in their specialty area and more balance in their own lives.
I'm also currently on an AOTA Ad Hoc Committee promoting Innovative/Non-traditional/Entrepreneurial occupational therapy practitioners.
I'm still earning enough to meaningfully contribute to our family finances, all while keeping the flexibility that got me into this in the first place.
It hasn't been easy. I've had to pivot and reinvent more than once. But it has never been the kind of work that drains you the way a bad clinical day can. The flexibility this career has given me -- and that I can now give my clients because their marketing is handled -- is something I don't take for granted.
I'm grateful to have helped dozens of clinicians grow their businesses. Still learning. Zero regrets.
If you want to hear more about the journey, here are a few podcast interviews from over the years:
And if you have questions or want to connect, you can find me on Instagram at @kristafrahmagency.
Krista Frahm is a marketing strategist and copywriter for healthcare practitioners with online programs and offers. She spent ten years as a clinical occupational therapist before transitioning into marketing strategy and has been serving clinicians and healthcare-adjacent businesses since 2021.
