Meet Laura Ferreyra | Pediatric Occupational Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Ferreyra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Achieving a healthy work life balance can be extremely difficult. When I started graduate school to become an Occupational Therapist I was also working three different jobs. Being in school was rewarding but also very challenging. Finding ways to balance the demands of academic studies and work while staying true to my own needs is what helped me to succeed during my graduate studies. After graduating and becoming an Occupational Therapist I wanted to invest all my time in my career growth. I quickly realized that setting healthy boundaries and finding the perfect balance between my professional life and my personal life was necessary. Moving forward to 2022, I now wear many hats. I am a wife, a mom of two young boys, and owner of More Joy Pediatric Therapy, PLLC. As a new mom, I felt the pressure to fulfill the image of an “ideal mother”. Going back to work after my maternity leave was a very complex time filled with feelings of guilt but also excitement to embark in the journey of becoming an entrepreneur. Work-life balance looks different for everyone. I have learned that balance can be possible when you make sacrifices, set boundaries, prioritize your needs and wants, and you are kind to yourself.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
More Joy Pediatric Therapy, PLLC provides individualized Occupational Therapy services for children ages 0-18 years of age. We believe that to achieve our goal the best place to see children is in their natural environment. Therefore, More Joy therapists travel to see a child at home or school. Our goal is to help our children build confidence, resilience, and independence in all aspects of their life, so that they can reach their true potential.

What sets our private practice apart from others?
• Your child and your family will have direct access to your therapist 24/7 via phone or email
• Specialized services without time constraints in the child’s natural environment (home, school, playground)
• Duration and frequency of services will be created to meet the child’s needs.
• No waiting for insurance approval which can take months
• Our therapists come to you!
• We provide easy scheduling and flexibility
• Bilingual services (Spanish) and so much more!

When I decided to embark in this journey as an entrepreneur and become a private practice owner I was not fully aware of the challenges that I was going to face. The amount of time and energy devoted to my business is significant but my passion for what I do makes everything a worthwhile endeavor. One lesson that I have learned during this process is that you are not alone! Networking and finding support from other small business owners can make this journey so much more rewarding.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you were visiting Houston I would highly recommend the following:

Places to eat: Patagonia Grill & Café, Piola (ideal for families), Batanga (for the best tapas), Barnaby’s Café , JINYA Ramen Bar (for the best ramen)
Places to have a drink and enjoy some Latin dancing: Gloria’s Latin Cuisine
Places to visit with children: Houston Zoo, The Children’s Museum, Downtown Aquarium, and Hermann Park.

If you were visiting The Woodlands, Texas I would highly recommend:

Places to eat: Crust Pizza, Torchy’s tacos, The Republic Grille, Del Frisco’s Grille, Sorriso
For drinks and dancing: Rose Rooftop & Restaurant, Cielo Latin Bar & Grill
Places to visit with children: The Woodlands Children’s Museum, The Woodlands Waterway, Texas TreeVentures, Waterway Square Park, and The George Mitchell Preserve

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I would start by thanking my parents for sacrificing their future for their children’s future. My parents, my brothers, and I moved from Argentina to the United States when I was fifteen years old. The American Dream of immigrating to the United States and creating a better life for their family was my parents’ dream. I would not be the therapist, the mother, and the person that I am today if it weren’t for the love, support, and encouragement from my family. Most importantly, I would like to give a special shoutout to my husband and best friend. My husband and I met in graduate school and we are both Occupational Therapists. We share the same passion for our careers and have been encouraging each other to reach our dreams since the day we met. He has supported me endlessly in the process of becoming a private practice owner.

ersonalLauraFerreyra_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morejoypediatrics

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlferreyraotpeds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morejoypediatrics