Women Leaders … with Kelly Barbazette: With passion, occupational therapist helps youngsters in South Valley

Starting her own practice was the right career move

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By Kelly Barbazette

For the past 20 years, Elizabeth Belliveau has helped set up children for lifelong success. The pediatric occupational therapist has given answers and relief to many families puzzled over their children’s behaviors.

“My purpose is really to be a catalyst for change,” she said. “A catalyst not only for changing the lives of my clients and the trajectory of their lives, but also the way parents see their children.”

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Belliveau, OTR/L, CGP, clinical director and owner of Pediatric Pathways, Inc. in Morgan Hill. She and her team of pediatric occupational therapists identify the root cause of common issues and frustrating behaviors in children and help build and strengthen specific neurological pathways to improve the lives of their young clients and families.

Born in Santa Clara, Belliveau, 44, said she always knew she wanted to be in a “helping profession.” She started studying nursing, but quickly changed her major to occupational therapy. Witnessing occupational therapy appointments where people learned to regain their independence and return to meaningful roles in life spoke to her.

“It really resonated with me. I thought this is my calling,” she said. “The hardest part was telling my family that I wanted to switch (majors). But I did and it’s the best choice I made because I love it, and I still love it 20 years later.”

Belliveau graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in occupational therapy with a minor in psychology. After completing two internships, she prepared for exams to earn her certification of occupational therapy and began working at a clinic in Gilroy.

“I was so grateful that the director was willing to hire me on the spot and show me the ropes,” she said.

About that time, she became very passionate about continuing education and becoming as competent and confident as the more seasoned therapists. As a new therapist, she took additional courses on the most innovative techniques. Continuing her education and mentoring other therapists became a driving force in her career.

“I go all over the country to obtain knowledge on the most cutting-edge approaches, programs and techniques available,” she said. “Families trust me to help their children and I think I would be doing them a disservice if I didn’t have the best information.”

A huge eye-opening experience came during her first few years when she took courses taught by the world-renowned occupational therapist Dr. Julia Harper, PhD, MS, OTR/L. Belliveau learned about a brain-based therapeutic approach focused on identifying the specific neurological structures involved in the various sensory processor disorders. Learning this information was life-changing for her and her clients. Rather than just looking at a child’s behavior, the program dug to the root cause, in this case the functional neurology underlying all the information processing issues therapists encounter when treating those with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and anxiety. The puzzle pieces clicked into place with the “why” finally being determined.

“When you’re able to identify where in the brain the sensory processing breakdowns are taking place, you can be very targeted in your approach to addressing the deficits,” Belliveau said.

Her clients’ progress sped up dramatically, making steady gains in months that used to take years.

Meanwhile, Belliveau rose to clinical supervisor after seven and a half years and felt it was time for a change. While she said she never imagined owning her own practice, she wanted to have the freedom to treat her patients to the best of her ability. Belliveau accepted an offer to work at a practice in Fremont. When that didn’t pan out, Belliveau took a beat before figuring out her next step. Her boyfriend, Jamie, who is now her husband, was starting his career in the solar industry. He encouraged her to launch her own business.

“I remember I was staring at my computer for 15 minutes. And then I thought, OK, I got this. I went into networking mode,” she said.

She sought advice from friends who had started their own ventures. She set up a tiny home office and bought a car, which became her mobile office. She drove all over the South Bay to visit patients. She built her practice by word of mouth and her business steadily grew, necessitating an office space. In 2010, a speech therapist whom Belliveau knew was starting a co-op group in downtown Morgan Hill and invited her to rent office space. Pediatric Pathways was born and Belliveau incorporated her business the following year.

“That tiny room was where it all started,” she recalled.

The co-op eventually didn’t work out and more space became available. Belliveau hired and mentored an additional occupational therapist.

“It literally does take a village,” Belliveau said. “That’s what this area is in Morgan Hill and Gilroy. This community is so amazing. Everyone is willing to talk to one another and share resources.”

Belliveau married her husband of 11 years, Jamie, and they had their first child in 2012. In the meantime, her business continued to expand and she hired a third therapist. Belliveau’s education continued and she gained a deeper understanding of the link between nutrition and digestion and children’s sensory processing challenges.

“The majority of our neurochemicals are made within the gut and in order to change the brain you need access to the chemistry,” she said.

One of her favorite things is mentoring new therapists and developing a relationship with the families she and her team help. Her therapists undergo the same training as Belliveau, which she likens to the equivalent of earning a Ph.D. in functional neurology. In turn, the therapists become highly skilled and effective at helping their clients, and educating families about the neurological underpinnings of their child’s behaviors, as well as the tools to become empowered to help them.

“I truly love my job. There’s always something more to learn,” she said.

While Belliveau never planned to start her own business, she believes it was meant to be.

“Having all this knowledge not only has helped all of these families, but has helped my own kids,” she said. Belliveau and her husband have two sons, ages 9 and 5.

In her free time she enjoys doing yoga, going on hikes, and working a good puzzle. “If you don’t take care of yourself, it’s very hard not to take care of other people and to be a good therapist,” she said.

Today, her practice is made of four therapists including Belliveau, an office assistant, and an office manager. She said her team of therapists is amazing, “all vibrating on the same frequency.”

However, keeping her practice open during COVID has been challenging, she said. Belliveau lost three therapists, two of whom she had just hired and trained. In-person treatment paused for a year while therapists learned to deliver treatment over the Internet. The office wasn’t quick to reopen because so many of their patients are immunocompromised.

“I’m really glad we took the time to exercise that caution to feel like we were protecting our clients,” she said.

As a business owner who doesn’t have an MBA, Belliveau said she has made her share of mistakes and figured out that having a supportive team allows her to do what she does best — help her clients. Her team is like a family who supports each other.

“I feel like if you follow your passion, and you get to carry out your purpose every day, that’s the path to fulfillment,” Belliveau said. “I feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing. I love my life. It’s hard sometimes, but I get so much joy out of treating my young clients.”

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Kelly Barbazette, a former journalist for Bay Area newspapers, is a freelance writer. She lives in Gilroy with her husband and two daughters. She can be reached at [email protected].

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