Our Story
At ReInventing Independence®, we recognize that navigating adversity goes beyond mere physical adjustments and requires a comprehensive blend of mental, emotional, and physical adaptation. This shift in how we think, feel, and act is the premise of our Quality of Life Model (RI-QOL) designed to restore a sense of control, well-being and competence.
We believe aligning with our core values builds resilience, leads to better choices and helps us find meaning in the face of uncertainty. Through our tools, workshops, continuing education, and speaking engagements we teach a strategic whole person integrative adaptive approach to value-guided decisionthriving in the face of change. It is a life enhancing process to overcome obstacles, manage and navigate change and restore quality of life.
We wanted our clients to realize "the better you are at prioritizing your values, the better you are at making decisions. The better you are at making decisions, the better you are at adapting. The better you are at adapting, the better you are at reinventing independence. The better you are at reinventing independence, the more sense of control, well-being and competence you feel and the better your quality of life.”
RI®-QOL Model
The RI®-QOL model is a visual representation of a strategic whole-person integrative adaptive approach to living. It's a three-pronged, value-guided process designed to empower and embolden individuals, groups, and populations to overcome obstacles, manage and navigate change and restore quality of life. This life-enhancing process functions as an assessment, modality, intervention, and strategy, offering a pathway to restore a sense of control, well-being, and the competence needed to master the art of living.
Our Impact & Initiatives
Training and Education
We began publicly sharing our RI®-QOL Model with individuals, groups and populations seeking personal and professional growth and development through workshops, state and national continuing education learning, and as guest speakers on how to effectively and efficiently respond to challenges associated with change for preserve quality in all areas of life.
Occupational therapy practitioners and students have been taught to expand therapeutic interventions beyond functional performance and include quality of life through podcasts, TOTA and AOTA presentations and ongoing support and training at higher level educational institutions.
Texas Occupational Therapy Association:
2019 "Occupational Therapy's Impact on Dying Well"
2021 “Going Beyond Functional Performance for Successful Aging in Place
Upcoming: November 2025 “Occupational Therapy’s Impact on Restoring Quality of Life in the Face of Change”
American Occupational Therapy Association:
2022 “Going Beyond Functional Performance and Exploring the Relationship Between the Mind-Body-Spirit Union and Wellness for Successfully Aging in Place”
Mortal Compass®
Inspired by our experiences helping individuals and their loved ones navigate life-limiting illnesses, we created Mortal Compass®, the first initiative of ReInventing Independence®. Our mission is to teach a strategic whole-person integrative adaptive approach to preserving quality of life. We offer supportive tools and services for making value-guided decisions to manage and navigate personal, medical and environmental needs before, during and after your end of life journey.
Solace and Sage
Following COVID, we became increasingly aware of the desire to age in place for older adults and the personal, medical and environmental barriers they were facing. This led to the second initiative of ReInventing Independence®, the creation of Solace and Sage, a 501(c)3 that provides Occupational Therapy and consulting services in the homes of adults 50 years and older living with chronic and/or progressive illness. Our services focus on helping individuals and their loved ones manage and navigate personal, medical and environmental needs related to challenges associated with aging in order to return home following a medical event and/or remain at home to age in place.
Melissa and Michelle, with a background in the science of occupational therapy and psychology, empower and inspire individuals of all ages to prioritize their values and restore
quality of life.
Michelle McCarty, COTA, MA,SP, CAPS, ECHM, CEOLD Co-founder
Michelle McCarty, COTA, MA,SP, CAPS, ECHM, CEOLD Co-founder
