All Things Sensory by Harkla

Today we are talking to the amazing Jennifer Blossom - boy mom, Occupational Therapist, and CEO / Founder of Blossoming Moms. Blossoming Moms is a digital wellness brand that helps overwhelmed moms simplify motherhood using healthy habits and simple strategies in order to feel great and live a life of meaning. Jennifer is also the host of the top-rated mom podcast, The Blossoming Moms Show, and li...

Today we are diving into Sensory Modulation Disorder. This particular subtype of Sensory Processing Disorder consists of 3 sub-categories: Under-Responsive, Over-Responsive, and Craving. You’ll definitely want to take notes, listen more than once, and share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues! Be sure to check out the show notes on our blog at Harkla. Co/Podcast. Brought To You...

Today we are talking with Amirra Johnson, an incredible Occupational Therapist currently practicing in Early Intervention in Phoenix, AZ. She is also the founder of Marvelous Miracles, a platform designed to empower and equip therapists and families with the tools and resources to provide capable and confident care for infants and toddlers. She also has a passion for addressing racial health dispa...

Today’s episode is all about YOU - answering questions from our Instagram fam! Topics included in this episode: the visual-vestibular-auditory triad; vision therapy in OT; how to measure progress; primitive reflexes; baby backpacks vs. wraps; tips for regression in school-aged children; sensory integration and trauma; how to assess if a toddler needs OT services; attention and sensory processing;...

Get ready to hear an amazing conversation with Katie Crosby from @thrivinglittles. Katie is a consultant guiding children and adults to thrive in individualized ways. With a background in pediatric and adult Occupational Therapy with an emphasis on sensory integration, emotional development, the caregiver-child match, and re-parenting, Katie merges professional and personal experiences as well as...

Welcome to episode 119! We love talking about all of the “embarrassing” topics and when it comes to kids, there’s a LOT! This episode specifically addresses pre-teens and teens who struggle with daily routine and hygiene tasks. Tips, tricks, and strategies for parents and therapists alike! If you’d like us to answer your question or know someone we should interview on the podcast, send us a messag...

Today we are talking with the incredible Katherine Winter-Sellery, the CEO of the Conscious Parenting Revolution and the creator of the Guidance Approach to Parenting - along with two colleagues. Through her workshops, books, and TEDx talks, Katherine has taught thousands of parents (and educators, social workers, medical professionals, etc.) in a half dozen countries and cultures to minimize misu...

Today we are discussing ear infections and whether there is a correlation between frequent ear infections and vestibular challenges. We are also giving you some simple, concrete ideas to help your child / client improve their ability to process and modulate vestibular input. We would love to hear your input on this topic - does your child suffer from frequent ear infections? Do you notice that the...

In this episode, you will hear from Keary, the face behind @graceandsalt. She is the mother to two beautiful children, as well as an advocate for holistic nutrition, sensory integration, homeschooling, and Type 1 diabetes. She is passionate, funny, smart, and just an all around great speaker! Listen in, take some notes, and go show her some love on Instagram! LINKS The One Room School Instagram -...

We love to poll and ask our Instagram fam questions and for this episode, we asked about graduating from OT. Is Occupational Therapy life long or is there an end date? What does that process look like? This episode is perfect for parents and therapists alike. We would love to hear your story - send us a message on Instagram or tag us in a screenshot of this episode. Be sure to check out the show n...

In this episode you will get to hear an open and honest conversation with Rachel’s brother, Brian. Like many children growing up, Brain experienced seizures. Also like many children growing up, he and his family did not understand the why or the how. This conversation is all about what it was like growing up with the unexpected. Enjoy! Be sure to check out the show notes on our blog at Harkla. Co/...

Today’s episode is all about the daily tasks that our children complete - activities of daily living (aka ADLs). We discuss the reasons WHY a child might struggle with these tasks as well as our fav tips, tricks, and strategies to help improve success and independence. We also share our fav products that can help make these tasks more motivating! Be sure to check out the show notes on our blog at...

We’ve talked about it before and we just can’t stop! The Listening Program is such an incredible program! And today you are going to hear the inspiring story of one (out of thousand s!) family who has pushed through the struggles and found success with The Listening Program. If you’re not inspired by this interview, who are you really?! Just kidding … but you are definitely going to love this inte...

We’re back again for a BONUS episode! Every once in a while, we feel that a topic is just too important to wait! And this is one of those times - we received a question regarding social distancing and quarantine. Because this is so relevant for ALL OF US, we had to share it with you ASAP! LINKS FOR BLOG The Listening Program from Advanced Brain Technologies - make sure you let them know that you h...

We love getting questions from our listeners - we are officially podcast DJs! In today’s episode, we talk about finding the right daycare or school for your child, the Fear Paralysis Reflex, talking with teachers about sensory diets, deep pressure hugs, core strength, addressing low muscle tone through PT or OT, mask wearing, documentation, and more! If you’d like us to answer your question on the...

We are always looking for new types of therapy, new treatment ideas and modalities, and today we are talking with Carol, the co-founder of Brain Harmony. Brain Harmony is a private medical care company that uses the neuroplasticity of the brain to provide the most powerful and proven therapy to help children and adults with learning and performance difficulties. Listen in as Carol explains the ben...

Do you know the difference between muscle STRENGTH and muscle TONE? If not, you are about to learn all about it! As Occupational Therapy Assistants, we often work with children who have low muscle TONE. While this is different from muscle STRENGTH, it can go hand in hand (but not always!). As always, we give you our fav. tips, tricks, and strategies to help your child (or client, or family member,...

Have you heard of Interactive Metronome? It is an evidence-based training and assessment tool that has been proven to improve cognition, attention, focus, memory, speech/language, executive functioning, comprehension, and motor and sensory skills. WHOA! Ready to learn more? Get ready for a fun and informative interview this week! April Christopherson is an Occupational Therapist who has over 25 ye...

If you are a therapist, you have probably heard the term “therapeutic use of self.” Do you know what it means? Do you understand how to implement it into your daily treatments? Today, we talk about what that term actually means and how you can focus on improving your ability to use it, in order to provide better treatments for your clients. Parents and family members - this is a great episode to l...

Jo-Anne Weltman is not only a Physiotherapist but she is a wealth of knowledge! She has 29 years of experience working in pediatrics in all different places around the world - South Africa, California, New Zealand, and Canada. She has been practicing Cuevas MEDEK Exercise (CME) for 21 years and was one of the first 3 therapists in the WORLD to obtain her Level III certification in 2003. Jo-Anne is...

In celebration of reaching 100 podcast episodes, Rach & Jess are diving into primitive reflexes with a 5 day series. Within these 5 episodes, you will hear information on the top 5 primitive reflexes that they, as Occupational Therapy Assistants, work with when treating within the pediatric population. The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, the STNR, is believed to help integrate the TLR reflex as...

In celebration of reaching 100 podcast episodes, Rach & Jess are diving into primitive reflexes with a 5 day series. Within these 5 episodes, you will hear information on the top 5 primitive reflexes that they, as Occupational Therapy Assistants, work with when treating within the pediatric population. The Spinal Galant Reflex is believed to assist in the birthing process and may even contribu...

In celebration of reaching 100 podcast episodes, Rach & Jess are diving into primitive reflexes with a 5 day series. Within these 5 episodes, you will hear information on the top 5 primitive reflexes that they, as Occupational Therapy Assistants, work with when treating within the pediatric population. The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex, the ATNR, is essential for hand-eye coordination and hel...

In celebration of reaching 100 podcast episodes, Rach & Jess are diving into primitive reflexes with a 5 day series. Within these 5 episodes, you will hear information on the top 5 primitive reflexes that they, as Occupational Therapy Assistants, work with when treating within the pediatric population. The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex, the TLR, is the primitive reflex that facilitates head contro...

In celebration of reaching 100 podcast episodes, Rach & Jess are diving into primitive reflexes with a 5 day series. Within these 5 episodes, you will hear information on the top 5 primitive reflexes that they, as Occupational Therapy Assistants, work with when treating within the pediatric population. The Moro Reflex, also known as the Startle Reflex, should be integrated by ~ 4 months after...