The OT Lifestyle Movement

In this episode we are talking all about human rights, social inclusion and population health with Clare Hocking. We discuss:  Clare Hocking is a New Zealand occupational therapy academic, and New Zealand’s first occupation therapy professor. She is currently a full professor at the Auckland University of Technology. Clare’s goal is to transform occupational therapy … 108 – Human...

In this episode we are talking all about therapeutic use of self with psychotherapist, academic, author, researcher and former occupational therapist, Linda Finlay. We discuss:  Linda is an integrative psychotherapist who has her own private practice in the UK.  Linda originally qualified as an occupational therapist in 1977 and worked in the mental health field in … 107 – Therape...

In this episode we are talking all about sexuality, an often overlooked aspect of the human experience in our OT field. So we’re lifting the veil to develop a deeper understanding. We’re talking with Dr Sakshi Tickoo.   In this episode we explore:  Dr. Sakshi Tickoo (she/her) is a brown, queer Occupational Therapist and Sexuality … 106 – Sexuality, Sexual Identity, Gender, Pronouns &#0...

In this episode we are talking all about the NDIS: The National Disability Insurance Scheme here in Australia. We are talking with Sarah Collison, Occupational Therapist, Director of Verve OT and administrator of The NDIS OT Community of Practice Facebook Group.   We discuss:  Sarah is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience and … 105 – Navigating the...

In this episode, it is an absolute privilege and pleasure to be speaking with Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Townsend. Liz is a remarkable occupational therapist, occupational scientist and scholar who developed Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E) and has made significant contributions to the field of occupational therapy, occupational science and the understanding of...

Goal setting is part of the therapeutic process, and I must say that how I go about setting goals with the people I work with has shifted and evolved in many ways over the past 15 years. I’ve come to learn that goal setting:

When we step fully into our role as an occupational therapist and own the title, when we educate the community on our understanding of ‘occupation’ – we raise the collective consciousness. But it starts with us. As occupational therapists we often get frustrated that no one knows what it is we do. And it’s a … 102 – Raising the Collective Consciousness: “O...

In this episode we explore person-entered care with occupational therapist and stroke survivor, Emma Gee. We discuss: Emma is an occupational therapist, a professional speaker and a person who survived a stroke when she was 24. In a moment, Emma’s life changed from that of a professional health provider and long-distance runner to that of … 101 – Person-Centered Care & Surviving a...

In this episode we are talking all about co-regulating the parents, reparenting and parent coaching with occupational therapist and parent coach, Maggie Viers. We explore:  Maggie is an Occupational Therapist and the founder of The Empowered Family. She is a transracial Korean adoptee, wife, and mom to 4 kids all under the age of 7. She … 100 – Co-Regulation with Parents and...

In this episode we talk all about street art and graffiti as a meaningful therapeutic occupation with occupational therapist and not-afraid-to-question-the status-quo, Gavin Symes. We discuss:  Gavin is an occupational therapist and founder of Wizard OT in Melbourne, Australia. In 2010 Gavin sustained a serious head injury that left him physically and cognitively impaired. His injury made &#8...

In this episode we are talking all about rhythmic movement and technology to support children’s learning with occupational therapist, Bridgette Nicholson.  We discuss:  Bridgette Nicholson has been an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Consultant for over 34 years. She has provided direct services and consultation to school districts and organizations focusing on assistive t...

In this episode we explore the history of occupational therapy with occupational therapist, Josie Jarvis. We take a deep dive into:  This was an invigorating, highly interesting and intellectually stimulating conversation with Josie. I learnt way more than I expected. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for history, science and our profession blew me away.   Josie Jarvis … 97 –...

In this episode we talk all about being a brave occupational therapist with Occupational Therapist, Certified Coach Practitioner and podcaster, Carlyn Neek.   We discuss:  We are speaking with Carlyn Neek for the second time on this podcast! The first chat with Carolyn was episode #78 talking all about imposter syndrome, burn out and self … 96 – How To Be A Brave Occupational Ther...

In this episode we talk all about boredom and how it relates to our work as occupational therapists. We talk with OT, author and artist Jen Gash about: Jen has been an occupational therapist for over 25 years but early in her career, realised her love for doing things differently, changing and developing services as … 95 – Boredom and Why People Need Something To DO Every Day ft Jen Ga...

In this episode we are talking all about neurodivergence, unmasking and spirituality with occupational therapist, Stephanie Robertson.   We discuss:   Stephanie Robertson is an occupational therapist based in Victoria Australia. She is extremely passionate about working with the neurodivergent community to support all areas of the human experience. Steph and her daughter are both ne...

In this episode we are talking all about Puberty with occupational therapist, Sarah Hausler. We discuss:  Sarah Hausler is the principal Occupational Therapist of Bloom Wellbeing – a paediatric OT practice in Adelaide. Sarah is a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of Adelaide. She developed the Well Girls and Puberty Plus programs and … 93 – Puberty & The Occu...

In this episode with occupational therapist, Kelly Clancy, we talk all about:  Kelly is an occupational therapist, certified hand therapist, holistic health counselor, Level 1 IFS practitioner, and a board-certified structural integrator and massage therapist. Kelly has been practicing in the field of rehabilitative medicine as an Occupational Therapist for over 36 years. Her focus … 92...

Healthcare has become more about efficiency, productivity and profit and less about client satisfaction and individualized care. Many of us feel stuck in a system that isn’t working for us – we’re forever trying to keep up with KPI’s, policies and procedures. And ‘the system’ certainly isn’t the most beneficial for our clients. In this … 91 – Humanizing He...

In today’s episode I speak with Bridget Mathis, Occupational Therapist from STISIM Drive; a driving simulation technology for clinical therapy, driver training, and driving research. In today’s episode Bridget and I discuss a day in the life of a non-traditional OT, driving simulation – what it is and how it helps, ways we can articulate … 90 – Innovation, Non-Traditi...

When we have the humility to pay attention to the injustices occurring in the world around us, we recognise that we can become part of the solution. Solutions for a better tomorrow.  In this episode I am joined by the incredible thought-leader and trail-blazer Emeritus Professor Gail Whiteford. In this episode we discuss what occupational … 89 – Occupational Justice, Narratives &...

In this episode we talk with the wonderfully insightful Meg Proctor – occupational therapist and founder of Learn Play Thrive, and explore; neurodiversity-affirming therapy, strengths-based approaches, why we need to ditch the medical model and stop pathologizing autism, why language matters and how to make the shift from person-first language to identity-first language, why neurotypical &#8...

In this episode I talk with Mick Collins, occupational therapist, author and incredible human being. We talk all about spirituality and how it plays a role in our practice as occupational therapists. We explore spiritual emergencies (and how the medical system often mistakes these for mental illness), transpersonal occupational therapy, shadow work, therapeutic use of self, … 87 –...

Today we are speaking with one of my biggest OT inspirations – thought leader, deep thinker and not-afraid-to challenge the status quo, Professor Michael Iwama.   Michael Iwama is most famously known for creating The KAWA Model – an occupational therapy model that uses the metaphor of a river.  In this episode, Michael and I explore: … 86 – The Essence of Occ...

Do you want to learn how the Polyvagal Theory relates to our work as occupational therapists? Today we are taking a deep dive into it! The Polyvagal Theory is concerned with our physiological state. It provides us with understanding three neural circuits or physiological states that all stem from the autonomic nervous system (which regulates involuntary … 85 – Polyvagal Theory, Co-Regu...

Ageing populations are on the rise around the globe. And I’m so excited by the potential of our profession in this space and how we can really make an impact and enable participation in meaningful occupations for our elders in their later years of their life. We can provide ‘traditional’ OT, but there’s also scope … 84 -Aged Care & Dementia: Changing The Way OT Is Perceived ft Bro...