The OT Lifestyle Movement

In this episode we explore person-entered care with occupational therapist and stroke survivor, Emma Gee. We discuss: Emma's personal story of surviving a stroke after recently graduating from occupational therapy when she was 24 years old How Emma re-learnt to talk, walk, eat, and complete basic every day activities again Emma's experience of feeling trapped in her own body How personal identity...

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:  What parent coaching looks like  Why children (and any human) can be angry AND simultaneously regulated  How to support parents who are triggered by their child’s behaviours  How to co-regulate with parents&...

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:  How to incorporate street art and graffiti into your occupational therapy practice  What you need to get started  Why street art is therapeutic and how to make it ‘therapy’  Frustrations that...

In this episode we are talking all about rhythmic movement and technology to support children’s learning with occupational therapist, Bridgette Nicholson.  We discuss:  What a ‘body-up approach’ to learning is   Practical strategies for integration of a ‘body-up’ approach for children  Benefits of highly structured rhythm and movement for cognitive based tasks such as handwriti...

In this episode we explore the history of occupational therapy with occupational therapist, Josie Jarvis. We take a deep dive into:  A historical view of ‘occupation’  How occupational therapy became a profession  Occupational science and understanding the everyday lives of humans  Working beyond the 1:1 therapy model to working with groups and communities …..and SO m...

In this episode we talk all about being a brave occupational therapist with Occupational Therapist, Certified Coach Practitioner and podcaster, Carlyn Neek.   We discuss:  What ‘being brave’ looks like  How to cultivate more courage in our OT role  Embracing vulnerability  Goal setting for ourselves and our clients: reducing the pressure by not setting timelines ...

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: the importance of 'doing' why people get bored the good and the bad side of boredom how people can alleviate boredom how boredom relates to occupational therapy Jen's new book: Bored: Why human beings need to have something to do every day (and wha...

In this episode we are talking all about neurodivergence, unmasking and spirituality with occupational therapist, Stephanie Robertson.   We discuss:   Stephanie’s personal journey to discovering she was neurodivergent  Masking from a personal and professional lens  The harm caused by masking  How OTs can support neurodivergent people to be their true authentic selves ...

In this episode we are talking all about Puberty with occupational therapist, Sarah Hausler. We discuss:  puberty – what it is, when it starts and the biological, psychological and social components  delivering education to young people and parents  running puberty group programs – and how you can run your own  adopting a biopsychosocial approach  therapeutic use of s...

In this episode with occupational therapist, Kelly Clancy, we talk all about:  mindbody medicine (and why OTs should be leading this movement) Tensegrity and Tensegrity Medicine (a methodology Kelly has developed) dialoging belief systems curiosity questioning assessments and therapy utilizing a holistic whole-person approach how to move beyond the biomedical model light touch therapeutic use...

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 episode I am joined by Rafi Salazar. Rafi is an occupational t...

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 our unique expertise as an OT, how to pursue diverse and inn...

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 justice is, the importance of listening to people's narrati...

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 developme...

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, soul awakenings, a...

When I started thinking about using a coaching approach in my occupational therapy practice I had a million questions. What exactly is OT coaching? What qualifications do I need? How do I measure outcomes? How do I explain the coaching approach to my clients so that they don't expect me to be the 'expert' with all the solutions? What are my responsibilities in the practitioner-client coaching rela...

Menstrual cycles, mothering, birth preparation, feminine rhythms, pelvic care and womb wisdom are just a few of the topics we touch on in this episode. It was so incredible to learn from Janelle Gullan who teaches us how we can support women in their everyday mothering activities and navigate mothering transitions through education, external and internal body work and therapeutic care. If you are...

Are you ready to start living your life on purpose and do the work you're here to do? Are you ready to draft a vision and and live out your wildest dreams? It's time to stop playing small with your life. And it's time to get real with yourself! In this episode we chat with Sarah Rheinberger- occupational therapist, mama of two girls and women’s health advocate. Sarah will help you to manage your m...

Crystel Poggioli regretted studying OT and wished she followed her passion of natural health, until she realised she could combine her loves and create her dream job. Crystel has a passion for natural health solutions and childhood development. She has raised her own 6 children using simple, natural health solutions and is a strong support for families seeking natural alternatives for their child’...

Our planet is suffering. The global environmental state of the world right now is critical ....and it all began with a single occupation. And so in saving our planet, too, it starts with 'doing'. One occupation at a time.

Would you love to incorporate yoga into your occupational therapy work but don't know where to start? Rhaya Lynn, occupational therapist, life coach {and absolute salt of the earth} explains how she uses yoga as a therapeutic occupation with different client groups and how you can too. We also dive into how as OT's we can support clients to find ease and break free from the daily stressors of thei...

In order to remain relevant to the clients whom we seek to serve we must first understand their readiness to change. We might have all these brilliant therapy tools and ideas to help a person reach their goals, but if they do not want to change or if they are not ready for change then we're totally missing the point. We need to have an awareness of their readiness to change and meet them where the...

Imagine a place where occupational therapists work with children on lush organic healing farmlands. Where children grow their own food and are involved in the cooking process. Where real food is celebrated and holistic health and wellness is at the forefront every intervention. Such a place exists at The Center for Discovery in New York State. Alexandra Besecker - Occupational Therapist, is an int...

If we know the choices a client makes influences their chosen occupations, how do we get  clients  to make different choices? Like the choice to implement a new strategy, adapt the environment, change the routine or modify the occupation? The answer is simple… yet complex.  

Stop right there! You might be thinking "I don't work in the area of trauma, this podcast won't be relevant to me"! You couldn't be more wrong. This podcast episode is relevant for every single OT on this planet - including you! Kim describes how trauma isn't necessarily one big traumatic life changing event. She describes trauma as anything that takes a person outside of their window of tolerance...