Therapod Podcast

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Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the TheraPod podcast, we first dive into the world of animal-assisted therapy with Karol Santisteven, an occupational therapist based in Casper, Wyoming. Karol, who runs her own practice called Ropes and Roses, integrates nature and animals into her therapeutic approach, helping clients of all ages—including children with trauma and adults dealing with PTSD—conn...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the TheraPod podcast, we chat with Julie Aldridge, an experienced art therapist, who demystifies art therapy and its benefits. She explains that art therapy involves a wide range of creative expressions, allowing individuals to explore their feelings without the constraints of traditional verbal communication. Julie highlights that art therapy is suitable for ev...

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode we have Melissa Moore who is an accredited play therapist and parenting coach with nearly 30 years of experience dedicated to helping children and families navigate emotional and behavioral challenges. She specializes in supporting children who have faced adversities and offers parenting support services to help families understand and manage behavioral chall...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we're joined by Aoife McCormack, a seasoned family therapist with a rich background in social work and child mental health. Aoife specializes in attachment and trauma, working with children in care and offering insights into family dynamics. She also runs a private practice focusing on acute mental health issues in young adults, including eating disorders. As a fou...

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode of therapod podcast, we have Emily Murphy who is a dedicated cognitive behavioral psychotherapist and registered intellectual disability nurse with over a decade of experience in healthcare. She specializes in proactive mental health solutions that enhance well-being for both teenagers and adults, including those who are neurodivergent. Emily emphasizes tailo...

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode of therapod podcast, we have Julie, Speech and language Therapist, who passionately explores the world of speech and language therapy with host Banu Balaji. With a background as a qualified speech and language therapist, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her discussions, covering topics from childhood speech delays to adult communication chal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Theropod Podcast, we chat with Dr. Victoria Page, a clinical psychologist with a wealth of experience working with children, adolescents, and their families in both community and hospital settings across the UK and Ireland. Dr. Page, who earned her doctorate from University College London, discusses her approach to therapy, emphasizing the importance of coll...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Theropod podcast, we welcome Aislinn Pierse, a pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience. Aislinn discusses the nuances of pediatric occupational therapy, emphasizing the importance of understanding a child's unique context and building strong therapeutic relationships. She explores common reasons for referrals, such as handwriti...

Send us Fan Mail In honour of Occupational Therapy Week, we are re-releasing this episode featuring pediatrician Dr. Jay and experienced occupational therapist Banu Balaji. Banu who has a  special interest in developmental trauma and supporting children in care. In this episode, Banu provides an overview of occupational therapy and explains how OTs work with children and families to promote indepe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Theropod podcast, Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with fellow host Dr Claire Barrett, Senior Clinical Psychologist for the final episode of Season 2 . Together, Banu and Claire look back at the previous episodes of season 2 where there have been several meaningful conversations with experts across various fields, including educators...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Theropod podcast, Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Georgie Cooney,Author, Qualified Teacher and Dyslexia Specialist, together they place  emphasizes the impact of the current educational system  on social skills, critical thinking, and emotional well-being. They share personal experiences working with neurodiverse learners and d...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with school psychologist Ryan Hogan. Together they dive into essential strategies for parents preparing for the back-to-school season, particularly for children with special needs. With nearly 20 years of experience in the educational field and personal insights as a parent of a child with profound classic autism, Ryan offe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Theropod podcast, Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Catrina Lowri, founder of Neuro Teachers UK ,a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and an advisory teacher for Gloucestershire County Council. The podcast dives into the intricacies of behavior and regulation, emphasizing that what often appears as disruptive behavior...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Theropod podcast, Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with  Dr. Elizabeth Joy Schaefer, Occupational Therapist and the founder of Therapeutic Innovations International LLC. Elizabeth has dedicated her career to developing innovative therapeutic solutions that address complex educational and health challenges on a global scale. Dr Elizab...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Amy Winter founder of Little Kneaders in Wexford, Ireland. Amy is an emotional regulation therapist and sensory play specialist. She specializes in supporting neurodivergent children and teens facing school anxiety, school refusal, and self-harm, particularly autistic teenage girls dealing with eating disorders. Throug...

Send us Fan Mail Julia O’Meara speech and language is joined by Eileen McSweeney, a  social care worker specializing in helping young people navigate school-related challenges. Eileen brings a wealth of knowledge from her extensive background in child protection and mental health, focusing on supporting families and schools to address issues of school reluctance and attendance difficulties. Togeth...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Emer, occupational therapist who specializes in menopause health. While studying at UCC, she developed an interest in menopause and noticed a lack of support for it in Ireland, which prompted her to set up a private practice called The Menopause OT, which provides holistic, personalized care and treatment plans for all...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Georgie Coney , a dedicated and fully qualified teacher, author, and dyslexia specialist with over two decades of experience. She is passionate about fostering positive learning environments for all children, with a deep understanding of learners with specific learning difficulties. As a qualified diagnostic assessor o...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Padraig Danaher, an occupational therapist specializing in infant, child, and parent mental health. Padraig emphasizes the importance of "doing" as mindfulness for mental wellness. He says  that engaging in meaningful activities and movement is crucial for young people's mental health and resilience. Pad...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Dustin, a 22-year-old autistic adult who shares his personal experiences and insights about living with autism. He discusses his late diagnosis at 19 and how it has impacted his life. Dustin highlights the challenges he faced in school, particularly with the structured system, which often led to feelings of overwhelm a...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Dr. Michaela Connolly , senior educational and child psychologist with over 30 years of experience working in disability services. For 15 years, she worked on a multidisciplinary team in a specialist autism service, providing psychological support to autistic children and adults. Michaela currently works on an interdis...

Send us Fan Mail Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist and co host Claire Barrett , Senior Clinical Psychologist chat with Dr. Jay Venkatraman, a paediatrician with 15 years of experience in South Africa and Ireland. Jay specialized in malnutrition, neonatal care, and child and adolescent mental health, particularly eating disorders. She emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive a...

Send us Fan Mail The Therapod podcast features insightful discussions between pediatrician Dr. Jay and experienced occupational therapist Banu Balaji. Banu has a special interest in developmental trauma and supporting children in care. In this episode, Banu provides an overview of occupational therapy and explains how OTs work with children and families to promote independence, self-care, and part...