Have you ever wondered what exactly occupational therapy can bring to the soft tissue arena? Well strap in, because in this episode we cover it all! Today we speak with Jordan van der Westhuizen (do you think I could pronounce his last name after I hit record!?). Jordan is an occupational therapist who specialises in … 68 – Soft Tissue Therapy, Injury and Pain ft Jordan van der Westhuizen Read More »...
At the start of a new year most of us take the time to think about our direction, our dreams, desires and goals over the next 365 days. I want to help you reach your goals faster this year, and so I am going to share my little secret with you that collapses time like … 67 – Energetic Calibration: How to Collapse Time to Reach Your Goals Faster Read More »
Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi is an occupational therapist who refuses to be put in the fine motor box. She doesn’t want to be known as the handwriting teacher. She wants to be known as the therapist who holistically contributes to children’s well-being within the school environment. In this episode we dive into all things social emotional … 66 – Breaking OT Stereotypes in Schools: From Fine Motor OT to Holistic Well-Being OT ft Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi Read More »...
The idea of having a job for life seems long gone. I felt the pinch when I was made redundant from my occupational therapy job 10 years ago. In hindsight, it was the best career move I never had to make. But at the time, it was rough. No job. And no income. After this … 65 – Why I Created Multiple Income Streams (and why you should consider it) Read More »
Mindfulness and meditation are occupations that we can weave into our sessions with clients to help them achieve their participation or engagement based goals. In this episode Sarah Good explains the difference between mindfulness and mediation and exactly how these approaches can be used to support our clients with various challenges including those who experience … 64 – Mindfulness, Meditation and Grounding Exercises ft Sarah Good Read More »...
An occupation can be therapy, or simply therapeutic. It’s crucial to know the difference.
There’s no beating around the bush with this episode. Today we dive straight to the heart of meaning and purpose in life with Debra Battistella. If you’re on your own spiritual journey or seeking support on your path to self-growth and evolution, this episode is for you. We unpack belief systems, identity, accepting our thoughts, non-judgement, creating space in our day, being present, rituals and routines and even challenging … 62 – Spirituality and Meaning In Our Own Lives ft Debra Battistella...
“When I know everything there is to know, then I’ll do it. When it’s perfect, then I’ll do it. When I’m not scared, then I’ll do it.” Have you ever caught yourself saying this before? Have these thoughts stopped you from pursing what it really is you desire in life? Let me share with you … 61 – When I’m Not Scared, Then I’ll Do It! Read More »
Farm based practice and equine-assisted occupational therapy services are quietly emerging around the globe. More and more therapists are wanting to enable their clients to reach their meaningful occupation-centered and participation-focused goals in an authentic, natural and non-clinical environment. Today we chat with Sarah Munn, a peadiatric occupational therapist based in Australia who shares her innovative insights from her nature and farm-based practices and equine assisted interventions. ...
Let me share my journey to entrepreneurship, how I initially harnessed the belief that creating my own business was possible and how I didn’t let the fear of failure or other peoples opinion keep me paralysed! And I want to remind you that your action AND inaction impacts everyone and everything. When you don’t follow … 59 – Entrepreneurship and Creating Change Read More »
This episode will be of interest to you if you have an interest in children of the world today, and the leaders of our tomorrow. I know you will find so much gold in here from any angle at which you are viewing this (professional, parent or otherwise) because today’s children need us. They need us to be present, aware, in tune and conscious in … 58 – Compassionate Boundaries, Self-Regulation and Conscious Parenting ft Tia Gamelin Read More »...
Do you want to know the possibilities within the OT scope of practice? Do you want to be re-inspired to do meaningful occupation-focused work? Do you have big dreams and a vision of how you want to respond to the needs of a changing world? Do you want to immerse in the energy of other … 57 – Merging Passion & Profession: How You Can Do What You Love Read More »
Occupation can be the ‘means’ or the ‘end’. That is, occupation can be the intervention or the over-arching therapy goal. Or both. When I understood this, the therapeutic process made so much more sense to me. I hope it helps you on your therapy journey too.
Emilia Dewi also known as the Lymph Therapist, has been supporting cancer patients on their journey for many years in the role of occupational therapist. On a typical Thursday afternoon one day in February this year, Emilia received her own unthinkable diagnosis. Breast cancer. The enormity of receiving this personal diagnosis compounded by her own professional understanding of the disease process and prognosis meant that she had a big inner journey ahead of her … 55 – Navigating Life with Cance...
As we grow older and we have more and more responsibilities and demands placed on us, we sometimes push possibility aside and lose our ability to dream big. We forget about the potential of “what if?”. What if I could design the lifestyle I crave? What if I could create my dream job? What if … 54 – Create Your Life By Design Read More »
If there’s anything I’ve learnt over the course of my career it’s that people can live a meaningful and satisfying life living WITH a disease or chronic condition. And if there’s one occupational therapist who shines a spotlight on the possibilities, it’s Cheryl Crow from Arthritis Life. Cheryl is an occupational therapist who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for … 53 – Beyond Diagnosis and Disease To Live a Meaningful Life ft Cheryl Crow Read More »...
It doesn’t matter if your goal is to get fit, enhance your relationship with your partner or kids, or build the business of your dreams – there is ONE thing that you need to get you there……. *Recorded LIVE in The OT Lifestyle Movement FB group.
I just have to give you the history of this episode! This was recorded one year before the birth of The OT Lifestyle Movement. It was recorded at a time when I was at a crossroads in my entrepreneurial journey. It was recorded at a time when I was playing around with the idea of doing something big in the OT space. I reached out to … 51 – Doing Work That Matters ft Jen Gash Read More »
Let me share the 3 ways we can support our clients through the vortex of Comparisonitis. It’s so common for parents to compare their child to other children or for adults to compare themselves to who they were prior to their injury or illness. 3 ways to provide support:1. Listen2. Validate3. Shine a light on … 50 – Supporting Clients Through The Vortex of Comparisonitis Read More »...
Our children have an innate brilliance that needs to be nurtured. We need to be looking at how a child learns best and in what environment they will flourish. It’s safe to say that not every child fits the strictly ridged school system. Homeschooling offers much more freedom and flexibility, where learning doesn’t have to occur in the confines of a classroom. … 49 – Nurturing The Innate Brilliance of Our Children with Homeschooling ft Sarah Collins Read More »...
A little chat with you about how I built my businesses and what it takes to build a successful thriving business where you get paid your worth and you can create your life by design. I started with ZERO business knowledge and no financial literacy. Eight years in and I’m still learning. But one thing … 48 – Building A Successful OT Business Read More »
Interoception is the self awareness of our internal sensation. The simple question “how do you feel?”, turns out not to be so simple. Interoception helps us to answer this question but it requires us to be very in tune with our internal organs. As OTs we can support our clients in their everyday occupations by helping them to understand their ability to interpret and process interoception signals. Interoception is relevant to so many of our clients including those with chronic constipation, wett...
As OTs we have the privilege to zoom out from the injury or illness to give us a much more holistic view of a person’s life. We’re not focused on removing the obstruction, we’re concerned with enhancing life flow. The KAWA is a model where we become the student and our client becomes the theorist. … 46 – The KAWA Model Read More »
Have you ever dreamed of creating your own online course? Do you want to grow multiple and sustainable sources of online income that includes course development but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve started, but got stuck in the process? If so, this episode is for you! Today we are talking with Melissa La Pointe, a world renowned occupational therapist turned OT coach and entreprenuer. Melissa helps OT … 45 – How To Create And Market A Wildly Successful Online OT Course ft Melissa La Po...
A reminder that nothing stays the same, and that everything changes. When we cultivate the awareness of the impermanence of life, we start paying attention, we become conscious of how we spend our time and we do things that matter most #oneoccupationatatime. Let me share with you a personal story and a wake up call … 44 – The Impermanence Of Life Read More »
Today we look through the lens an autistic OT; Bill Wong. Bill is a role model to the autistic community, he’s an OT inspiration and a huge advocate for our profession. Bill has presented and shared his blended perspectives on autism with communities around the globe and is the first occupational therapy practitioner to speak at 2 … 43 – Autism and OT: The Lived Experience ft Bill Wong Read More »...
I’ve pivoted many times in my life, career and business when I haven’t been in a place of alignment. I’ve often overthought my next-steps and what I should do. Do I stay comfortable and safe or do I risk it to follow something I’m passionate about? I’ve learnt that it’s ok to change my mind, … 42 – Pivoting in Life, Career and Business Read More »
As OT’s we have it in our heart to create a positive difference to the lives of people we work with, however we have often shied away from business, entrepreneurship and money talk. Let me say this, it’s not bad or wrong to make money from helping others. Money is energy and it can be earnt, spent and given consciously. When … 41 – Make A Difference and A Dollar In Your OT Business: Marketing, Systems & Attracting Ideal Clients ft Ana Hernando Read More »...
I’m always planning and thinking ahead. I like to map out the direction of my life instead of being a passenger and letting life happen to me. Back in 2013, I had recently moved interstate and had my first baby. I didn’t have a job to return to after my maternity leave and so I … 40 – When Life Takes You On A Different Course: You’re Exactly Where You’re Meant To Be Read More »...
Just imagine for a moment creating the holistic OT practice of your dreams. What would it look like? What would it feel like? What kind of integrative and complementary services would you offer? How would you run your day? Emmy Vadnais, seasoned occupational therapist and the founder of Holistic OT shares exactly what’s possible and takes us through the steps of casting a vision, getting … 39 – From Vision to Reality: Building Your Own Holistic OT Practice ft Emmy Vadnais Read More »...
