Podcasts about occupational therapists

In this episode I talk with Orthopedic and Sports Occupational Therapist, Dr. Amanda Quarles on how she became an OT and built her practice. We also want to thank Dr. Quarles for her military service prior to becoming an Occupational Therapist.

(0:00) - Intro(1:58) - Dinner and an UNEXPECTED show (11:16) - Intuition Nutrition, now with an Occupational Therapist! (14:12) - HOME sweater weather (21:25) - HEADLINES we can't make up, but CAN round up! (34:26) - YOUR comments & voice memos! Intuition Nutrition has a new Occupational Therapist and her role is AMAZING! She supports people with the actual doing of anything. Shiny Yang can help you organize your time, energy, improve routines, help with movement and meal plan goals and more! Also: Dietitians and Social Work (therapy)!*New* Book Online! SPONSORSHIP SALE!We're having a 'Back At It' sale for sponsors!Prices beginning at just $50 per episode.**⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PARTNER WITH US!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (& most others) or ask your smart speaker to, "play Due To Underwhelming Demand!"@daverachelforman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@daverachelforman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@duetounderwhelmingdemand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/underwhelming⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠daverachelforman@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠underwhelming.ca

Lauren shares practical insights on adapting meaningful activities (including caring for and training dogs!), conserving energy, finding realistic hope, and building a life around what matters to you. Plus, Lauren shares why she's excited to bring this perspective to her newest role as a Rheum to THRIVE certified facilitator.Episode at a glance:How occupational therapy shaped Lauren's approach to life with ankylosing spondylitisWays to make dog care and training more accessibleTips for pacing, energy conservation, and joint protectionCoping with the uncertainty of inflammatory arthritisThe value of community and evidence-based supportAdvice for people newly diagnosed with inflammatory arthritisWhat it means to thrive with ASWhy Lauren became a Rheum to THRIVE facilitatorMedical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pippa Hudson speaks to Zenobia Waja, an Occupational Therapist and founder of Her Occupation about whether we’re doing enough to prepare for postpartum to ensure especially mothers are properly supported after birth. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Lunch with Pippa Hudson Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) to Lunch with Pippa Hudson broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/MdSlWEs or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/fDJWe69 Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Celebrity Jobber REWINDS, Brent Smith from Shinedown. What would have happened if Brent never got his big break? What type of work would he be doing if he wasn't famous for being the lead vocalist and one of the main songwriters of the rock band Shinedown? Many celebrities will tell you that if not for that one lucky break or meeting, they would be a fireman or working as an Occupational Therapist somewhere. They may have been just a jobber. Thanks for listening. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the Celebrity Jobber with Jeff Zito wherever you pod.    

In this episode I sit down with my awesome occupational therapy colleague and friend, Jason Kreuzman. We talk about his path to Occupational Therapy, the role of OT in chronic pain, and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Nothing in this podcast is medical advice. This podcast is for education and entertainment only.

In this week's episode, Stef is joined by paediatric Occupational Therapist and founder of The Sensory Submarine, Grace Magennis. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Grace is passionate about making sensory integration and emotional regulation practical, accessible, and fun for families. Through The Sensory Submarine, she helps parents support children with sensory processing challenges, developmental needs, and everyday self-care struggles using connection-focused, play-based strategies. Whether you are looking for simple ways to enrich play at home or need sensory-informed advice for routines like hair washing and nail cutting, Grace shares compassionate insights and doable tips that every parent can start using today. Stef McSherry is a mum of 2 and a pre-school activity and behaviour specialist, working with that age group for over 20 years. Stef is also the creator of the award - winning, multi - activity programme Kinderama. If you're looking for imaginative classes for your pre-schooler check out www.kinderama.com. And if you want to spark some imaginative play at home why not take a look at https://irishfairytails.com/ Become a curious mermaid or a brave dragon with these beautiful book and tail sets! Thanks for listening to the podcast, I hope it helps in some way. Please tell a friend or share an episode or Follow/ Subscribe/Review so I can keep continue to produce free and essential parenting content. Want to ask a question or suggest a guest? Email themummind@gmail.com Join us on Instagram: Stef: @kinderama @irishfairytails The Mum Mind: @themummindpodcast Brought to you by https://thefamilyedit.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when an Occupational Therapist identifies a problem in daily workflow and creates a solution that has the potential to change how therapy is delivered? In this rerun episode, Laura Simmons, Occupational Therapist, founder and CEO of Theratrak, explored how technology can help bridge the gap between therapy sessions while supporting clinicians, families and clients. What began as a simple way to share therapy activities with families has evolved into a platform designed to make therapy more accessible, engaging and connected. Laura shared the journey behind Theratrak, the role of gamification and collaboration in therapy, and how technology can help clinicians create more sustainable ways of delivering care. Topics covered include: Making therapy more engaging – How gamification and interactive tools can help clients stay motivated and engaged with therapy between sessions. Connecting families and clinicians – How real-time communication and journaling can give families a greater role in the therapy process while helping clinicians stay informed. Breaking down barriers to access – Exploring how technology can support therapy beyond the clinic and create greater accessibility for clients and families. Building sustainable therapy models – How Allied Health businesses can use technology to reduce administrative pressure, support their teams and extend their impact. P.S. Need a little extra support on your business journey? Whether you're navigating challenges or looking to reach new goals, we're here to support your growth. Book a Complimentary Power Call with us, and let's talk about how we can help you achieve your vision for your Allied Health business. Connect with Nacre Consulting: Let's connect on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Let's connect on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group online community More about The Allied Health Business Brilliance Podcast: The Allied Health Business Brilliance podcast (previously known as Private Practice Made Perfect) powered by Nacre Consulting features authentic conversations that offer real-life stories and expert perspectives for Australian Allied Health Business Owners. Cathy Love, our engaging host, gathers wisdom from Allied Health professionals and industry supporters alike. We dive into the real experiences of running and growing Allied Health businesses in Australia, revealing both the rewards and the inevitable challenges along the way. It's raw, sometimes vulnerable, but always valuable. Join us and stay tuned to keep up with every inspiring story and lesson shared.

Dr. Callais is an expert in vestibular rehab, orthopedics, and is a huge asset to the occupational therapy profession. In this episode we dive into her background and what is vestibular rehab in occupational therapy.

You can have a full caseload, a waiting list and a successful OT private practice, and still be one funding change away from a serious problem. In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins talks about something she is seeing again and again with Occupational Therapy business owners across Australia, the UK and the US. NDIS changes. Frozen therapy rates. Insurance restrictions. Commissioning changes. Rising costs. More paperwork. Smaller margins. The problem is not that these OTs are bad at business. Many of them are incredibly successful. The problem is that too much of their income is controlled by somebody else. Beki explores why being fully booked does not automatically mean your OT business is secure, what concentration risk looks like in an Occupational Therapy private practice, and why every OT business owner should be thinking about creating at least one income stream that a funder cannot control. She also shares practical ways to start thinking differently about your existing OT skills, including private-pay services, high-ticket offers and opportunities that sit outside the traditional funding model. In this episode, Beki talks about: Why successful OT private practices can still be financially fragile The risks of relying heavily on NDIS, insurance or other funding bodies Why a full waiting list does not always mean you have a safe business How to work out your biggest concentration risk Finding the support your clients need that funding currently does not cover Creating private-pay and high-ticket offers using your existing OT expertise Why sales and marketing are important skills for Occupational Therapists in business How to start creating income you have more control over If you run an OT private practice, clinic or independent Occupational Therapy business, this episode will help you look at your business differently and ask a very important question: How much of my income do I actually control? Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership: Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: www.bekieakins.com Instagram: OT Yourself to Freedom Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community LinkedIn: Beki Eakins Book an Inspiration Call: Click here About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

Arthritis is more than just sore or stiff joints—and it can affect how we move, work, exercise, and enjoy everyday life. In this episode of the Focused Healthy Family Podcast, Gina and Don take a closer look at arthritis, including the different types, what can contribute to joint problems, and how arthritis can affect people as they age. Gina shares her experience as an Occupational Therapist, offering practical ideas for protecting your joints, conserving energy, improving posture and ergonomics, strengthening the body, and making everyday activities easier. They also talk about simple exercises, water exercise, hand and tendon-gliding exercises, adaptive equipment, proper footwear, fall prevention, relaxation and breathing techniques, and ways to modify your home environment. Don also brings EFT Tapping into the conversation and discusses how working with the emotional side of pain may be another tool people can explore. And, of course, there are a few laughs along the way—including why 10W-40 is definitely NOT recommended for your joints! Whether you live with arthritis, care for someone who does, or simply want to protect your joints as you get older, this episode offers practical ideas and encouragement to help you find new ways to keep doing the things you love. Listen in, learn something new, and remember: sometimes managing arthritis isn't about giving up—it's about finding a different way to do what matters to you. https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/Henri_Matisse/?utm_source=chat https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/understanding-arthritis  

I wanted to explore this concept of interoception and differently wired kids more deeply for the show, so I reached out to Kelly Mahler, an occupational therapist who specializes in interoception and is a co-principal investigator in several research projects pertaining to topics such as interoception, self-regulation, trauma, and autism. Kelly answered my big questions about interoception, including how it relates to sensory processing differences or SPD, why it's essential that we help our children get to know their bodies' unique language, and the relationship between ADHD, autism, and interoception. We also talked about what happens in our kids' brains when they increase their interoceptive awareness, and effective strategies for helping our kids develop in this area.     Things you'll learn from this episode: * What interoception is and how it relates to sensory processing differences * What the spectrum of interoception awareness is and how extremes may manifest * The relationship between ADHD, autism, and interoception challenges * How to support a child with poor interoception awareness to become more tuned in to their body's internal experience * What happens in our brains when we start to increase our interoception awareness * How to help older kids who've been on the receiving end of compliance-based strategies to reconnect with and trust their bodies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trauma can show up on the massage table in ways practitioners may not expect. In this episode of The ABMP Podcast, Angie Parris is joined by Upledger Institute instructors Catherine Whelan, Eric Moya, and Natalie Bledstein to explore what it means to be trauma-informed and how that differs from providing trauma-specific care. They discuss recognizing when a client may be moving outside their window of tolerance, the importance of consent and communication, and practical ways to help clients stay present and grounded during a session. Guests: Eric Moya began his career as a massage therapist in 1997 and quickly moved into studying the osteopathic family of therapies including CranioSacral Therapy, lymphatic drainage, and visceral manipulation. With an interest in the body, mind, spirit connection, Eric began formal mental health training with a masters in mental health in 2007. Eric is also a senior instructor for the Upledger Institute over the past 27 years. During that time, Eric has contributed original coursework in the curriculum in addition to teaching core curriculum courses. Within the past 20 years, Eric has completed additional training in mindfulness, meditation, working with trauma, and has developed his own curriculum integrating body, mind, and spirit in clinical practice. Currently, Eric is working on a Ph.D in clinical psychology with an emphasis on psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approaches to therapy and qualitative research methods. Natalie Bledstein, OTR/L, CST-D, SEP, has been an Occupational Therapist for over 30 years. Natalie has in-depth experience in Sensory Integration and CranioSacral Therapy.  She currently teaches CS1, SER1, and SER2 for the Upledger Institute.  Natalie's interest in trauma recovery led her to seek professional mentorship as part of completing the three-year Somatic Experiencing Practitioner certification. Catherine Whelan is an Upledger CranioSacral Therapist and CranioSacral Therapy instructor with more than two decades of experience in the wellness field. Catherine's foundational background with a degree in kinesiology, personal training, and bodywork shapes her individual practice. For the past 5 years, she has been working collaboratively with other practitioners, including trauma therapists, to create a more community-based approach to wellness. Resources:   Website: https://info.upledger.com/craniosacral-therapy-trauma-informed/   Host: Angie Parris is a licensed massage therapist and is the advertising director for ABMP. She is Chopra Center Certified in meditation and ayurvedic lifestyle. Her training explores physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. Angie is also the founder of the nonprofit, Project Inti, an organization that provides aid to low-income Peruvian families and communities. For more information, visit www.projectinti.org.   Sponsors: Upledger CranioSacral Therapy addresses deep restrictions, supports neurological and fascial systems, and enhances whole-body function—by working with the body's natural healing processes.    For over forty years, Upledger Institute International has led the field of CranioSacral Therapy—setting the global standard for education and clinical application. With trained therapists in more than 120 countries, CST continues to evolve through ongoing clinical experience and alignment with current scientific understanding.    CST integrates seamlessly into any manual therapy practice and supports common to complex and chronic conditions—orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, geriatric, and beyond.    Learn from our International Teaching Team—experienced clinicians who help you develop your skills, expand your clinical reasoning, and achieve greater clinical outcomes.    Begin your training for as little as one hundred dollars a month.    Find a class near you at upledger.com/courses or call 800-233-5880, extension 2—and begin your CranioSacral Therapy journey with the leaders who continue to shape the profession.  Website: upledger.com/courses   Email: upledger@upledger.com   Phone: 800-233-5880 Ext 2   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upledger.institute   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upledger_institute_intl/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIFELbP6Jsp55cb9puZigQ     Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.                      Website: anatomytrains.com                        Email: info@anatomytrains.com             Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains                       Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA    Precision Neuromuscular Therapy seminars (www.pnmt.org) have been teaching high-quality seminars for more than 20 years. Doug Nelson and the PNMT teaching staff help you to practice with the confidence and creativity that comes from deep understanding, rather than the adherence to one treatment approach or technique. Find our seminar schedule at pnmt.org/seminar-schedule with over 60 weekends of seminars across the country. Or meet us online in the PNMT Portal, our online gateway with access to over 500 videos, 37 NCBTMB CEs, our Discovery Series webinars, one-on-one mentoring, and much, much more! All for the low yearly cost of $167.50. Learn more at pnmt.thinkific.com/courses/pnmtportal!  Follow us on social media: @precisionnmt on Instagram or at Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars on Facebook.  

Pediatric and occupational therapist Rosemary White explains the philosophy behind DIR / Floortime as a powerful modality to support children's sensory, motor, and social / emotional development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Occupational Therapists are the profession built on one idea. Meaningful occupation is medicine. We prescribe it every day. We know the theory works. So why are we burning out faster than almost anyone? In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins goes after the question most of us avoid. What happens when the profession of meaningful occupation stops doing anything meaningful for itself? It starts at a leaving do. Another OT walking out of the NHS, this one to open a bakery, icing the cakes for her own goodbye party. That moment is where this entire brand began. Because Beki noticed something. OTs are the profession most likely to OT themselves right out of the door. And the woman leaving to bake was not failing. She was finally applying the model to her own life. The question is why she had to leave to do it. You will hear: Why burnout is not really about working too much, and what it is actually about The bakery leaving do that started OT Yourself to Freedom Occupational imbalance, occupational deprivation and occupational alignment, applied to you rather than your clients Why mastery leisure beats rest for recovery, and the research behind it How to tell whether your daily occupations match who you actually are inside Why Churchill picked up a paintbrush at forty, and what he understood about rest How to build a business around your leisure rather than fitting leisure into the gaps A three step challenge to do this week, not one day If you are an Occupational Therapist heading towards burnout, thinking about leaving clinical practice, or building a business that is quietly turning into a second job with worse pay and no annual leave, this one is for you. We are the profession of meaningful occupation. It is time we stopped prescribing it and started living it. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership: Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: www.bekieakins.com Instagram: OT Yourself to Freedom Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community LinkedIn: Beki Eakins Book an Inspiration Call: Click here About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

Welcome to the Strength Connection!Mallory Reilly is an Occupational Therapist and Strength Coach at Reload Physical Therapy and Fitness in New York City, blending the worlds of OT and PT together for the past 8 years. She earned her M.S in Occupational Therapy from Stony Brook University, and is a StrongFirst Level 1, RKC level 2, RMP level 2, FMS level 2, Yoga Alliance certified, Adaptive Special Needs certified, and Sensory Fitness for Autism certified instructor.In this episode, Mallory shares her unique perspective on integrating body and mind, the importance of holistic health, and how her diverse background enhances her approach to therapy and fitness.Check out more from Mallory:https://www.reloadpt.com/mallory-reillyIG: https://www.instagram.com/malloryreilly_ot/?hl=enSubstack: https://substack.com/@malloryreilly

Selling makes most Occupational Therapists deeply uncomfortable. Not because they lack expertise, but because they fear sounding pushy, dread talking about money, and worry about being judged for charging properly for their skills. In this episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins is joined by sales coach Rob Higton to unpack why so many OTs hold themselves back from building profitable online businesses, and how a shift in mindset around sales changes everything. Rob shares his route from traditional face to face selling into high ticket online sales, and the principles behind it. Build trust. Create a genuine connection. Enrol the right clients without pressure, scripts or manipulation. Ethical selling is not about convincing anyone of anything. It is about helping the right people solve a problem they are already trying to solve. Beki and Rob get into something that catches a lot of OTs off guard. We are trained communicators. We are exceptional at rapport, listening and clinical reasoning. So why does a discovery call still feel so awkward? The answer sits somewhere between imposter syndrome, professional conditioning and a quiet belief that our expertise is not worth paying for. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Download here: https://www.bekieakins.com/overnight-subscribe The OT Freedom Formula was a powerful session created to help OTs build more freedom, income and balance - without burnout. Watch it here: https://www.bekieakins.com/Formula-event-Recording-lp Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership : https://www.bekieakins.com/membership Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: https://www.bekieakins.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otyourselftofreedom/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/otyourselftofreedom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bekieakins/ Book an Inspiration Call : https://otfreedom.bekieakins.com/widget/booking/bqsc3yEhKnzDh3cPz0PZ Meet Rob Rob is a business coach and mentor who helps entrepreneurs simplify sales, grow with confidence, and build businesses that create more freedom. His practical approach to selling, mindset and business growth has helped countless business owners move from feeling stuck to creating consistent results. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robhigton/ About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

Growing a business often requires growing into a new version of yourself.In this episode, Cathy speaks with Occupational Therapist and Owner, Jessie Ellis about the shift from clinician to director, leader and future-focused Allied Health Business Owner. Jessie shares how Skye Therapy evolved from a small experiment into a growing paediatric Allied Health business, including the bold move from a home studio into a clinic designed with room to expand.They explore the decision to niche around children's attention, how that clarity now guides the business and why niching began to feel less risky than remaining broad. Jessie also reflects on strengthening systems, leading through unexpected team changes, preparing the business for maternity leave and building foundations that can support sustainable growth.Topics covered on business owner identity, niche strategy and leading growth:Business owner identity: Becoming intentional about who you are as a leader Jessie reflects on moving beyond her clinician identity and consciously growing into her role as a director, people leader and business owner.Niche strategy: Creating clarity around what the business does bestExplore why Sky Therapy chose to focus on children's attention and how that niche is shaping its services, marketing, partnerships and business planning.Leading growth: Building foundations with room to growJessie shares the strategic decisions behind the new clinic, stronger systems and future service models that extend beyond traditional one-to-one therapy.P.S. If this episode is hitting on pain points you're facing, let's chat. We can support you.Book a 20-minute complimentary call with us, and let's talk about how we can help you achieve your vision for your Allied Health business. Connect with Nacre Consulting:Let's connect on InstagramFollow us on FacebookLet's connect on LinkedInJoin our Facebook Group online communityMore about The Allied Health Business Brilliance Podcast:The Allied Health Business Brilliance podcast (previously known as Private Practice Made Perfect) powered by Nacre Consulting features authentic conversations that offer real-life stories and expert perspectives for Australian Allied Health Business Owners. Cathy Love, our engaging host, gathers wisdom from Allied Health professionals and industry supporters alike.We dive into the real experiences of running and growing Allied Health businesses in Australia, revealing both the rewards and the inevitable challenges along the way. It's raw, sometimes vulnerable, but always valuable. Join us and stay tuned to keep up with every inspiring story and lesson shared.

Send us Fan MailMotion Orthopedics provides services for injured construction workers across Missouri as described by Wynnette Sherrill, Occupational Therapist and Business Development for Dr. Nathan Mall.Support the showLearn more at www.agcmo.orgPlease share our podcast with anyone interested in the construction industry!

Baz meets Caoimhe O'Connor, an Occupational Therapist whose experience as an amputee gives her an extra 'lens' when it comes to seeing things from her patient's perspective

Many occupational therapists dream of starting a private practice but struggle with knowing when it's the right time to leave traditional employment. In this episode, I sit down with occupational therapist and myofascial release practitioner Shauna, who shares how she grew her MFR practice from approximately $15,000 in annual revenue to more than $121,000 while creating a schedule that supports both her family and her business. We discuss what led her to leave traditional pediatric occupational therapy, how she gradually transitioned into private practice, why she now believes a fully booked MFR practice offers greater security than a traditional job, and the mindset shifts that helped her confidently build a thriving business. If you're an occupational therapist wondering whether it's possible to build a fully booked MFR practice, this conversation offers practical insights from someone who's done exactly that. ABOUT SHAUNA Shauna is an occupational therapist with more than 16 years of experience. After experiencing burnout in traditional pediatric practice, she discovered John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release (MFR), which inspired her to open Rooted OT in 2024. Today, she serves clients across the lifespan through her fully booked MFR practice and is passionate about helping people through a holistic approach to care. Guest Contact Website: https://therootedot.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.rooted.ot Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556970875054   **This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**   The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

What if greatness isn't about the rank you achieve... but the lives you leave behind? In 2004, Brigadier General (Ret.) Dr. Sheila Baxter became the first African American woman in the history of the Army Medical Service Corps to achieve the rank of Brigadier General.But that's not the story that stayed with me. The story that stayed with me was the young basketball player from Franklin, Virginia who simply loved serving people.The lieutenant whose commander challenged her to write a 20-year career plan.The officer who almost left the Army... ...and didn't. The leader who discovered that the higher you rise, the more humble you should become. And the retired general who could have spent retirement anywhere but instead chose to serve unhoused veterans, build affordable housing, and continue changing lives.In this conversation, we talk about:▪️ Why passion matters more than titles▪️ The mentors who changed the course of her life▪️ How to stay humble while leading at the highest levels▪️ What it really feels like to carry the weight of being "the first"▪️ Why she believes Army leadership prepares you for anything in life▪️ The importance of listening before making life-changing decisions▪️ The transition from commanding thousands of Soldiers to serving veterans on the streets of AtlantaOne quote I haven't stopped thinking about:"The higher you go, the more humble you should become."This isn't just an episode for Army leaders.It's for anyone trying to become a better leader, mentor, parent, teammate, or human being.I left this conversation inspired and I think you will too. Sheila R. Baxter is a native of Franklin, Virginia. She was born on 4 April 1955 to the proud parents of (late) John and Mary Baxter. She is one of five children and credits her parents for providing a loving home and family. In 1973, she graduated from Franklin High School. She completed her undergraduate education at Virginia State (now University) in 1977, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1978 after completing the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and she earned recognition as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Virginia State University. She holds a master's degree in health services management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia. In May 2024, Baxter completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from the ITC.Her doctoral qualitative research focused on creating access to services for women and men experiencing homelessness in Forest Park, Georgia.     Baxter's military experience began in 1978 as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Medical Service Corps. Throughout her 30 year career, she enjoyed a variety of command and staff assignments including Chief of Staff, Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland; Logistics Officer for 1st Medical Group, Fort Hood, Texas; Commander, 226th Medical Logistics Battalion in Pirmasens, Germany; Commander, United States Medical Materiel Center, Europe; Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics for the Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington.  In 2004, Baxter became the first African American woman to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in the Army Medical Service Corps. From 2004-2008, she served as Chief of the Medical Service Corps for approximately 9,000 active and Reserve Medical Corps officers. From 2005 to 2008, as Commanding General of Madigan Army Medical Center, she oversaw medical care for more than 40,000 Soldiers and 100,000 beneficiaries across Alaska, California, and Washington. She oversaw a $300 million budget. A screening and health assessment program for returning deployed Soldiers implemented at Madigan during her tenure became a model for the Army.      Brigadier General (Retired) Baxter is a Veteran of the first Gulf War (1990-1991) and has led thousands of Soldiers throughout her 30-year career.      Among her awards, decorations, and badges are the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 (OLC), the Army Commendation Medal with 2 (OLC), the Army Achievement Medal with 2 (OLC), the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Staff Badge, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Expert Field Medical Badge.  She is a member of the Military Medical Merit. In July 2002, she received the Honorary Silver Award for excellence in community service from the Lord Mayor of Pirmasens, Germany.In the October 2005 issue of Newsweek magazine, she was recognized as one of the 20 Most Powerful Women in America. In 2009, she became a lifetime member of the National Scholars Honor Society, recognized for her outstanding academic achievements and personal excellence. Baxter's accomplishments as a leader have been highlighted in magazines such as Jet, Ebony, and Charisma. In 2015, she was chosen as one of Virginia's Strong Women in History by the Library of Virginia. From 2011 to 2021, Baxter served as a staff chaplain for unhoused Veterans at the Atlanta VA Healthcare System in Decatur, Georgia. In 2025, Baxter was honored with the Presidential Award for Community Service by President Joe Biden.     She actively serves as a committee member for the Trustee Board of the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia. She is an Executive Board member for the National Board for Occupational Therapists. She serves in ministry as a District Missionary, Living Word District COGIC, Forest Park, Georgia under the leadership of Superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Paden. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, traveling, watching sports, especially college basketball (March Madness) and Professional Bull Riding. Currently, Baxter continues to assist homeless Veterans and civilians through a non-profit organization called Veterans Haven House. This organization partners to build affordable housing to assist Veterans seeking stability in Clayton County, Georgia. Volunteer with the VA: https://www.va.gov/texas-valley-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/ Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host's alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: beallyoucanbemsc@gmail.com

What does it really take to build an online Occupational Therapy business? In this special repost from The OT Lifestyle Movement Podcast, host Rhiannon Crispe interviews Beki Eakins about the journey from NHS Occupational Therapist to building a successful freedom-based online business that now supports OTs around the world. This isn't just another conversation about starting a business. It's the honest story behind burnout, rebuilding confidence, taking risks, and discovering that Occupational Therapists already have everything they need to create transformational online offers. Beki shares how she left a career she once loved, navigated one of the hardest periods of her life, and eventually created a six-figure online business working around 12 hours per week. Whether you're an OT feeling burnt out, considering private practice, or wondering if your expertise could become an online programme, coaching business or digital offer, this episode provides practical insights alongside the mindset shifts required to build something that truly aligns with your life. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Download here: https://www.bekieakins.com/overnight-subscribe The OT Freedom Formula was a powerful session created to help OTs build more freedom, income and balance - without burnout. Watch it here: https://www.bekieakins.com/Formula-event-Recording-lp Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership : https://www.bekieakins.com/membership Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: https://www.bekieakins.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otyourselftofreedom/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/otyourselftofreedom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bekieakins/ Book an Inspiration Call : https://otfreedom.bekieakins.com/widget/booking/bqsc3yEhKnzDh3cPz0PZ About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Jordan, an Occupational Therapist at Little Light House, to explore how Autism impacts feeding. Jordan breaks down the difference between typical picky eating, problem feeding, and sensory-based feeding needs, and why the distinction matters. She also covers safe foods, mealtime strategies, and how to create a low-pressure environment around food. If mealtimes feel stressful in your home, this episode will help you understand what's really going on and where to turn for support. Every kid deserves the chance to just be a kid.At Little Light House, that belief drives everything we do. We provide tuition-free education and therapeutic services, rooted in Christ-centered care, for children with special needs and the families who love them.Learn More: ⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org⁠Let's stay connected:Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/llhtulsa⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/llhtulsa⁠Be part of the story:Give: ⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org/give-help⁠Join THECREW: ⁠https://www.littlelighthouse.org/the-crew⁠

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Brooklyn, an Occupational Therapist at Little Light House, to explore DIRFloortime, a relationship-based, play-driven approach to supporting Autism. Brooklyn breaks down what DIR stands for, how it differs from behavioral approaches, and what a real DIRFloortime session looks like in practice. She also shares simple strategies parents can try at home with just ten minutes a day. If you're looking for a joyful, connection-first approach to supporting your child, this episode is for you. Every kid deserves the chance to just be a kid.At Little Light House, that belief drives everything we do. We provide tuition-free education and therapeutic services, rooted in Christ-centered care, for children with special needs and the families who love them.Learn More: https://www.littlelighthouse.orgLet's stay connected:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/llhtulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/llhtulsaBe part of the story:Give: https://www.littlelighthouse.org/give-helpJoin THECREW: https://www.littlelighthouse.org/the-crew

In this episode, Hannah sits down with Jodi, an Occupational Therapist at Little Light House, to explore what it really means to build a sensory lifestyle for kids with an Autism diagnosis. Jodi breaks down the difference between a sensory diet and a sensory lifestyle, walks through the eight senses and how different sensory thresholds show up in kids, and offers practical, realistic ways to weave sensory support into everyday routines at home and in the classroom. If sensory regulation feels overwhelming or complicated, this episode will help you simplify it. Curious about autism and where to begin? Start with us. Little Light House's Intro to Autism course is a first step, built from 50+ years alongside kids and families. Visit littlelighthouse.academy.Every kid deserves the chance to just be a kid.At Little Light House, that belief drives everything we do. We provide tuition-free education and therapeutic services, rooted in Christ-centered care, for children with special needs and the families who love them.See what's possible: https://www.littlelighthouse.orgLet's stay connected:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/llhtulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/llhtulsaBe part of the story:Give: https://www.littlelighthouse.org/give-helpJoin THECREW: https://www.littlelighthouse.org/the-crew

Why do successful leaders keep running into the same challenges, even when they're doing everything "right"?   In this episode of The C-Suite Mentor, Theresa Cantley sits down with relationship coach Jess Hendrick to explore how subconscious beliefs influence every area of leadership, business, and life.   From recurring business struggles to burnout, difficult relationships, and limiting beliefs, Theresa and Jess unpack why personal growth is the foundation for sustainable business growth.   They discuss how the unconscious mind shapes our decisions, why entrepreneurs often experience repeated patterns, the importance of nervous system regulation, and how true leadership begins with the relationship we have with ourselves.   Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating a season of change, this conversation will challenge you to look beneath the surface and discover what's really keeping you from reaching your next level.   In This Episode: - Why your subconscious mind drives more than 95% of your daily decisions - How childhood experiences create the "blueprints" we unknowingly follow - Why entrepreneurs face some of the deepest personal development work - The five relationship patterns that quietly keep leaders stuck - How limiting beliefs affect business growth and leadership performance - The role nervous system regulation plays in success - What surrender actually means in leadership and life - Why working with an experienced coach can dramatically shorten your learning curve - How healing yourself changes every relationship in your life   Key Takeaways:   Leadership Starts Within Every leadership challenge eventually becomes a personal growth challenge. The beliefs, fears, and stories we carry shape how we lead our businesses, teams, and ourselves.   Your Patterns Are Not Your Identity Repeated struggles are often signals rather than failures. Recognizing unconscious patterns is the first step toward creating lasting change.   Business Is the Ultimate Personal Development Journey Entrepreneurship exposes every limiting belief we have. Growth in business requires growth in mindset, emotional resilience, and self-awareness.   Discomfort Often Signals Growth Periods of uncertainty, setbacks, and even "dark nights of the soul" aren't necessarily signs you're on the wrong path. They can be evidence that you're being developed for what's next.   Support Accelerates Transformation The right mentor or coach doesn't simply give advice. They help you see what you can't see yourself and shorten the path to meaningful growth.   Connect with Jess:   Website: https://jesshendrick.com   Instagram: @jesshendrickcoaching   Take Jess's Relationship Pattern Quiz: https://www.jesshendrick.com/quiz   About Jess Hendrick: Jess Hendrick is a Conscious Relationship Coach and licensed Occupational Therapist with 15+ years of experience. She works with people who keep ending up in the same painful relationship, over and over, different face, same story. Maybe it's the anxious spiral before a text comes back, the situationship that never becomes real, or a breakup they can't get out of their head. Jess helps them see what's actually driving it and gives them real tools to change it, not just more insight to sit with. She helps self-aware people finally break the patterns that therapy couldn't touch, so their relationships, and their whole life, actually change.   READY TO UNCOVER THE BLIND SPOT HURTING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS?

What if the thing you've been trying to hide is actually the reason people will choose to work with you? In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki Eakins explores why your personal story is one of the most valuable assets you'll ever have when building an online Occupational Therapy business. Many Occupational Therapists believe they need another qualification, a better business idea or years more experience before they're ready to build an online brand. In reality, the people who create the deepest trust and strongest businesses are often those who are willing to share their journey honestly. Whether you've experienced burnout, changed career direction, overcome personal challenges or discovered a new way of practising Occupational Therapy, your lived experience shapes the value you bring to the people you serve. In this episode, Beki explains why your story creates connection, builds credibility and becomes the foundation of a business that nobody else can replicate. In this episode, you'll discover: Why your personal story is your greatest competitive advantage The biggest mistake Occupational Therapists make when creating content How storytelling builds trust faster than qualifications alone Why clients buy connection before they buy expertise How to uncover the experiences that make your business unique Why your lived experience can become your most valuable business asset How to confidently share your story without feeling self-promotional If you're an Occupational Therapist who wants to build an online business, attract the right clients and create content that genuinely connects, this episode will help you see your own journey in a completely different light. Your qualifications may open the door. But your story is what people remember. Subscribe to OT Yourself to Freedom for weekly episodes helping Occupational Therapists build profitable online businesses, create more freedom, and make a bigger impact using the expertise they already have. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Download here: https://www.bekieakins.com/overnight-subscribe The OT Freedom Formula was a powerful session created to help OTs build more freedom, income and balance - without burnout. Watch it here: https://www.bekieakins.com/Formula-event-Recording-lp Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership : https://www.bekieakins.com/membership Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: https://www.bekieakins.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otyourselftofreedom/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/otyourselftofreedom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bekieakins/ Book an Inspiration Call : https://otfreedom.bekieakins.com/widget/booking/bqsc3yEhKnzDh3cPz0PZ About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

What if the greatest gift we could offer someone wasn't fixing their challenges—but helping them discover new possibilities? In this inspiring episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods sits down with occupational therapist, author, speaker, and founder of Pam's Den of Creative Fun, Pamela Fox Denzler, to explore what it truly means to help people of all abilities thrive. Pam has spent more than 40 years supporting adults with developmental disabilities while empowering caregivers, activity professionals, educators, organizations, and families with practical, creative strategies that encourage participation, confidence, communication, and joy. Known as a Possibility Architect, Pam shares how her personal journey—including growing up as a twin alongside her sister Paula, who had cerebral palsy—shaped her lifelong mission of helping people discover purpose, adapt creatively, and recognize that every individual has unique gifts to offer. Together, Dionne and Pam explore: • The Possibility Loop and how it helps us move forward when we feel stuck • Why every person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued • Creative wellness and the power of meaningful participation • Helping caregivers find practical, low-cost solutions • Adaptability as a pathway to confidence • Occupational therapy beyond traditional healthcare • Quieting your mind through creativity and intentional pauses • The importance of inclusion, encouragement, and human connection • Why creativity is one of the greatest tools for transformation Whether you're a caregiver, occupational therapist, educator, parent, creative entrepreneur, or someone searching for renewed purpose, this conversation will leave you inspired to see new possibilities—in yourself and in others. Learn more about Pamela Fox Denzler Website Pam's Den of Creative Fun Facebook Pam's Den of Creative Fun Instagram Pamela Fox Denzler (@pamsdenofcreativefun) • Instagram profile YouTube Pam's Den of Creative Fun If this conversation encouraged you, please subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a comment sharing one possibility you see differently today. ** Fun fact! Pam is a twin, and she married a twin! #OccupationalTherapy #Caregivers #SpecialNeeds #CreativeWellness #Inclusion #CreativeActivities #DisabilityAwareness #MotivatarianExchange #PamelaFoxDenzler #CreativeLiving

Why do some Occupational Therapists build successful businesses while others give up before they ever gain momentum? In this episode of OT Yourself to Freedom, Beki Eakins explores one of the biggest misconceptions about building an online Occupational Therapy business. It's not a lack of talent, qualifications or even money that stops most OTs. It's underestimating the energy required to create something completely new. If you've ever wondered why starting a business feels overwhelming, why your confidence disappears the moment you step outside clinical work, or why so many Occupational Therapists quit before seeing results, this episode is for you. Beki shares her own journey of building an online business from scratch, including the creative ways she funded her first coaching investment when she didn't have the money sitting in her bank account. Rather than waiting for the perfect circumstances, she chose resourcefulness over excuses, a decision that completely changed the trajectory of her life and career. This episode is a reminder that every successful entrepreneur started as a beginner. Building an online Occupational Therapy business isn't difficult because you're incapable. It's difficult because you're learning an entirely new profession alongside the one you've already mastered. If you're an Occupational Therapist feeling burnt out by clinical work, dreaming of creating more freedom, or wanting to build a business around your expertise, this conversation will help you reframe the challenges of the start-up phase and understand why discomfort is often a sign that you're growing. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Download here: https://www.bekieakins.com/overnight-subscribe The OT Freedom Formula was a powerful session created to help OTs build more freedom, income and balance - without burnout. Watch it here: https://www.bekieakins.com/Formula-event-Recording-lp Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership : https://www.bekieakins.com/membership Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: https://www.bekieakins.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otyourselftofreedom/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/otyourselftofreedom LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bekieakins/ Book an Inspiration Call : https://otfreedom.bekieakins.com/widget/booking/bqsc3yEhKnzDh3cPz0PZ About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

Nicole Woodruff, OTD, OTR/L, is an Occupational Therapist, pelvic health specialist, educator, author, and the founder of Intuitive Therapies & Pelvic Health in Tampa, Florida. She specializes in helping people navigate hypermobility (hEDS/HSD), dysautonomia/POTS, chronic pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction. After facing her own journey with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, pelvic health challenges, and a complex postpartum recovery, Nicole became passionate about bridging the gap between traditional rehabilitation and whole-person healing. Her work focuses on helping clients move beyond symptom management to rebuild trust in their bodies through education, nervous system regulation, lifestyle strategies, and compassionate, evidence-based care.  Sponsored By: → PUORI | Go to https://puori.com/HEALINGTHESOURCE and use the code HEALINGTHESOURCE at checkout to get 32% off your first Puori Grass-fed Whey Protein subscription order and get a free shaker worth $25. Resources: Nicole's Instagram Nicole's TikTok Nicole's Facebook Free Nervous System Regulation Made Simple Guide OT Private Practice & Virtual Coaching: intuitivetherapiespelvichealth.com Follow the host, Claudia, on Instagram, check out Elham's Liquid Gold 100% Organic Castor Oil, and enjoy her deep-dives on Substack

In this episode, Cathy Love speaks with Rebecca Lockyer, Occupational Therapist and founder of Little Therapies on the Sunshine Coast. Rebecca shares the story of growing her paediatric OT practice from a mobile start-up launched just three weeks before COVID into a clinic-based, multidisciplinary Allied Health team. This conversation explores paediatric OT business growth, clinician-to-business-owner identity, team leadership, supervision, professional development, NDIS revenue diversification and the creation of Paediatric OT Conference Australia, also known as POTCA. Rebecca speaks honestly about the lessons learned through fast growth, business partnership, ethical profit, marketing confidence and building learning experiences that feel practical, playful and deeply connected to the Australian paediatric OT community. Topics covered on paediatric OT business growth, revenue diversification and POTCA: Paediatric OT business growth – Rebecca shares how Little Therapies grew from a COVID-era mobile start-up into a clinic-based team, shaped by stronger systems, values and sustainable decisions. Revenue diversification – Rebecca explores expanding beyond NDIS therapy into supervision, professional development, educator talks and report support, while staying grounded in quality and purpose. The Paediatric Occupational Therapy Conference Australia (POTCA) – Rebecca explains the vision behind Paediatric OT Conference Australia and why she wanted to create a professional development experience that brings Australian paediatric OTs together through practical learning, community, playfulness and meaningful connection. P.S. If this episode is hitting on pain points you're facing, let's chat. We can support you. Book a 20-minute complimentary call with us, and let's talk about how we can help you achieve your vision for your Allied Health business. Midroll Message: Have a great podcast idea or know someone who should be part of the conversation? Email podcast@nacre.com.au Connect with Nacre Consulting: Let's connect on Instagram Follow us on Facebook Let's connect on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group online community More about The Allied Health Business Brilliance Podcast: The Allied Health Business Brilliance podcast (previously known as Private Practice Made Perfect) powered by Nacre Consulting features authentic conversations that offer real-life stories and expert perspectives for Australian Allied Health Business Owners. Cathy Love, our engaging host, gathers wisdom from Allied Health professionals and industry supporters alike. We dive into the real experiences of running and growing Allied Health businesses in Australia, revealing both the rewards and the inevitable challenges along the way. It's raw, sometimes vulnerable, but always valuable. Join us and stay tuned to keep up with every inspiring story and lesson shared.

When a baby arrives, the spotlight falls on the mother. Her body, her recovery, her bond with the baby. But there's a quieter transformation happening on the other side of the room. A man is becoming a father, and almost nobody is asking how he's doing.Meg Faure sits down with psychologist Dr Ange Nespola to talk about what dads actually go through in those first weeks and months. The identity shift, the loss of connection to their partner, the pressure to hold it together and the postnatal depression that often gets missed entirely. In This Episode You'll LearnWhy becoming a dad is a major identity transformation, not just a support roleWhat "primary maternal preoccupation" is, and what it means for a father's place in the family systemWhy marital satisfaction drops for most couples in the first year How to bring dad into hands-on caregiving without pushing him outWhy so many dads feel like a third wheel, especially during breastfeeding The real numbers on paternal postnatal depression, why it looks different to maternal depression and why it's so often missedHow to navigate the division of labour without turning it into a tallyA practical approach to splitting night shifts that doesn't leave both parents sleep deprivedABOUT THE GUESTDr Ange Nespola is a psychologist who works with couples navigating the transition to parenthood, drawing on both clinical practice and her own recent experience as a mother of two.Follow Dr. AngeInstagramWebsiteEPISODE REFERENCESGottman Institute research on marital satisfaction after childbirth D.W. Winnicott's concept of primary maternal preoccupation,ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCASTSense by Meg Faure is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance through pregnancy, babyhood and the toddler years. Hosted by Occupational Therapist, author and parenting expert Meg Faure. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense.Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app. Download HEREFOLLOW US:Meg Faure: Website Instagram LinkedIn Parent Sense: WebsiteInstagram LinkedIn#NewFatherhood #PostnatalDepressionInDads #MarriageAfterBaby #ParentSense #EvidenceBasedParenting

On this episode, we are joined by Jem Hopkins and Karen Ayala, both occupational therapists and Certified Hand Therapists who are serving as this year's ASHT Pediatric Specialty Day co-chairs. They share with us what we can expect at this year's meeting, the layout of the day, the educational offerings and opportunities to network with other pediatric therapists. Guest Bio:Jemerie Hopkins graduated with her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Minnesota. She is a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) with 23 years of experience working exclusively in hand therapy. She currently works at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Her clinical areas of interest include complex pediatric injuries, cumulative trauma, sports rehabilitation, brachial plexus birth injuries congenital hand difference orthotic fabrication and prosthetic training. Karen Ayala has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Radford University and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Karen has been an Occupational Therapist since 1996 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 2001. After many years of practicing in adult hand therapy, Karen made the transition to pediatric hand therapy in 2013. Karen currently serves as an occupational therapist and pediatric hand therapist at Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics in Austin, TX. -The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

This week, we're joined by Meghan, an Occupational Therapist at Holistic Integration certified in Dry Needling.  Dr. Prather and Meghan talk about the differences between Dry Needling and Acupuncture and how both are helpful with pain.  In this episode, you'll discover:—The conditions helped by Dry Needling, including: Carpal Tunnel, Headaches, Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Myofascial Disorders.—How Dry Needling is also helpful for dysfunction, helping to speed up healing and improving range of motion.—The definition of Trigger Points.  And Dr. Prather's ability to find those hypersensitive spots! —Why the secret of successful results at Holistic Integration is the combination of multiple Structural Therapy options, such as Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Dry Needling, Corrective Exercises, Massage, Ortho-Bionomy, and Rapid Release.—When "Wet Needling" is the best treatment option through Trigger Point Injections. —The contraindications for Dry Needling, including: active Cancer, pregnancy, history of uncontrolled seizures, bleeding disorders, abnormal sensation issues, dementia patients, and extreme phobia of needles.—How almost 100% of Holistic Integration Physical Therapy patients are receiving Dry Needling as a part of their treatment because of the results it produces.—The history behind the development of Dry Needling and how it became widespread in the 1980's.—Why Dr. Prather says that John F. Kennedy was only able to run for President because of Trigger Point Therapy from the Physical Therapist who helped develop Dry Needling.—And you'll hear from Ben, a patient at Holistic Integration, who received "life-changing" relief from long-term pain associated with Knee and Back injuries. And his inspiring story about how Holistic Integration helped his family.http://www.TheVoiceOfHealthRadio.com*Receive exclusive bonus content as a member of our Voice Of Health Patreon Community:https://www.patreon.com/cw/VoiceofHealthPodcast

Never heard of hand therapy? You're not alone. Let's discuss why so many OT students miss exposure to this specialty and how you can start exploring it for yourself.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Emily F. Rothman, ScD and Dr. Kathryn Ellis about pornography within OT. Emily F. Rothman, ScD is Professor and Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department at Boston University. She has more than 10 years of experience conducting research and education about sexually explicit media, among other topics. Dr. Kathryn Ellis is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy, AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor, Certified Sexuality Occupational Therapy Practitioner, and Pleasure Enthusiast. She is the Founder and Cheif Educational Director of The Insitute for Sex and Occupational Therapy, which is a continuing education company dedicated to increasing OT professionals confidence and competency when addressing sex with OT clients. 

What happens when Occupational Therapy no longer feels aligned with the life you want to live? In this inspiring episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki Eakins sits down with Occupational Therapist and entrepreneur Mel Homan, founder of Premium Sensory, to discuss her journey from OT burnout to building a thriving business that creates meaningful impact for children and families. Like many Occupational Therapists, Mel entered the profession wanting to help people. Over time, however, the reality of heavy caseloads, system pressures, and constant demands left her questioning whether the traditional path was the right one. Instead of walking away from Occupational Therapy, Mel chose to reimagine it. Through courage, creativity, and a willingness to take imperfect action, she built Premium Sensory, a business that allows her to support families while creating greater flexibility, freedom, and fulfilment in her own life. This episode is a powerful reminder that Occupational Therapists do not need to wait until everything is perfect before making a change. Growth often starts with messy action. Whether you're an Occupational Therapist experiencing burnout, considering private practice, exploring entrepreneurship, or simply wondering what else is possible for your career, this conversation will leave you inspired to think bigger. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership: Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: www.bekieakins.com Instagram: OT Yourself to Freedom Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community LinkedIn: Beki Eakins Book an Inspiration Call: Click here About Mel Homan Mel Homan is an Occupational Therapist, entrepreneur, and founder of Premium Sensory. Passionate about supporting children and families, Mel has built a business that combines clinical excellence with innovation, creativity, and genuine impact. Her journey reflects what is possible when Occupational Therapists step outside conventional career paths and create businesses aligned with their values and vision. Connect with Mel Instagram: Tap here Facebook: Tap here Website for Coaching: Tap here The bamboo compression wrap the Cocooner: Tap here Link to become a founding clinical partner for OTs: Tap here About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

What if you could build wealth through real estate without becoming a landlord, managing tenants, or flipping houses yourself?In this powerful episode of the People, Not Titles Podcast, host Steve Kaempf sits down with Ed Thelen, Founder of 79th Avenue Lending, to uncover the remarkable story behind one of Chicago's fastest-growing private real estate lending companies.Ed's journey is anything but ordinary.Starting as a full-time Occupational Therapist, he spent years living paycheck-to-paycheck before discovering a completely different path to financial freedom. After navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, including owning a restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ed pivoted into private real estate lending and has since helped fund more than 100 real estate investment projects.In this episode you'll discover:→ How Ed transitioned from traditional employment into entrepreneurship→ Lessons learned from operating a restaurant during COVID→ The truth about private money lending→ How investors earn passive income through real estate-backed loans→ Building wealth using Self-Directed IRAs→ What separates successful investors from unsuccessful ones→ How to evaluate real estate deals like a professional lender→ Common mistakes new investors make→ The power of networking, education, and community→ Why character matters more than numbers in real estate investingWhether you're a beginner investor, experienced real estate entrepreneur, lender, realtor, wholesaler, house flipper, or someone looking for alternative investment opportunities, this conversation is packed with valuable insights and actionable strategies.About People, Not TitlesPeople, Not Titles is hosted by Steve Kaempf and is dedicated to highlighting professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders who are making a meaningful impact in their industries.Our mission is simple:To uncover the principles of success that help ordinary people achieve extraordinary results.Full Episodes:www.peoplenottitles.comFollow People, Not Titles:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/peoplenottitlesFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/peoplenottitlesTwitter/X:https://twitter.com/sjkaempfSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1uu5kTv00:00 Introduction01:12 Meet Ed Thelen03:45 Early Entrepreneurial Journey06:58 Growing Up Financially Challenged10:12 Occupational Therapy & Business13:25 Launching A Restaurant Business17:48 COVID Challenges & Survival22:40 Pivoting Into Real Estate Lending26:15 First Private Lending Deal30:08 Discovering Real Estate Investing33:45 Building 79th Avenue Lending37:20 Funding Over 100 Real Estate Deals40:15 Private Money Lending Explained43:30 Passive Income & Self-Directed IRAs46:55 Real Estate Investing Lessons49:20 Common Investor Mistakes52:05 Future Growth Plans54:12 Final Advice & Closing Thoughts#RealEstateInvesting#ChicagoRealEstate#PassiveIncome#PrivateMoneyLending#FinancialFreedom

Are Occupational Therapists being protected by their communities, or are they being held back by them? In this thought-provoking episode of the OT Yourself to Freedom Podcast, Beki explores a controversial topic that many Occupational Therapists experience but few openly discuss: the culture of fear surrounding business, money, entrepreneurship, coaching programmes, and alternative career paths within the OT profession. If you've ever considered starting an online business, launching a private practice, creating a course, offering coaching, or building additional income streams as an Occupational Therapist, you've probably heard the warnings: "Be careful." "Sounds like a scam." "Don't trust anyone selling a dream." But where do these beliefs come from, and are they actually helping Occupational Therapists create better lives? In this episode, Beki unpacks the psychological, cultural, and societal forces that shape how OTs think about risk, money, success, and professional growth. Drawing on research from Daniel Kahneman, Brené Brown, Seth Godin, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Robert Cialdini, and Lynne Twist, she explores why fear often masquerades as wisdom and how inherited beliefs can quietly keep Occupational Therapists stuck in careers they desperately want to change. Whether you're an Occupational Therapist experiencing burnout, exploring private practice, considering online business opportunities, or simply questioning what's possible for your future, this episode will challenge the assumptions that may be limiting your growth. Key Takeaway Fear is not the same as wisdom. The loudest voices in a community are not always the most informed voices. Occupational Therapists are trained to see possibility and potential in others every day. This episode invites you to apply that same belief to yourself and question whether the stories you've inherited about money, business, success, and risk are actually serving you. The question is not whether opportunities exist. The question is whether you're willing to evaluate them for yourself. Connect with Beki Are you ready to leave the whinger mindset behind and embrace your inner go-getter? Beki helps OTs worldwide design, launch, and scale their online business Free Resource: Download Beki's free overnight mindset meditation for free to help you build confidence, overcome money mindset challenges, and develop self-belief. Join OT Yourself To Freedom Membership: Discover the only membership designed specifically for OTs to create freedom-based businesses by leveraging the skills you already have. Learn to design and sell offers, market effectively, and align your work with your purpose. Follow Beki: Website: www.bekieakins.com Instagram: OT Yourself to Freedom Facebook Group: OT Freedom Community LinkedIn: Beki Eakins Book an Inspiration Call: Click here About the Host Beki Eakins is a business mindset and lifestyle coach for occupational therapists. After leaving traditional OT practice, she has helped hundreds of OTs worldwide design aligned online businesses that support freedom, income, and purpose, without burning out.

Original air date: May 14, 2024 Lisa is joined by three remarkable professionals, Jacque Maben, Cara Smith, and Amy Pennington, to uncover the boundless potential of play therapy across various contexts and non-traditional mental health settings. This episode expands the definition of play beyond traditional toys to encompass movement, body experiences, and relational dynamics.  Meet our guests: Cara Smith, a Certified Child Life Specialist; Amy Pennington, an Occupational Therapist; and Jacque Maben, an Equine/Animal Assisted Therapist. Learn more about them below. In this episode, each guest infuses the principles of play therapy into their unique practices, resulting in a magical fusion of healing modalities.   Cara enlightens us on integrating play into medical settings, using it as a tool to alleviate stress and anxiety surrounding medical procedures. Amy brings play into the realm of occupational therapy, shedding light on how it aids in sensory processing and skill development. Jacque shares her insights into incorporating animals, particularly horses, into play therapy, emphasizing their authenticity and ability to provide a sense of safety. Discover how these professionals serve as external regulators, co-regulating with children toward trauma integration across various contexts. Tune in to explore the myriad forms of play and the transformative power it holds in diverse therapeutic practices, witnessing the beautiful unity that emerges when harnessing play therapy principles for healing in any setting.  Podcast Resources:  Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey  Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity * If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.  

What happens when a healthcare professional goes through surgical menopause at 42 and is handed nothing but a message in her patient portal that says "you are post-menopausal"? No education. No discussion. No next steps. Just a diagnosis and silence.That is exactly what happened to Julie Parana. And even as an occupational therapist who spent her days supporting patients through major health challenges, she found herself doing what so many women do — minimizing her symptoms, pushing through the pain, and waiting far too long to ask for help.Julie Parana, MS, OTR/L, CWHS, is an Occupational Therapist, Certified Women's Health Specialist, Menopause Coach, and founder of The Menopause OT - Menopause Coaching, a virtual practice empowering women to feel informed, supported, and in control through perimenopause and menopause. She works with women at every stage of this transition, including early, surgical, or treatment-induced changesTogether, we talk about: ✨ What adenomyosis is and why it goes undiagnosed for so long✨ How surgical menopause differs from natural menopause✨ The five lifestyle pillars that help women feel like themselves again✨ Why affirmations feel awkward at first and why they work anyway ✨ How to start small, build slowly, and actually stick to midlife wellness habitsJulie spent years dismissing her own symptoms because she was too busy caring for everyone else. What she learned on the other side of that is something every woman in this community needs to hear: menopause does not have to mean years of needless suffering. There is so much available to you. But you have to prioritize yourself first. No one is coming to do that for you. If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.pleasureinthepause.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.CONNECT WITH JULIE PARANA:WebsiteInstagramCONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:InstagramLinkedInWork with Gabriella!  Full episodes on YouTube.The information shared on Pleasure in the Pause is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or Pleasure in the Pause.

This is the fourth episode in my series on PDA and restrictive eating, and this one is for therapists. If you are an occupational therapist, a speech language pathologist, or another type of therapist working with a child who isn't responding to gentle, play-based, sensory-based, or exposure-based feeding approaches the way you'd expect, this episode designed to help you. I share the full arc of my older son Cooper's journey with extremely restrictive eating, from the time he was four and a half years old and eating primarily three processed foods, through five years of occupational therapy, to where he is today. I walk through how we adapted the SOS feeding protocol over time to incorporate autonomy, equality, lower demands, play, and connection to special interests. I also share five specific strategies you can bring into your sessions.Key TakeawaysThe Sensory Lens Is Not Enough | 00:02:04 I share how Cooper's restrictive eating was initially understood through a sensory lens, and how, for about a year and a half, that framing guided his therapy. But the sensory lens alone was not sufficient to explain the patterns I was seeing or to help him expand his eating. What I came to understand was that his survival drive for autonomy was also a major factor, and that the two had to be held together rather than treated separately.What Was and Was Not Working | 00:11:56 I walk through what was working in the early stages of occupational therapy, specifically the therapist's focus on establishing relationship and rapport before moving to skill acquisition, and the role that dopamine, novelty, and sensory-intense experiences played in Cooper's initial engagement. I also describe what was not working: visual schedules and laminated choice boards, pressure to describe sensory experiences verbally, and structured home-based feeding protocols. For a PDA child, I explain, even chosen structure can become an internal demand.Autonomy and Equality as Accommodations | 00:16:37 I describe two specific accommodations that became central to how we approached feeding therapy over five years: autonomy and equality. Autonomy meant shifting away from scheduled, structured feeding time and toward strewing, declarative language, and following Cooper's lead. Equality meant deliberately allowing him to win, be above the therapist and me in games, direct the session, and have the last word. I explain how these accommodations address the root cause of nervous system activation rather than managing the surface behavior.Lowering Demands in the Session | 00:29:35 I describe what it looked like to lower demands in the occupational therapy session itself, meaning doing things for Cooper that he was cognitively or physically capable of doing himself, so that his available capacity could go toward tolerating and engaging with food. I give specific examples and I address the common concern that this approach enables children rather than building independence, and explain why the logic is different for PDA.Special Interests as a Turning Point | 00:37:06 I describe the turning point in Cooper's feeding therapy, which came when eating became connected to his special interest in football. I explain how this connection made it possible to revisit things he had previously rejected, including the laminated food charts, but this time entirely on his terms. I also offer five specific strategies for therapists at the end of the episode.Relevant ResourcesFree Therapist Masterclass — Free class for OTs and therapists on PDA.What Is PDA? — Overview of PDA as a nervous system disability.Paradigm Shift Program —Our signature live coaching program where we walk families as they implement accommodations and move forward.

Katie incorporates her Christian faith in Jesus with her healing work as an Occupational Therapist. We deep dive into how faith informs the work we do, the practical benefits of belief in something greater than yourself and how faith is complementary to the healing journey.

Occupational Therapist and DIR-Expert Maude Le Roux and homeschooling parent Daniela Bishop discuss the importance of clinical reasoning in attuning to the child by being present, staying in the moment, sitting in discomfort and uncertainty and making inferences about the child's internal experience in order to have an essential starting point for developmental work.Link to the show notes with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the episode here: ⁠https://affectautism.com/2026/04/17/presence/Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network or becoming an Affect Autism member for bonus content and support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: ⁠⁠https://affectautism.com/support/

Dr. Alicia Reiser, OTD, MS OTR/L is an occupational therapist with over 24 years of experience and the owner of A Rise Above Occupational Therapy Services in the Lehigh Valley, PA. She earned her clinical doctorate from Salus University (Drexel University) with a specialization in vision remediation. An active scholar and adjunct faculty at Drexel, Dr. Reiser bridges the gap between neurological rehabilitation, vision therapy, concussion recovery, ADHD care, and nervous system regulation. She is the co-owner of NeurOT Consulting and co-author of 100 Visually Loaded Activities and Occupations.In this episode, Dr. Alicia Reiser explains the critical but often overlooked connection between vision and the brain following a concussion. She discusses how visual inefficiencies (such as convergence insufficiency, double vision, and blurry vision) can mimic or worsen ADHD symptoms, hinder recovery, and cause chronic symptoms like headaches and dizziness. Dr. Reiser highlights the unique role of Occupational Therapy in vision remediation, the importance of interdisciplinary care with neuro-optometrists, and her work to establish a national Community of Practice within AOTA to standardize vision rehabilitation. She also provides actionable advice for patients and families navigating concussion recovery.Resources Mentioned by Dr. ReiserFind a Neuro-Optometrist: College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) – www.covd.org (Look for the "board certified in vision therapy" box)Book (Co-authored by Dr. Reiser): 100 Visually Loaded Activities and Occupations (Available for pre-order via NeurOT Consulting: https://neurotconsulting.com/)Textbook Mentioned: Understanding and Managing Vision Deficits: A Guide for Occupational Therapists by Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, ODhttps://www.routledge.com/Understanding-and-Managing-Vision-Deficits-A-Guide-for-Occupational-Therapists/Scheiman/p/book/9781032882871Continuing Education Course: Vis Con (through  CiaoSeminars) – https://www.ciaoeminarss.com AOTA Community of Practice (CoP) for Vision Rehabilitation:Enrollment Survey Link: https://forms.aota.org/forms/vision_cop_enrollment_survey_copyOriginal Discussion Board Request: https://communot.aota.org/discussion/vision-remediation-community-of-practice-interestWebsites & Social MediaDr. Reiser's Practice: www.ariseaboveoccupationaltherapyservices.comInstagram: @ariseaboveotFacebook: @ariseaboveotConsulting & Book (with Megan Schneider): www.neurotconsulting.comConnect with Bethany:Website: https://theconcussioncoach.com/Free Guide: "5 Best Ways to Support Your Loved One Dealing with a Concussion" on the websiteFree Coaching Consultation: https://theconcussioncoach.com/free-consultation

In the special segment "What the Hack?," Shanna and Laura share some of their favorite parenting tips and tricks, including ideas for making household laundry easier, making homework time more engaging and more! Also, Shanna has a surprising reaction to her daughter's softball schedule this season, and Laura's son has his first appointment with an Occupational Therapist. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a product that has changed Shanna's life for the better and a musical event that delighted Laura's entire family. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.Topics discussed in this episode:Handling your kids' extracurricular activity schedulesWhat is occupational therapy?Dealing with sibling jealousyClever parenting tips and tricks for laundry, oil stains, homework, dangerous dress-up clothes and moreBest water bottle everKid-friendly live concertsProducts, links, resources mentioned in this episode:Helium balloons at StaplesOil stain hack on RedditCabinet door and drawer bumpersFluffy key fobiPhone Shortcuts appHow to: Automating a file to play on your iPhoneWheel of NamesCollapsible laundry hampersBare-bones stopwatchOwala water bottleRock and Roll PlaygroundPast BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:Ep. 391 - Where Shanna talks about streamlining her kids' extracurricular-activity scheduleConnect with UsFollow us on social: Instagram, TikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcastJoin our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.comEmail us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.comSend us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcastIf you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One in 31 children in the United States has autism, and for parents, the journey often tests faith and endurance. Juli Reynolds is the board chair of the Anchor of Hope Foundation, a Georgia-based Christian organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers through financial aid, community, spiritual encouragement, and programs promoting growth, independence, and purpose. The foundation defines developmental disability as one acquired in childhood requiring lifelong support, with autism being a primary example. Juli was inspired to become an Occupational Therapist after caring for her youngest brother with severe, nonverbal autism. She now helps connect parents with resources to support their children through every stage of life. TAKEAWAYS Anchor of Hope was founded to provide a "yes" for caregivers in a sea of "nos” Disability acquired during childhood often requires lifelong support, which can be challenging for aging parents Anchor of Hope is developing supported employment opportunities to provide pathways to independence, connection and long-term impacts Anchor of Hope's Autism Awareness Festival provides a place for families to connect with local resources and the community

Most people don't think about their home… until something goes wrong. A fall. A surgery. A moment that forces fast decisions. And suddenly, you're dealing with time pressure, unexpected costs, and emotional stress that could have been avoided. In this episode, Patti Brennan sits down with Occupational Therapist and Aging-in-Place Specialist Dawn Heiderscheidt  to break down what it actually takes to stay in your home long-term.

Today's episode is a special one because we're introducing someone new to the podcast. If you've been listening for a while, you know our mission has always been to support families, therapists, and educators with practical, real-life strategies rooted in occupational therapy.As the Harkla team continues to grow, we're excited to welcome Amanda, our new co-host and in-house occupational therapist to the podcast. In this episode, you'll hear more about her journey into occupational therapy, the different settings she's worked in, and the perspective she brings from both early intervention and school-based practice. Amanda shares about working directly in classrooms with children and families, the challenges she sees most often in schools today, and her knowledge of potty training and pediatric pelvic floor health. We're so excited for this next chapter of the podcast and can't wait for you to get to know Amanda in upcoming episodes.Thanks for listening