OT 4 Lyfe

Andy Nielsen, OTS is an business innovator having founded products like the patented 8Scape folder and a Facebook advertising company called Big Ocean Commerce. He currently attends A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona and is completing his masters in occupational therapy. Integrating his background in business and his holistic approach to healthcare, Andy started OT Growth, a website aimed at helping pre-OT students, current OT students, and OT practitioners succeed within the career. He is a family man who strives to lead a balanced life serving others and contributing to society in meaningful ways. Sarah and Andy discuss: Andrew’s early life as an entrepreneur “Just Start” cause there is always more to learn The book “The Power of Starting Something Stupid” by Richie Norton Using OT’s creative skills to develop life changing ideas Finding your calling in your life Taking risks to find what keeps you engaged Changing your mindset to handle failures Setting up your life to prioritize your time Considering the worst case scenario Pushing through adversity to get to your goals Setting yourself apart for your applications The importance of advocating for OT He graciously created a list of resources just for the OT 4 Lyfe Tribe, which can be found here: https://otgrowth.com/ot4lyfe Link to the Design Your Freedom video Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyknielsen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyknielsen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andy.nielsen.355

Dr. Karen Ni, OTD, MA, OTR/L, CPDT-KA is passionate about using animal assisted therapy as a meaningful and powerful therapeutic tool. She uses her dogs, Dottie and Tater, as her canine co-therapists to assist in her therapy sessions and provide a different perspective and aspect to therapy interventions. She has also opened her own private practice, Sun Dog Therapy, that offers occupational therapy services, dog training, and other types of services related to caring for and learning about dogs. Sarah and Karen discuss: Clarifying and defining terms that pertain to Animal Assisted Therapy. Understanding the animal’s well-being during therapy and thinking of them as co-therapists. The need for certification and training for animal assisted therapy. Designing your schooling to emphasize your interests. How dogs are incorporated into a variety of therapy sessions. The difference in training for therapy rather than obedience. Empowering the client by allowing them to train the dog and show others their results. Transitioning skills from individual skills to generalized skills. Starting SunDog Therapy as a private therapy practice Lessons learned while starting a new business Becoming involved with service dogs through other facets than specifically OT Animal Assisted Intervention International - https://aai-int.org/ SunDog Therapy - http://www.sundogtherapy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sundogtherapy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sundogtherapy/ Email: [email protected]

Ijeoma (EJ) Ikpeze OTA/S is a OTA student at Erie Community College who recently finished her school work and is about to embark on her first Level II fieldwork. She has a passion for leadership and profound interest in promoting the profession of occupational therapy. EJ is currently the only student and only OTA representative in the AOTA Emerging Leaders Development Program. Sarah and EJ discuss her experiences, including: OTA school workload and her interests for fieldwork Learning and getting comfortable with practicing in early intervention Getting exposure to a variety of practice settings Going back to get an Associates Degree after getting a Bachelor’s degree Being accepted into the AOTA Emerging Leadership Development Program Going to “Hill Day” at the Capitol Hill in Washington DC to lobby for OT What defines a leader and being a leader as an OT Getting involved state legislature to make a difference More info about the AOTA Emerging Leaders Development Program: https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Advance-Career/ELDP.aspx Contact her at: [email protected]

Elizabeth DeBlasi, MS, OTR/L is a professor at Long Island University who woke up one night with a passion for international volunteer work. Within two weeks she was on a plane to Cape Town, South Africa to learn more about Therapists Without Borders. She and Sarah discuss their passions for pediatric therapy and how much they value sharing their knowledge around the world. They discuss: How many hats OTs seem to wear on a regular basis Getting to Cape Town with 2 weeks notice for WFOT Finding your calling in OT and combining your passions Empowering parents to make the primary difference in their child’s life Passion for teaching and training students Getting inspiration in the middle of the night Balancing work with passions outside of work Using yoga with sensory stimulation for young children What happens at a Silence Retreat Volunteer work within traveling, positive and negative experiences Advocating for yourself and skills when volunteering What makes Therapists Without Borders a great organization How volunteering affects both the therapist and the client Contact Elizabeth: Instagram: @the.ot.movement Find out more about Therapists Without Borders: http://twbinc.org

Pediatric occupational therapists work in a variety of settings which present their own challenges and advantages. School Based OT’s have their own distinct perspective on working in pediatrics and working in conjunction with teachers and school administrators to provide the most benefit to their clients. Jayson, Abby, and Sarah discuss a variety of topics relating to school based therapy. They discuss: Random findings in the laundry Funny stories from the daily life of a pediatric OT Helping kids understand more difficult parts of life The job market for school based OTs across the US The best and worst parts of school based OT Finding and being mentors through your career Advocating for other types of services for clients within the school settings Experiences that led them to their passion in OT Strategies on how to deal with and avoid burnout Why they started their podcast Professional development units by listening to podcasts Follow Them on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otschoolhouse/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OTSchoolHouse Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OTschoolhouse/ Contact: Abby: [email protected] Jayson: [email protected] OT School House Podcast: https://www.otschoolhouse.com/podcast Guidelines for OT Practices: https://www.otschoolhouse.com/ot-practice-map 20% off Promo Code for OT School House Professional Development Credits: OT4LYFE

Physical therapy in early intervention has a very distinct view. Collaborating with occupational therapists allows each practitioner the ability to see the same therapy intervention from a fresh set of eyes. Jennifer Ogawa joins to discuss collaborating in early intervention. Sarah and Jennifer discuss: The benefits of collaborating between disciplines How to beat traffic in Los Angeles The advantages of home based therapy Their favorite toys to use in therapy The joys of working in early intervention The benefits of being a well rounded therapist The craziest thing they have experienced in a client's home How to get into early intervention and what is required You can find Jennifer on Instagram here: @cookinlovinmomma

As occupational therapy clinicians, our jobs drastically shape our values and perspective on life. We share a unique outlook and approach to meaningful engagement in all of life’s occupations. Today is the first round table session in which Brock and Erika, a few OTs from different practice areas, come together to discuss topics within the field. Guest Panelists: Brock Cook, BA OccThy - Lecturer - James Cook University - Mental Health Erika Downs, COTA/L, MSG - Geriatrics We discuss the following topics: The beach Apps & social media: MySpace, Facebook, Marco Polo Structure of our jobs in per diem, home health, mental health, and academia Hardest parts of current jobs Limitations on our jobs as a therapist imposed from our healthcare systems Dealing with tough cases and death of a client What we wish more people knew about occupational therapy Why people do not know what occupational therapy is Our favorite/ last watched TV show Mental health as a practice area in the United States and Australia Our paths to the field of occupational therapy Importance of gaining exposure in numerous practice areas Best parts of being an occupational therapist

The student’s first Level 2 fieldwork is over: Feelings during the last couple of weeks Level of growth and now possessing a new prospective Structure of Level 2 fieldworks: back to back or having more schooling in between AOTA Final Evaluation and the Student Evaluation of the Fieldwork Experience Reflections on their perceived strengths and weaknesses from first episode Recognizing their continued challenges and their biggest positive takeaways Balancing self-care with demands of fieldwork Overall feelings throughout their experience Considerations of recording their experience

It’s week 9 of Level II fieldwork and Rachelle and Maya are here to discuss their current state’s as they head into the last few weeks of their clinical rotation: Current expectations at the end of their fieldwork How to handle schedule changes Strategies for documentation and report writing The benefits of having a support system outside of OT Work-life balance Importance of working with the family in pediatrics Coping strategies for dealing with the mental, physical, and emotional stress of fieldwork.

Every occupational therapists journey begins with OT school. And before school, comes pre-requisites, the GRE, volunteer hours, and applications. Being right in the middle of this process, Rachel Moore discusses how she is managing all the requirements and preparing to begin applying to OT programs. She shares some great insight into resources she has found helpful and tips for what to expect as a volunteer. How she found occupational therapy Instagram post celebrating World Occupational Therapy Day Finding sites who accept volunteers and getting ongoing observation hours What to expect during the volunteer experience Importance of attending the American Occupational Therapy Association conference Steps to take for the OT application OTCAS: Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service GRE: Graduate Record Exam Advice for pre OT students and volunteers Occupational Therapy resources USC Student Ambassadors Blog Gotta Be OT Mama OT AOTA Youtube Channel New Grad Occupational Therapy

It’s Midterm and Rachelle and Maya have completed 6 of their 12 weeks of fieldwork. Sarah reconnects with Rachelle and Maya to discuss details regarding the AOTA midterm evaluation and to get updates in regards to their current fieldwork experience. We’ll hear information about: AOTA midterm evaluation Communication with supervisors Pros and cons of videotaping students during treatment sessions as a learning tool Student’s progress towards becoming an entry-level practitioner Challenge of incorporating occupation-based treatments Documentation challenges and strategies to address them Exposure to non-clinical roles as an occupational therapist Advice for other students as they embark on Level II fieldwork experience Effect of fieldwork experience on Rachelle and Maya’s future aspirations as occupational therapists

While working as a school-based OT, Deedee Levine MS, OTR/L, YT-200, CD has found gardening and gardens to be a unique and integral part of her Occupational Therapy treatments. In addition to that, it’s helping children understand their overall health from a whole new perspective. Using Occupational Therapy as a pillar of her holistic healing approach, she has branched out into multiple other facets of health care. We discuss: How she blends environmental science with occupational therapy Impact of outside gardens on youth in schools Cooking is the most important OT treatment session Skills utilized during cooking activity How taking care of a plant can influence children Food justice and implications of availability of fresh foods in low income areas Empowering families to be able to grow and make their own foods to be healthy Microscopic versus whole view lens Disconnection between where our food comes from these days Grants and funding opportunities for therapists Engaging the entire school and not just students receiving therapy Occupational therapy can also be seen as opportunity therapy Incorporating yoga and Ayurvedic doula into occupational therapy Relatedness of sensory processing and Ayurveda Promoting health and wellness at the beginning, rather than only addressing it once something goes wrong An explanation of her private practice, Deedee Levine Therapeutics Find out more on her site: https://www.deedeelevinetherapeutics.com/ Or follow her on: Instagram: @deedeelevinetherapeutics Facebook: DeedeeLevineTherapeutics

It’s Thanksgiving in the US and that means it’s time to sit down and reflect on all the things in your life that you are thankful for. Sarah sits down to contemplate all the things and people she is thankful for in her life, including: The ability to impact the lives of her clients Being a fieldwork educator and impacting the next generation of OT’s Opportunities for volunteering abroad and the ability to travel Elaine at CRECER Olga at Háskólinn á Akureyri Pushing through the limiting beliefs to get the Podcast live The guests that took a chance to record before the podcast went live The Level II Fieldwork students that recorded the mini-series. Mastermind Mind groups with Leo, Debra and Alexis, Jayson & Abby Alex and Kiara for putting together show notes and helping fine tune ideas. Brock Cook at the Occupied Podcast - www.brockcook.com Sarah’s husband Ray for setting up all the background, promoting and editing. The listeners and community that is building around this podcast A giveaway - snap a picture of a review in your favorite podcast player and email it to [email protected] Thanks again everyone!

Having a love for travel and pediatric occupational therapy, Lauren Stanley-Alpert, MS, OTR/L, C/NDT felt the drive to combine her two passions. After struggling to find reliable organizations to volunteer with, she decided to create her own organization to provide a more affordable, responsible, and sustainable volunteer experience for other therapists. Therapists Without Borders aims to connect occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists to individuals and communities across the globe that have a significant need for therapy services while making sure that the services provided has a long lasting positive effect on the population. They discuss: Attending the 2018 World Federation of Occupational Therapists conference Issues with current international volunteer opportunities Sustainability of carry over of services for people with special needs Importance of researching volunteering opportunities What to expect when volunteering Dealing with difficult experiences and differences abroad Why people should be interested in volunteering in less fortunate areas Website: http://twbinc.org Instagram: @properjetiquette

After 5 weeks of their Level 2 fieldwork, Rachelle and Maya are back to debrief about their experiences so far. They are just about halfway done and being expected to do more and more every week. Their caseloads are increasing and the demands are becoming more challenging as they bridge the gap between student and practitioner. They discuss: Daily and weekly responsibilities Adjusting to the high demands of fieldwork Tough conversations with parents Importance of seeing things in context Interactions with supervisors, students, and other professionals Importance of taking initiative and advocating for yourself Benefits of reaching out to school faculty for guidance during fieldwork Favorite experiences from fieldwork thus far

Occupational therapy and entrepreneurship have a lot in common. Cami Culwell, MA, OTR/L was having trouble with existing bags during her day to day practice as a treating therapist. Clinitote was born out of a drive to make something that is vital to every practitioner’s life more functional and fashionable. Sarah and Cami cover a lot of topics during their talk including: Their most memorable experiences as OT’s How to deal with the loss of a client Importance of having a mentor The challenges of starting a business Implementing work/life balance Overcoming criticism Advice for an aspiring entrepreneur How being an OT has helped overcome the challenges of being an entrepreneur You can contact her on: Facebook: @clinitote Instagram: @clinitote2017 For a 30% discount on any Clinitote purchase use the promo code: OT4LYFE30

Maya and Rachelle return to the podcast with two of their twelve weeks of fieldwork completed. We touch base with them to see how everything is going, shed some light on what the beginning of fieldwork could look like, and discuss strategies for making the jump from observation to hands on practice. The following topics are covered: Current successes and challenges in fieldwork Managing difficult behaviors in pediatrics Supervisory experience A typical day as a Level II student Time commitments and management during and outside of fieldwork Exposure to notes and documentation Transitioning from observing to leading sessions Reviewing client population and ages Work/ life balance

Ultra-running and endurance hikes test one’s ability to overcome exhaustion, mental blocks, and limiting beliefs. Besides being a favorite occupation of Dr. Leo Valenzuela PT, DPT, they have also taught him many life lessons that he has utilized in order to start his own physical therapy private practice, Los Leones Physical Therapy. Sarah and Leo meet to chat about how they formed a mastermind group in order to accomplish their goals of starting a PT practice and an OT podcast. They discuss the importance of community and how it held them accountable and taught them pivotal skills in pursuing their dreams. They discuss a range of topics including: Ultra-running and endurance hikes Pushing limits and challenging yourself Starting a private practice Hardest part of getting it off the ground Pushing past boundaries Maintaining consistency Most exciting part of starting his own business Going against the grain Importance of having a community Helping with finances, marketing, website design Motivation from others who are also wanting to start something Our favorite physical therapy podcast and Facebook group The PT Entrepreneur Podcast PT Entrepreneur on Facebook Mastermind groups Being held accountable Changing your life personally and professionally Limiting factors and impostor syndrome Setting goals to be better than the month before Failing forward Advice for others wanting to start their own practices The PT Entrepreneur Podcast You can reach out to Leo at Los Leones Physical Therapy: [email protected] On Instagram: @losleonespt Or at his site: https://www.losleonespt.com/

For occupational therapy students, going on a fieldwork rotation is exciting and also a little nerve-wracking. It is the time that they finally get the chance to integrate the information that they learned in the classroom and apply it directly into practice. We had the opportunity to chat with two Masters level students, Rachelle and Maya, who are about to embark on their first Level II fieldwork experience. This episode will be the first of 6 as we follow along with them over their 12 week rotation. Sarah and the students will delve into the following topics: Transitioning from the classroom into a practice setting Students’ strengths and weaknesses going into their first Level II Students’ feelings and emotions before beginning fieldwork Current level of preparation and methods to further prepare before starting fieldwork Working with clients and caregivers in various settings Importance of self-care throughout fieldwork Models of student supervision Advice to students from a supervisor’s point of view Meaning of occupational therapy to students

Students bring an unique perspective and undeniable passion to the profession of occupational therapy. Each one enters bringing values and previous experiences imperative to growing the scope and capacity of occupational therapy as a whole. Alex Villanueva, Christina Villasenor, and Regina Sarnicola, three students from California State University Dominguez Hills, join Sarah to discuss what the life of an occupational therapy student is really like. They share extensive insight into what lead them to the field of occupational therapy and actionable tips for anyone looking to apply to OT school. Finding occupational therapy as a second career Lessons and skills learned from their past jobs Going about the application process A day in the life of an occupational therapy student What excites them about the profession of occupational therapy Advocating for our profession as a student Advice for prospective OT students If you want to reach out to our guests today: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Every year, occupational therapy professionals and students come together to celebrate the profession and connect with like-minded individuals at the American Occupational Therapy Association conference. It is always a good time and this year’s conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah,was no different. Join us as we hear from fellow conference goers straight from the halls of the conference and hear about their experience attending this year’s event. Amy- VA pediatric mental health, Virginia Cami Culwell- Clinitote Kat- Winston Salem State University Cynthia- School-based OT Phoenix, AZ Dominic Lloyd-Randolfi- @NewGradOT, New Grad Occupational Therapy David S. McGuire- @davidsmcguire- Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association Dr. Bill Wong- @billwongOT Leah, Bria, Davonte, and Asiya- Florida A&M University Grant Mitchell- Millennial OT, @millennialot Irene Ghattas- @insidemyotbrain Dr. Karen Jacobs- @KarenJacobsOT- Boston University: Sargent College Pat- San Jose State University Rachel- exploring sensory integration materials Rosaleigh, Emily, Cat, and Elyse- University of Alabama Birmingham Serena, Alexandra, and Serena- University of Southern California: Mrs. TH Chan Division of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science Lesly - Cincinnati State

Sometimes life takes twists and turns and might not end up how you expected it to. For Roxie Fernandez, the birth of her second son lead her to find her passion in the profession of occupational therapy. Over the years, Roxie moved from working with adults in a hospital to finding her niche working with children and specializing in sensory integration. Roxie shares her journey through being a student, an early occupational therapy practitioner, and eventually to opening her own private practice. Many topics are discussed, including: Their favorite pieces of equipment to use in a sensory clinic Roxie’s experience as a mother of a child with a disability Transitioning from OT student to practitioner Importance of having a mentor OT as a constant learning process The evolution of Roxie’s career that led her to opening her own practice Zensory’s unique multi-sensory environment and what it offers to children and families Favorite part about OT and the biggest challenges when working with kids with disabilities Advice for practitioners working with parents of children with disabilities Advice for parents of children with special needs