Dive into the complete episode list for OT 4 Lyfe. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
What I Would Tell My Fieldwork Student Who Just Finished
Crafting Your Life for Success with Intention and Purpose with Andy Nielsen from OT Growth
04 Feb 2019
01:41:24
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
Incorporating Dogs into Animal Assisted Therapy with Karen Ni from Sun Dog Therapy
28 Jan 2019
01:08:18
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
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: ijeomaikpeze@gmail.com
Happiness Through Movement, Education and Volunteering with Elizabeth DeBlasi
14 Jan 2019
01:14:45
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
Notes From the OT School House with Jayson Davies and Abby Parana
07 Jan 2019
01:41:05
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
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
OT-PT Collaboration in Early Intervention with Jennifer Ogawa, PT
28 Dec 2018
01:10:56
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
OT Round Table: The Best Parts, The Hardest Parts and What We Wish Others Understood About OT
17 Dec 2018
02:13:37
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
Level 2 Fieldwork Mini Series - Part 6 of 6 - Week 13: Reflections on the Experience
14 Dec 2018
01:03:41
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
Level 2 Fieldwork Mini Series - Part 5 of 6 - Week 9: Struggling to Balance Fieldwork with Life
07 Dec 2018
00:50:02
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.
The Very First Steps in Becoming an OT with Rachel Moore
03 Dec 2018
00:36:42
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
Level 2 Fieldwork Mini Series - Part 4 of 6 - Week 6: Halfway Through Fieldwork and Experiencing the Midterm Review
30 Nov 2018
01:01:47
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
Using Gardens in a Holistic Approach to Occupational Therapy with Deedee Levine
26 Nov 2018
00:55:13
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
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
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 sarah@ot4lyfe.com
Thanks again everyone!
Making A Difference Around The Globe With Lauren Stanley-Alpert
19 Nov 2018
00:48:26
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
Level 2 Fieldwork Mini Series - Part 3 of 6 - Week 5: Bridging the Gap Between Student and OT Practitioner
16 Nov 2018
00:48:24
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
From Occupational Therapist to Entrepreneur with Cami Culwell
12 Nov 2018
00:59:56
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
For a 30% discount on any Clinitote purchase use the promo code: OT4LYFE30
Level 2 Fieldwork Mini Series - Part 2 of 6 - Week 2: Moving from Observation to Hands-On Practice
09 Nov 2018
00:43:13
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
Limiting Beliefs, Accountability and Masterminds with Leo Valenzuela
05 Nov 2018
00:47:14
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
Level 2 Fieldwork Mini Series - Part 1 of 6 - Week 0: Excitement and Trepidation as Fieldwork Begins
02 Nov 2018
00:39:33
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
Fresh Perspectives from First Year OT Students with Alex, Christina, and Regina
26 Oct 2018
00:50:55
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
Voices from the OT Community at the 2018 AOTA Conference
24 Oct 2018
00:44:33
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.
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
Inspiration, Sensory Integration and Zen with Roxie Fernandez
22 Oct 2018
00:53:21
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