Alice Styczen’s Post

We are asking Apparo Academy Occupational Therapist, Samantha Carlson OTR-L, her top 3 things to consistently build a child’s emotional regulation skills. 1. Research has shown that deep breaths and calming activities will help children develop emotional regulation skills. By taking slow inhales and longer exhales, this can immediately impact emotion and cognition by way of the parasympathetic nervous system. The trick is to do it so often that its just part of your routine, not just when a child is dysregulated. 2. Teach children about internal sensations (Interoception) and how to listen to those sensations as a way to find out what our bodies need. The way to teach children is by narrating our own interoception sensations “Oh, I am so hungry, I didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast and now my hands are shaky and my tummy is starting to hurt”. 3. Encourage children to call out dysregulation as it is happening. Modeling is a great way to help your child build emotional awareness, it’s the building block of emotional regulation. If you have a child who may benefit from OT, Speech and/or physical therapy, ask your pediatrician for our referral to Apparo’s outpatient clinic. #peds #makingchildrenready #therapy

The second article I wanted to post this week is from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and discusses the access to occupational therapy for inpatient psychiatric patients at the VA. This is the summary of the results section provided: “Veterans with ADL limitations were more likely to receive occupational therapy. Veterans receiving care in facilities with higher complexity and greater inpatient psychiatric care quality were more likely to receive occupational therapy. Additionally, Black veterans were less likely to receive occupational therapy relative to their White, non-Hispanic counterparts. Interactions indicated that the extent to which ADL limitations drove access to occupational therapy utilization was weaker within facilities with higher complexity and care quality.” One finding from this study I found interesting, is that deficits in ADLs were drivers for occupational therapy services, though they were still significantly lower than they should have been, even though OTs address so much more. While I was not at an in-patient psychiatric facility while at the VA, I did work with veterans with chronic pain and we oftentimes addressed their mental health. We would address topics such as roles, routines, habit building, body mechanics, and so much more which can also be applied to the in-patient psychiatric population. What are your thoughts on this article? For those who have worked in a in-patient psychiatric facility, what else did you address other than ADLs? Is there anything about this article that was surprising to you? AOTA, #mentalhealth, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, #occupationaltherapy

Investing in early childhood allied health services is vital for ensuring every child has the best start in life. Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) and Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) are urging state and federal governments to fund and support occupational therapy and speech pathology as key elements of early childhood foundational support. These services are crucial in helping children with disabilities or developmental concerns reach their full potential. By prioritising these supports, we can ensure that all children receive the care they need to thrive. https://lnkd.in/gZhD2UWn Tribus Health

How do allied health students work with neurodivergent individuals? We are exploring how occupational therapy, speech pathology and social work students respond in neurodiverse scenarios. Allied health students will work with #neurodivergent individuals throughout their careers. So, it is important to explore how allied health students respond to neurodivergent individuals. Help us to explore this topic by clicking on this link (https://bit.ly/ND_practice) to join the study. #alliedhealth #neurodiversity

Rehab Awareness Week is designed to educate people about the benefits of rehabilitation. And to let people know how physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehab nursing and physiatry help the health of communities. Rehab Awareness week also recognizes the value that rehab professionals bring to the people they help. By increasing awareness of these benefits and improving access to rehabilitation, people with disabilities will have increased opportunities to live to their fullest potential. https://zurl.co/u9TJ

Rehab Awareness Week is designed to educate people about the benefits of rehabilitation. And to let people know how physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehab nursing and physiatry help the health of communities. Rehab Awareness week also recognizes the value that rehab professionals bring to the people they help. By increasing awareness of these benefits and improving access to rehabilitation, people with disabilities will have increased opportunities to live to their fullest potential. https://zurl.co/u9TJ

My background is Occupational Therapy in an acute care (hospital) setting. Most days, I went into the patient's room with an agenda. "Let's get you up, time to get dressed, etc..." Of course we offered adaptive tools and plenty of advice on how to achieve these goals. There is absolutely benefit to having those goals, offering the tools and advice to achieve those goals and providing physical assistance to get the job done. But in those moments of vulnerability, when the patient was upset or frustrated and I had to stop, sit back and provide emotional, spiritual support. Those were the "star moments". The moments that provide much more than any goal-oriented session could provide. It also provided a training ground for working with individuals with complex trauma. Connection, vulnerability and emotional support go a long way to help an individual to heal. Sometimes you don't even have to know their story. Just be there. I am learning the comforting rhythm of presence, time and love without expectation. This is where the healing happens.

Our 'Reaching For Health' social value & impact initiative is helping NHS suppliers in contributing to establishing a footprint of these charity-run health impact centres. Centres directly supporting GP and NHS services in the heart of counties, reducing the lead-times and cost to the NHS through social value. Healthy more resilient communities is a Theme within all public procurement (not just NHS England procurement). #SocialValueEcosystem

Unveiling the Power of #OccupationalTherapy! Transforming Lives, One Task at a Time. 🙏 Curious about the transformative work of Occupational Therapy at St. Joseph’s Health? Our team of outstanding #OccupationalTherapists use a variety of techniques to improve and build fine and gross motor skills, helping patients recover from illness and injury that have made it difficult to perform daily activities. Here are several ways our OTs empower your path to recovery and independence: 🧼 Mastering Daily Tasks: OTs guide recovery post-injury or surgery to help you regain independence in everyday activities like washing, grooming, and dressing. 🚗 Driving Rehabilitation: OTs assist patients in returning to the community through a specialized driving rehabilitation program at St. Joseph’s Health. 👶 Child Development: OTs support children in sensory integration and achieving essential developmental milestones. 💼 Job Readiness: OTs equip patients for a successful return to work across various settings, from offices to kitchens. 👁️ Vision Retraining: OTs aid in vision recovery and retraining after brain injury or stroke. #StJosephsHealth #QualityStartsHere #ItsWhatsInsideUs

We are thrilled to announce the launch of AdaptAbility—a company dedicated to supporting pediatric therapy professionals by taking the weight of marketing off your shoulders so you can focus on what truly matters: changing lives. At AdaptAbility, we understand the unique challenges pediatric therapy clinic owners face. You’re passionate about helping children and families, but the demands of running a business can often pull you away from what you love most. That’s where we come in. Combining deep clinical expertise with cutting-edge marketing strategies, AdaptAbility is here to help you grow your practice, reach more clients, and make a greater impact—without the stress of managing marketing efforts on your own. Our mission is simple: to empower you to do what you’re passionate about while we handle the rest. We support pediatric therapy practices that provide a wide range of services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavioral therapy. Join us on this journey to make a bigger difference together. Explore our services, connect with us, and let’s work together to help more people thrive. Welcome to AdaptAbility! #PediatricTherapyProfessionals #MarketingForPediatricTherapy #BusinessGrowth #HelpingProfessionalsThrive #AdaptAbilityLaunch #FocusOnWhatMatters #PediatricTherapySuccess