OT Before You're Even Earthside?! 🌍

What if occupational therapy could make a difference before you've even taken your first breath ?It's probably not something most of us have considered. But wait until you meet Rhona McAlpine!In this episode of Occupational Therapy Unwritten, I'm joined by an OT who's spent her career challenging what's possible, creating opportunities and making sure our profession gets the recognition it deserves.And bloody hell, she's achieved some incredible things!From helping establish OT's role in infant mental health to presenting her work at the World Congress of Infant Mental Health, Rhona really does fly the flag for occupational therapy.She's taking the very foundations of OT, everyday occupations, relationships, environments and participation, and applying them before a baby is even born.And suddenly, you start thinking about just how much further our skills could reach.We also get into children's mental health, neurodevelopment, inclusive practice and those questions so many OTs have about stepping outside traditional roles.And if you've ever thought about setting up your own OT practice, you'll want to hear this bit!Rhona shares her journey into independent practice, building Reframe and Regulate Ltd, and some of the realities and lessons that come with creating something of your own.Whether you're newly qualified, years into your career or wondering what else you could do with your OT skills, this conversation might just change the way you look at our profession.Because sometimes the biggest opportunities aren't about learning completely new skills. They're about recognising what we can already do with the ones we've got.And Rhona is a brilliant example of that!Connect with Rhona:Facebook: OT McAlpine@otmcalpineInstagram: InstagramWebsite:OTMcAlpine - Occupational TherapistResources: Early development, lifelong impact: why infant mental health matters to psychiatrists | BJPsych Advances | Cambridge CoreUp-up-and-away-September-2019.pdf

Corey does not mince his words, and his energy is bloody infectious.In this episode of Occupational Therapy Unwritten, we get into self-belief, burnout, nervous-system regulation, spirituality and what it really means to bring your whole self into your OT practice.And Corey has plenty to say.From “you studied OT, that is enough” to knowing your worth and learning to advocate for yourself, this conversation challenges some of the ways we think about ourselves as OTs, whether you're newly qualified, five years in or you've been doing this for decades.Corey brings a fascinating mix of experience to the conversation. He's an occupational therapist, co-founder of E.Co Therapy, a guest lecturer at the University of Queensland, has delivered professional development for OT Australia, and provides supervision to practising OTs and OT students.And if his energy has you thinking, I need a bit of Corey in my life, you're in luck. 😂He's offering the first three OTs who contact him a FREE 30-minute individual supervision session. And in true Corey style, he's backing himself too. If you feel you've received no value from the session, he'll pay you for your time.I know if I'd been listening rather than interviewing, I'd have been jumping at this one.📩 To claim one of the three sessions: [email protected]📱 Instagram & YouTube: @ThatwoowooguyThis one is fun, thought-provoking, a little bit woo-woo and full of those moments that make you go, “Oh shit... he might have a point.”🎙️ Occupational Therapy Unwritten

What if the people you want to help simply can’t afford to pay you? or it just doesn't feel ethical to charge for your service.That doesn’t have to mean the idea stops there.There may be another route to getting your work funded and most OTs are never taught how to find it.In this episode of Occupational Therapy Unwritten, I’m joined by Fiona Corless, occupational therapist, Director of FL Collaborative Consulting and founder of Ripples of Compassion.Fiona has worked on both sides of the system, from clinical OT into commissioning, leadership and service development, and she shares how small providers and independent therapists can start finding opportunities that already exist.We talk about where to look, how to understand what organisations actually need, and why one simple shift in how you talk about your service can completely change the conversation.We also explore confidence, putting yourself forward before you feel fully ready, and why being a small provider doesn’t mean you’re not capable of winning work.And alongside the commissioning side, Fiona shares the story behind Ripples of Compassion, the charity she founded after her daughter Ripley died from cancer in 2017, and how her OT skills continue to shape the support she creates for children and families.One of my favourite lines from the episode:“You don’t need OT in the title to be doing OT.”If you’ve got an idea you keep coming back to, this episode might help you see a route forward that you hadn’t considered before.Connect with FionaFL Collaborative Consultingwww.flcollaborativeconsulting.comInstagram: @Fiona_FLCCLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fl-collaborative-consultingRipples of Compassionwww.ripplesofcompassion.comInstagram: @RipplesofcompassionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RipplesOfCompassionLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ripples-of-compassion/Fiona on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-corless/Relaxation flashcardshttps://www.ripplesofcompassion.com/support-items-request/p/available-for-purchase-relaxation-flashcards

What if a scar changes far more than the way you look?In the first episode of "Occupational Therapy Unwritten", I’m joined by occupational therapist "Kelly Bendon" for a conversation that completely changed the way I think about skin, scarring and occupation.Because a scar isn’t "just" physical.It can affect how someone feels about their body. Their confidence. Their sensory experience. What they wear. Whether they want to be touched. Their relationships and intimacy. How they move. And ultimately, whether they participate in the occupations that matter to them.Kelly challenges us to look at skin through an occupational therapy lens bringing together the "physical, psychological, sensory and occupational impact" rather than separating them into different boxes.We talk about scar therapy following surgery, accidents and self-harm; trauma and body image; sensory sensitivity and guarding; graded exposure; and one incredibly simple question we could be asking in our assessments:"How does your scar affect your everyday life?"But Kelly’s OT story doesn’t stop there.We also explore her journey through forensic mental health, CAMHS, paediatrics and trauma; her work and research around "equine therapy, occupation and building resilience in children and young people through the outdoors"; independent practice; and the creation of "Sensational Skin and Well-being".And underneath it all is a much bigger conversation about our profession: "Are we sometimes the ones putting the blinkers on what occupational therapy can be?"Connect with KellyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-bendon-18bb4b5aInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/sensational_skin_with_kelly#OccupationalTherapy #OccupationalTherapist #ScarTherapy #Trauma #MeaningfulOccupation #EquineTherapy #IndependentPractice #OccupationalTherapyUnwritten

Welcome to Occupational Therapist Unleashed.A podcast about what becomes possible when OTs stop limiting their incredible skill set to the traditional career path.We’re talking real OT stories, different ways of working, business, money, time, freedom and the people already doing things differently.Your skills. Your income. Your rules.This is just the beginning.