Blog - Page 3 of 8

Choices

July 6, 2018

Why do we sabotage our plans…? There are not many things at which I readily admit excelling at, but self sabotage is definitely one of them. According to Psychology Today, behavior is said to be self-sabotaging, “when it creates problems and interferes with long-standing goals. The most common self-sabotaging behaviors are procrastination, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, comfort eating, and forms of self-injury such as cutting” I think the last one is rather contentious as other factors are often at play, but that’s the…

Understanding our occupational selves: coaching and OT

July 6, 2018

jen

Coaching and OT

I often write about how coaching helps us tackle barriers to occupation, be they lack of confidence or self-belief, the lack of a congruent, desirable action plan or the need to un-earth perhaps unconscious drives/desires which scupper our well-intentioned plans. However, I am often still asked “is this occupational therapy?” or “am I being an OT if I coach?” or “if a client figures it all out through coaching, why do they need me?” Of course, these are all complex…

Time to change our professions narrative – lets have a new story

June 12, 2018

Jen Gash

Business Development for OTs

One of my jobs as a coach is to help people spot their long standing, personal narratives and work to change the often unhelpful stories we tell about ourselves and hopefully create new ones. However, on this occasion, I am talking about the narrative our beloved profession of occupational therapy. From the first day I stepped into OT colleges in the mid 1990’s, I heard it. I’ve heard it for the last 25 years and I heard it when working…

Occupational Therapists doing it differently: Alice McGarvie

February 22, 2018

jen

OTs Doing it Differently

After working for a couple of years in the NHS, within mental health and learning disabilities, I became frustrated with the lack of resources for running creative groups as well as the volume of paperwork and generic work that kept me at my desk and away from my occupational therapy clients. I felt I wasn’t able to practice as the holistic, creative, problem solving occupational therapist that I wanted to be. I’d always enjoyed music and playing instruments, (piano, accordion…

Rise Up

February 20, 2018

jen

Inspiration

Rise up Rise up despite your aching limbs and weary heart Though the tide of advice claws at you, from below Rise up knowing that your soul will soon be replenished Bringing perspective and clarity, previously missing Rise up, even though fear casts its heavy spell Pulling against your triumphant elevation Rise up above your stubborn thoughts and stuck ideas Noticing how small things really are when seen from above… Uplifting thoughts and feelings are much needed…

The OT Hub

February 20, 2018

jen

OTs Doing it Differently

Jamie moved from London in 2015, to train as an Occupational Therapist at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol.With past experiences in hospitality, television production and student radio, he took a new direction. After spending a year as a mental health support worker, he discovered that a career in health care better matched his values and would tick a lot of boxes! In his final few months at UWE Bristol, Jamie has occupational therapy placement experience in stroke rehabilitation, community rapid response and within a young…

Starting Out: Tips On Being An Independent Occupational Therapist

January 22, 2018

jen

Business Development for OTs

Matthew Box established his OT company “Inclusion Me” in 2009 after working as an OT in Kent Social Services. Today, 9 years later, his company has over 40 associates and clients have included: ZSL, Selfridges, Nike and numerous Local Authorities including The City Of London, Thurrock & Hammersmith & Fulham alongside various large scale building contractors. Inclusion.Me’s mission is to provide accessible services that are underpinned by dignity and empowerment: We apply ‘Universal Design’, maximizing usability of facilities for…

OTs Doing it Differently: Dr Lynne Goodacre, Letting go of being in the room

January 18, 2018

jen

OT Stories, OTs Doing it Differently

The inspiration for this post came from a comment Jen made in her last ezine when writing about her drives with her daughter: She faces forward and we don’t need to make eye contact. This is really helpful in terms of freeing up our brains to do their own sorting and regulating and so helpful in coaching, which is why I enjoy telephone coaching so much. This comment really resonated with me in terms of my coaching journey and my…

OTs Doing it Differently: Julia PFLAUM, Occupational Therapy and ADHD

January 18, 2018

jen

OT Stories, OTs Doing it Differently

I work in a clinic for adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which is a fascinating area to work in. I started in a new Occupational Therapy role in the clinic at the beginning of the year as it expands to offer more psychosocial interventions. Adult ADHD has been established as a diagnosis only relatively recently and many of our referrals are from people who have contacted their GP after having a child diagnosed or learning about ADHD in…

OTs DOING IT DIFFERENTLY: Lyndsey Barrett, Sport For Confidence

January 12, 2018

jen

OT Stories, OTs Doing it Differently

Senior Occupational Therapist, Lyndsey Barrett worked in the NHS for 19 years. Towards the end of this period she began to question whether the traditional delivery methods employed by the NHS are always the most effective means of achieving positive client outcomes on a large scale. As a keen netball player, Lyndsey was very aware that regular physical activity, delivered in a controlled, safe, mainstream, environment could provide the perfect setting to achieve positive occupational outcomes. So, in 2015, Lyndsey joined…