Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust’s Post

5 Reasons to Take Your Child to Occupational Therapy with Sissy Goff: 1. When a child is not meeting appropriate developmental milestones. 2. When a child is struggling with gross or fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, struggle with balance, or coordination in both sides of the body working together. 3. When a child is having trouble with sensory input - overwhelmed by it or excessively seeking it. 4. When a child struggles to regulate their emotions. 5. When a child is dealing with any issue that affects their physical or cognitive function, or a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy or autism spectrum disorder. If based on these reasons, you do feel like it’s time to schedule an appointment with an occupational therapist, your pediatrician or school should have a trusted referral list. Even if you are unsure, occupational therapy begins with an evaluation, where they can offer you and your child guidance and wisdom as well!

As the Leaving Certificate comes to an end and the final change of mind deadline for college course choices approaches, we know there are young people who may be thinking about what areas to study or work in for the future. Members of staff from across our services - from occupational therapy and nursing to pharmacy, psychology and more - shared information about and their experiences of their roles; we hope that exploring what a career in mental healthcare looks like in this way might help some young people considering their options to know if #mentalhealth could be the field for them. You can watch videos about careers in mental healthcare and see from the team below. https://lnkd.in/gFR2PDqa

Reflecting on my role as an Occupational Therapist... Over the past 21 months, I've witnessed clients' functional abilities decline, accompanied by growing hopelessness among families as their loved ones' conditions become increasingly entwined with their personal lives. As an occupational therapist, I take pride in empowering individuals through meaningful activities, fostering a sense of identity, self-confidence, and community connections. However, the relentless battle against mental health challenges has led me to question the efficacy of our efforts. With each patient discharge, another admission follows, leaving me wondering if my impact is limited to one life at a time. Am I being impatient, or is there more to the equation? Recently, I've shifted my perspective on what therapy entails. Maybe, it's not just about restoring functional abilities. Maybe, there are other skills involved in enabling individuals to pursue what's meaningful within the context of their broader social systems. This realization has led me to thinking: What additional skills do I need to acquire to make a more significant impact and transform more lives?

Join me this Wednesday for "Harnessing the Potential of Occupational Therapy for Better Mental Health" Wednesday, October 23, 2024 12:15-1:15pm PT / 2:15-3:15pm CT / 3:15-4:15pm ET What we do on a daily basis gives us meaning, purpose, identity, and self-worth. When we experience a mental illness, we often lose those essential parts of ourselves. Occupational therapy centers around the ability of a person to participate in meaningful and daily activities. Occupational therapists help people learn new ways of participating in work, school, and leisure by regaining or acquiring new skills and adapting their environment to make it easier for them to participate. This session will cover how occupational therapists support mental health, common treatment modalities, case examples, and share best practices for working as a team with other clinicians and professionals in all settings. This program, when attended in its entirety, offers 1.0 APA CEs for Psychologists, 1.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, or 1.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSW, and LMFTs. Sign up: https://lnkd.in/gYK6wwQR

🫣 I missed a milestone…. My timeline showed me that 23 years ago yesterday I stepped onto the wards as a baby basic grade NHS Occupational Therapist… …after returning to Uni to complete my OT training which meant a second degree (my first was in History & Sociology) and giving up a steady full-time job. 🫶🏻 I didn’t stay long on the wards - I’m a community OT through and through (I love having to come up with creative solutions and seeing people as their ‘real selves’ in their own homes) and have worked for a few years now as a community Specialist Palliative Care OT. 🫶🏻 If you’re not familiar with what an OT does, it can be summed up by “fostering wellbeing and independence through occupation” (otherwise known as meaningful activity) - crucially, the patient is always at the heart of everything so it’s them who decide what matters. Aside from the more traditional assessing/prescribing specialist equipment, recommending major adaptations and understanding how someone’s health conditions impact upon them, some of the things I’ve done as an OT over the past 23 years have included… ⭐️ Exploring different ways of doing the things that bring people joy ⭐️ Keeping people safe & assessing risk ⭐️ Sharing techniques to help with symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, low mood & poor sleep ⭐️ Advocating for and supporting people ⭐️ Helping people create (and achieve) goals - creating the ‘just right’ amount of challenge ⭐️ Helping others adjust to situations that they can’t control (and recognise what they CAN do) ⭐️ Empowering people through sharing knowledge to help them make informed choices ⭐️ Having tricky (but always tender) conversations and holding safe space All skills and experience that I bring with me into the therapy space I’ve created at Nurture Wellbeing (and vice versa) which I couldn’t be happier about! It seems I’ve always loved helping people achieve wellbeing and the things that are important - whatever that looks like for them 🫶🏻 (Pic of me out walking in the woods with my doggos - one of my meaningful activities!) #therapist #OT #occupationaltherapist #solutionfocusedhypnotherapy #hypnotherapy #reiki #eft #solutionfocused

A physical therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, mental health therapist: What do each of these providers do? Who can help with Parkinson's, how can they help, and when should you bring them into your care team? From newly diagnosed to living with Parkinson’s for decades and beyond, these providers can help with various symptoms, from trouble walking to difficulty with eating or writing to mood changes, and everything in between. These providers are particularly helpful for symptoms that existing medications or surgeries may not fully address. A recent study in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, co-authored by Jennifer Goldman, MD, MS, Mark Hirsch, Julia Wood, Ana Aragon and others offers information about these allied health care providers and practical tips on who to add to your team and when. I especially like the reference tables that neatly summarize how different providers can help across the Parkinson's journey. Check out the paper here: https://bit.ly/4chLZ9t Doctors and allied carers, please take a look. People and families living with Parkinson’s, you might want to walk through this tool with your doctor to make sure you’ve got the right team in place. 

On today's #HumansofCSH, we'd like to introduce you to Hamilton Outpatient Occupational Therapist Stephanie Dorgan! “Being an occupational therapist means helping children and families feel calm, confident, regulated, and empowered in their own bodies and in their day-to-day lives. As occupational therapists, we are able to address sensory processing, fine motor skills, visual motor skills, body awareness, overall regulation, and much much more. Being an occupational therapist (OT), I have the opportunity to share my knowledge and encouragement to empower families, parents, caregivers, and children on how to help their child reach their fullest potential, advocate for their needs, and participate in their most meaningful activities. The most fun fact (in my opinion) about how the profession of OT started is that it started, historically, in the arts and crafts movement. There is a famous quote that reads, “Man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health. By Mary Reilly.” This quote is so important in regard to occupational therapy because the ability to move, utilize, and create with your hands and body to do the things you love directly impacts your mental health and well-being. As an OT, I have the honor of helping children do the things that they love." To learn more about our occupational therapy services, click here: https://ow.ly/lojN50SQ37L. #OccupationalTherapy #CSHHamilton

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a type of healthcare that helps individuals of all ages to perform activities (or "occupations") that are meaningful and necessary for their daily lives. Criteria for Occupational Therapy: • Medical Conditions: OT is often recommended for individuals with conditions such as stroke, autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, spinal cord injuries, developmental delays, mental health issues, and more. • Functional Challenges: It’s also appropriate for people experiencing difficulties in performing daily activities, whether due to physical limitations, cognitive impairments, or sensory processing issues. • Referral: Typically, individuals are referred to OT by a healthcare provider, though some may seek it out independently. Age Groups in Occupational Therapy: 1. Pediatric OT: o Age Group: Birth to adolescence (typically up to 18 years). o Focus: Helps children with developmental delays, sensory processing issues, or physical impairments to participate in play, school activities, and daily self-care. 2. Adult OT: o Age Group: Young adults to middle-aged individuals. o Focus: Assists with recovery from injuries, surgeries, or managing chronic conditions that affect daily tasks like work, self-care, and hobbies. 3. Geriatric OT: o Age Group: Older adults (typically 65 years and older). o Focus: Helps seniors maintain independence, manage age-related challenges like arthritis or cognitive decline, and ensure safety at home. "LiPhy Homecare: Your Trusted Partner in Speech and Occupational Therapy” At LiPhy Homecare, our team of highly trained professionals specializes in addressing Speech and Occupational Therapy. With personalized care and expertise, we provide effective treatments to enhance the quality of life for our valued patients. Feel free to reach out to us for compassionate and comprehensive support. #OccupationalTherapy #OT #AgeSpecificOT #OTAcrossLifespan #PediatricOT #ChildDevelopment #EarlyIntervention #SensoryIntegration #AdolescentOT #TeenOT #YouthWellness #AdultOT #GeriatricOT #AgingWell #SeniorHealth #FallPrevention #LiPhyHealthcare

Occupational Therapy in the Justice System: Client 1, part 1 I'm excited to start a series of posts highlighting my role as an Occupational Therapist working with clients in the justice system. To protect confidentiality, details have been changed and the client has been given a pseudonym. John is a man in his 30's whose journey through the justice system presents unique challenges and underscores the vital role of allied health professionals. There were a number of complexities that I encountered when navigating the intersection of disability and the legal system. Charged with a serious offense, John was later diagnosed with autism, schizophrenia, and situational mutism. I believe these diagnoses shed light on the underlying factors influencing his past actions. Currently incarcerated in a medium-security prison, John struggles with severe emotional and sensory dysregulation, which makes daily activities challenging. He has been given a long sentence and before meeting with him I will be honest in saying that I was overwhelmed and unsure where to start and worried that we would be limited in what we could achieve together, with no release date or transition to community planned. At the first meeting I focused on rapport building, actively listening to John. He identified the following goals: - To manage my emotions and prevent injury to myself - To be more independent so I can move to wing with lower security #OccupationalTherapy #JusticeSystem #RapportBuilding #TherapeuticRelationship #Rehabilitation #Incarceration #Reintegration #OTinJustice #DisabilityAdvocacy #AutismAwareness #MentalHealth #SensoryProcessing #GoalSetting #PositiveChange

Hello, You are invited to participate in a research study titled “OT's Role in Proactive Mental Health Care: Emotional Regulation.” This anonymous survey, which can be completed in approximately five minutes, aims to gain background information on society’s understanding of emotions and what participants currently do to navigate stressful events and/or experiences.    Participation in this study is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time or skip any question you do not feel comfortable answering. To indicate your consent, please click the link below to be taken to the electronic consent form, which will then redirect you to complete the survey. https://lnkd.in/grpD82VZ If you have questions about this project or if you have a research-related problem, you may contact Haley Bodea, OTD, OTR/L, CPT, ASDCS at Haley@ThrivingTherapiesLLC.com. Feel free to share this email with others to increase the number of participants for data collection. Thank you for your participation! Sincerely,  Haley Bodea- OTD, OTR/L, CPT, ASDCS Alyssa Chisholm - Occupational Therapy Student Alexis Janette Melendrez- Occupational Therapy Student