Like you, I am an occupational therapist working with children and families. I am an experienced clinical supervisor and mentor with an almost thirty year background of work in multidisciplinary and occupational therapy-specific teams. Additionally I have lived experience within my own "neuro-spicy" family which has allowed me to experience first-hand what its like being on the other side of service delivery, the realities of  issues such as "school cant", mental illness, and the societal and systemic challenges of living in a way that aligns with the needs of neurodivergent people.

I believe OT can make a big impact on people's daily lives and over the years I have seen the value and recognition of occupational therapy within our community grow .  However, I  remember times  when I felt overwhelmed, unsure of what I was supposed to be doing and confused about how to help my clients. In fact, at one stage I succumbed to burn-out and considered leaving OT altogether. My saving grace was a mentor who helped me find my purpose, play to my profession's strengths and enjoy the benefits of seeing the transformation in my clients lives. My mentor was my work manager who also had lived-experience of disability. He taught me to lean-in to what is ACTUALLY important in a person's day to day lives and to LISTEN before jumping to conclusions.

My hope is that you will also begin to embrace OT, feel clear on your purpose and be confident to add effective strategies to your therapy tool box.