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  • Ep. 53: Deinstitutionalizing OT - Field Research, Folk Wisdom & Creating Your Own Path with Dr. Josie Jarvis

    Ep. 53: Deinstitutionalizing OT - Field Research, Folk Wisdom & Creating Your Own Path with Dr. Josie Jarvis
    Jan 12 2026
    Deinstitutionalizing OT: Field Research, Folk Wisdom & Creating Your Own Path with Dr. Josie Jarvis What does it mean to deinstitutionalize yourself as an occupational therapist? In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Josie Jarvis and I explore everything from the historical roots of healthcare systems to why OTs need to reclaim field research and folk wisdom. If you've ever felt stuck in traditional practice settings or wondered how to apply occupational science to your own life, this episode offers both validation and a path forward. We discuss burnout recovery for occupational therapists, the power of community-based folk arts, and why being brave sometimes means daring to ask the "dumb" question. This conversation is for OTs who are ready to experiment, create their own paths, and remember that innovation doesn't require permission. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ - Why deinstitutionalization matters for practitioners, not just clients - How occupational science can help OTs recover from moral injury and burnout - The historical context of healthcare systems and women's contributions through folk wisdom - Understanding twice-exceptionality (gifted + learning differences) and how it shows up in OT practice - Why field research and observation are more valuable than we've been taught - The problems with the traditional evidence-based practice pyramid and the Tomlin & Borgetto alternative - How grades and academic metrics aren't real and why that matters - Building community through folk arts and crafts as a vehicle for policy change - The Being, Becoming, Belonging quilt project and its impact on systemic change - What it means to be brave: daring to be vulnerable, asking questions, and showing up in your fullness ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ABOUT DR. JOSIE JARVIS ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Dr. Josie Jarvis is a twice-exceptional (ADHD/NVLD/Gifted) occupational therapist, critical implementation scientist, and host of the Evolved Living Podcast. She brings over a decade of clinical experience across home health, acute care, memory care, pediatrics, and K–12 education together with her neurodivergent lived experience to explore how systems shape human occupation, creativity, and identity. After collaborating with Carlyn Neek in the ACTivate Vitality program, Josie deepened her commitment to reviving a contemporary folk arts/crafts and critical implementation science movement that supports collective occupational wellbeing and recovery from systemic harm across borders and practice settings. Her work blends OT/OS scholarship, accessible education, and creative praxis to help practitioners and communities reclaim meaningful occupation and systemic integrity. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ RESOURCES MENTIONED ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Josie's OT and OS Work can all be found at https://engage.evolvedlivingnetwork.com/ Including: - OT/OS Substack & Evolved Living Podcast: https://josiejarvisot.substack.com - Professional Website: https://josiejarvis.com - OS 101 Course – Foundations of Occupational Science for U.S.-Based OT Practitioners - OS 101 Guide Josie's Creative & Intuitive Work can be found at https://josephinepatricia.substack.com including: - Josephine Patricia Creative Substack - Various products and courses related to rewilding, arts, circles and more Books & Resources: - Witches, Midwives & Nurses Book Club - Article on Witches, Midwives & Nurses - Beyond the Hierarchy (Tomlin & Borgetto Research Pyramid) Previous Episodes of the BRAVE OT Podcast Referenced: - Episode 13: With references to Dąbrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration - Episode 43: Overcoming Entrepreneurial Perfectionism with the Scientific Method ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ WORK WITH CARLYN ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ If today's conversation about deinstitutionalizing yourself and finding hope beyond burnout resonated with you, the ACTivate Vitality Program offers a community of OT practice owners who are navigating these same challenges. We focus on building sustainable, values-aligned practices through group coaching, ACT-based frameworks, and genuine support not hustle culture. Book a Clarity Call Learn more about ACTivate Vitality
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    1 Std. und 31 Min.
  • Ep. 52: Using AI to Ease Documentation Burden Ethically, with Tech Leader Raj Paul

    Ep. 52: Using AI to Ease Documentation Burden Ethically, with Tech Leader Raj Paul
    Dec 16 2025

    Ever feel like you're drowning in documentation while the work you actually trained for gets squeezed into the margins? Or maybe you're curious about AI tools but worried about privacy, security, and whether using them is even ethical? You're not alone and this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

    In this episode, I sit down with Raj Paul, Director of Engineering at Jane, where he leads the teams building clinical features designed to reduce administrative burden. Raj brings a unique perspective he's not an OT, but his wife is, so he deeply understands our world. He's also openly multipassionate, generating many ideas and he shares about how he uses AI to challenge and refine his thinking and communicate more effectively.

    We're having the real conversation about AI documentation tools that so many OTs are craving. Raj walks us through exactly how AI Scribe keeps your data private, how to get proper consent from clients, and why you don't need to be afraid of this technology.

    But here's what really hit me: We talk about this pervasive belief that for work to be valuable, it needs to be hard. I share about the experience of OT entrepreneur coaching clients who had a turning point when she started using AI for documentation. She realized she'd been using her leftover energy for her family instead of finding ways to work less hard. That shift cascaded into her riding bikes more, making art, volunteering with her kids' sports teams, and actually living her life. Work doesn't have to be hard to be valuable.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • How AI Scribe actually works and what makes it secure (BAAs, human-in-the-loop design, AWS partnership)
    • Why Jane's team can't access your transcripts or notes - and how they improve the tool without seeing your data
    • Getting informed consent from clients (regulatory considerations, intake forms, and having the conversation)
    • How to start experimenting with AI safely before using it clinically
    • The "AI as intern" analogy - why you still need to check its work
    • Privacy concerns, environmental considerations, and making values-aligned decisions
    • Why Raj uses Claude personally to challenge his ideas and improve his communication
    • The importance of psychological safety in creating better ideas and better outcomes
    • Practical tips: Start with free tools, check your privacy settings, get comfortable before jumping in

    This episode is for you if:

    • You're curious about AI documentation but need the safety and privacy facts first
    • You're burned out from documentation and wondering if there's a better way
    • You've been seeing AI conversations in Facebook groups and need real information to decide
    • You're ready to challenge the belief that struggle equals value
    • You want to reclaim your time and energy for what actually matters

    Ready to try it yourself? Use the code VITALITY or follow this link to get a one-month grace period on a new Jane account, which includes free access to 5 AI Scribe sessions per month. I haven't had a list of chart notes waiting for me in a really long time. They're done in minutes, and it's genuinely changed my practice.

    My Article: How I Customized My Jane AI Scribe Template to Make it More OT

    Jane's Article: AI Scribe: How To Talk to Clients & Get Consent

    Connect with Raj Paul: LinkedIn
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    36 Min.
  • Ep. 51: Redefining Brave When Everything Changes With Trish Williams

    Ep. 51: Redefining Brave When Everything Changes With Trish Williams
    Nov 1 2025
    Ever wonder what happened to some of our OT entrepreneur trail blazers who went quiet? If you've been around OT social media or podcasts, you probably know Trish Williams from her brand, OTs Get Paid. In this raw, honest conversation, Trish opens up about why you haven't heard from her in more than a year and it's not the story you might expect. This episode is about what happens when your capacity fundamentally shifts. When perimenopause rewires your brain. When family crisis demands everything you have. When the version of yourself you've been living and sharing doesn't fit anymore. And when slowing down becomes the bravest thing you've ever done. In this conversation, we explore: The collision of perimenopause and family crisis that changed everythingWhy Trish went back to being a mobile OT after thinking she'd "graduated" from thatHow cognitive changes in perimenopause can feel like late-onset ADHDThe shame that comes with not being able to keep up anymore (and the rotting cooler story)What it really means to slow down when your whole identity was about achievingRedefining "brave", from launching businesses to getting reports done on timeThe shift from hope to faith when life gets really hardBuilding boundaries, finding what lights you up, and detaching with loveWhy volunteering at Pride and Folk Fest became her community lifelineThe daily practices that keep her grounded (and why "scary thing" became "brave thing") This episode is for you if: You're noticing your capacity has shifted and you don't know what to do about itYou're in perimenopause or menopause and feeling completely disorientedYou're navigating a major life crisis while trying to keep your business/career goingYou're tired of maintaining an image that doesn't fit who you are anymoreYou need permission to slow down without giving upYou're a single parent or primary caregiver feeling stretched beyond your limits, even while parenting adult childrenYou want to hear what building a life that actually works for you looks like Connect with Trish: Email: trish@trishwilliamsconsulting.ca and listen to the OTs Get Paid Podcast. Join the conversation in The BRAVE OT Facebook group - come share what "brave" looks like for you in your current season. Questions OTs are searching: What are perimenopause symptoms affecting my work?How do I manage my OT practice with changing capacity?Is it normal to feel burnt out as an occupational therapist?Can I go back to clinical work after business coaching?How do I pivot my OT career in midlife?What does mobile OT work look like?How do therapists handle family crisis while working?Is perimenopause affecting my ADHD symptoms?How do I slow down my OT practice without quitting?What are signs of therapist burnout?How do I rebuild my OT career after time away?
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    1 Std. und 14 Min.
  • Ep. 50: Sustainable Practice - Purpose + Profit with Jason Stein

    Ep. 50: Sustainable Practice - Purpose + Profit with Jason Stein
    Oct 9 2025
    Ep. 50: Sustainable Practice - Purpose + Profit with Jason Stein In this milestone 50th episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sit down with Jason Stein—acupuncturist, executive coach, and the cowboy-hat-wearing wellness practitioner who's mastered the art of building a sustainable occupational therapy practice that honors both purpose and profit. If you're an overwhelmed practice owner wondering how to create more vitality in your work and life, this conversation offers wisdom you can actually use. Jason shares his journey from hospital-based integrative medicine to building a wellness center in rural Oregon (population: one person per two square miles), and how he helps founders and leaders find balance between making money and staying human. We explore Key Vitality Indicators (KVIs) instead of KPIs, why befriending money doesn't make you less spiritual, and the simple practices that are often the hardest to maintain—but create the most transformation. In This Episode, We Discuss: Why so many therapy practice owners experience burnout and what Key Vitality Indicators can tell you about your business healthHow Jason shifted from perseverating about outcomes to surrendering control—and why ketamine therapy opened a door to deeper presenceThe practical magic of closing your eyes for half a breath during heated conversationsWhy making money and being a heart-centered healer aren't mutually exclusive (and how to befriend money like a best friend)Natural rhythms, seasonal cycles, and why we've disrupted our connection to rest through electricity and hustle cultureThe Kawa Model (Japanese river model) for understanding life flow, obstacles, and opportunities in your practice (See Ep. 31 for the Find Your Flow Kawa Workshop)How to build a values-based business that doesn't require you to abandon your love of nature, family dinners, or making really good ice creamThe truth about AI tools: when they help with self-reflection and when you need actual human connectionSome good health advice, "You can pay now or you can pay later, but you're gonna pay"Jane's LIFE CHANGING AI Scribe feature. Check out my article on how I used ChatGPT to customize my AI Scribe templateBe sure to use the code VITALITY on your new Jane account for a one month grace period. About Jason Stein Jason Stein is an acupuncturist, executive coach, and storyteller who blends ancient wisdom with modern leadership. With more than 25 years of experience helping hundreds of people heal and thrive, he supports leaders, founders, and communities in finding the balance between purpose and profit. Jason co-owns Wallowa Avenue Wellness in Joseph, Oregon, and hosts the Wellness Renegades Podcast. When not working, he's outdoors with his wife and kids exploring the wilderness and living close to nature. Connect with Jason on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned: - Insight Timer app (meditation timer) - Jon Kabat-Zinn - "Full Catastrophe Living" - Kawa Model (Japanese river model for occupational therapy) - Alan Weiss - "Value-Based Consulting" - Marshall Rosenberg - Nonviolent Communication - Maisie Hill - "Period: The Real Talk You Need About Periods" - Claude AI (for business reflection and planning) Keep the conversation going over in The BRAVE OT Podcast Facebook Group. Work With Carlyn - Time-Sensitive Opportunity: As we enter October, I'll be focusing my time less on marketing and more on deepening the work with practitioners in my community. If you've been waiting for the deadline to explore ACTivate Vitality with me, reach out this week while I'm still actively booking new conversations. Book a Clarity Call The ACTivate Vitality Program is a community of occupational therapy and wellness practitioners who support each other in building sustainable, values-aligned businesses. We have group coaching calls, an online community, an ACT-based framework to build entrepreneurial and psychological flexibility, and 1:1 support. About The BRAVE OT Podcast: The BRAVE OT Podcast features occupational therapists and wellness practitioners doing innovative work and navigating the challenges of building sustainable therapy practices. Host Carlyn Neek provides coaching, mentorship, and community support for practice owners who want to thrive without the hustle.
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    1 Std. und 4 Min.
  • Ep. 49: Neurodivergent OTs Discuss Creating a Practice That Actually Works for You With Guest, Breanna James

    Ep. 49: Neurodivergent OTs Discuss Creating a Practice That Actually Works for You With Guest, Breanna James
    Sep 17 2025
    This week on The BRAVE OT Podcast: So many neurodivergent OTs like us have spent our careers trying to squeeze ourselves into systems that weren't designed for how our brains work, for our sensory needs, or for how our values need to align deeply with our work. It is a brave move to one day say "I'm going to create something that actually works for me." Join me as I talk with Breanna James, an OT from Alaska who's been part of my ACTivate Vitality program and community for almost a year. Breanna specializes in supporting neurodivergent adults, and what I love about this conversation is how she talks about creating her private practice as her own accommodation - a way to work that honors both her neurodivergent brain and her values around authentic, client-centered care. You'll hear how she moved from traditional settings that didn't quite fit into building something that works for her life as a parent, as a business owner, and as someone who needs flexibility and play in her work. We dive into why neurodivergent adults desperately need our OT services, how to bring play and creativity back into the mundane parts of business, and why you don't need another certification to start helping the people who need you most. This conversation is for any OT who's been feeling like they need to practice differently, who's struggling with the loneliness of solo practice, or who's wondering if they're qualified enough to work with adult populations. If you've ever felt like you're trying to squeeze yourself into a mold that wasn't made for you, this episode will give you permission to create something that actually fits. Key Topics We Discuss: Creating private practice as your own accommodation for neurodivergent needsPermission to practice OT authentically without fitting traditional moldsThe power of community and connection for solo practitionersBringing playfulness back into business and clinical workWhy neurodivergent adults need OT services (beyond coaches or counselors)Moving from burnout to sustainable, values-driven practiceUsing AI tools to support clinical workBreaking free from the "shoulds" and finding what actually worksBuilding teams and having vulnerable leadership conversations Who This Episode Is For: OTs feeling stuck in traditional employment settingsSolo practitioners experiencing loneliness and isolationNeurodivergent OTs seeking accommodations in their workAnyone questioning whether they're qualified to work with adult populationsOTs interested in supporting neurodivergent adults Links Mentioned: Breanna's website: authenticlivingot.comContact Breanna: info@authenticliving.comFree Play (book mentioned by Breanna) Comment with your favourite comfort shows. Here are ours: Schitt's CreekGrey's AnatomyFriends30 RockTrue Crime Shows and Podcasts Keep the conversation going in the The BRAVE OT Facebook group. Download the 2025 ACTivate Vitality Analysis Report to see what we are talking about. We are currently accepting new OT business owners into the program so we'd love to hear from you. Book a Clarity Call today. Ready to meet Jane and try out the AI Scribe? As a listener of The BRAVE OT Podcast, we invite you to check out our favourite EMR, Jane.app and use the code VITALITY on your new Jane account for a one month grace period. Questions OTs Are Asking: How can I create a private practice that works for my neurodivergent brain?What support is available for OT business owners?How can I improve my mindset as a business owner?How do I overcome loneliness as a solo practitioner?What's the difference between OT and coaching for neurodivergent adults?How do I bring more play and creativity into my business?Can occupational therapists help adults with executive functioning?Do I need special certifications to work with autistic adults?How do I start working with neurodivergent adults as an OT?What does occupational therapy look like for adults with ADHD? #OTBusiness #NeurodivergentOT #ADHDTherapist #AutismOT #OccupationalTherapy #BRAVEOTPodcast #OTLife #EntrepreneurOT #ACTivateVitality #SustainableBusiness #OTCommunity #PrivatePracticeOT #BusinessOwnerLife #OTSupport #AuthenticPractice
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    1 Std. und 19 Min.
  • Ep. 48: The Mindset Shifts That Move You Through Fear and Into Entrepreneurial Action With Guest, Dr. Lorne Brown

    Ep. 48: The Mindset Shifts That Move You Through Fear and Into Entrepreneurial Action With Guest, Dr. Lorne Brown
    Aug 29 2025
    Waiting until you feel ready to make your next move? Convinced you need more training before you can call yourself an expert? Think entrepreneurs are just naturally fearless? Join me as I talk with traditional Chinese medicine doctor, Dr. Lorne Brown, about the mindset shifts we need to make to move through fear and think like an entrepreneur. Lorne shares how he built a thriving practice by flipping conventional wisdom on its head, committing first to a meaningful challenge, then finding courage, building capability, and finally gaining confidence. You'll hear his adaptation of Dan Sullivan's "Four Cs" framework for tackling scary ventures, how he persisted in building trust with referral partners, even when the doors kept closing, and the real story behind building something meaningful when you have no idea what you're doing. We explore how to reframe rejection as valuable feedback, why your niche might need to choose you, and the inner work (cognitive, emotional and spiritual) required to become a clear vessel for inspired action. This conversation is for any practitioner who's been playing it safe, overthinking their next move, or struggling with the gap between wanting to grow and actually taking action. If you've ever felt paralyzed by not knowing enough or not being ready enough, this episode will shift how you think about courage, competence, and what it really takes to build something that matters. Links mentioned: The 4 Cs Challenge, a book by Dan SullivanDr. Lorne Brown's website www.lornebrown.com where you'll find his: Clinic - Acubalance Wellness CenterBook - "Missing the Point: Why Acupuncturists Fail and What They Need to Know to Succeed" Educational Platform - Healthy Seminars Join us in The BRAVE OT Facebook group to keep the conversation going! Work with Me: If the gap between you and sustainable action in making your business look like your dream job, reach out. The ACTivate Vitality program is taking new participants in September and we are really good at creating the safe space and accountability you need to implement just what Lorne and I talk about in this podcast. Questions OTs are asking: How do I overcome fear of starting my own practice?What mindset do I need to be a successful healthcare entrepreneur?How do I build confidence in my business abilities?What's the difference between successful and struggling practitioners?How do I know when I'm ready to take the leap? Meet Jane Jane is an EMR with heart and also the sponsor of The BRAVE OT Podcast. I recently wrote a blog article on how I customized Jane's AI Scribe feature to write chart notes that are better quality and more occupationally focused than my notes have every been before. Read the blog here and, if you decide to sign up, be sure to use the code VITALITY for a one month grace period as listender of this podcast.
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    56 Min.
  • Ep 47: The Messy Middle of Multiple Income Streams - My Behind-the-Scenes Business Reality

    Ep 47: The Messy Middle of Multiple Income Streams - My Behind-the-Scenes Business Reality
    Aug 8 2025

    How do you define success in your business? Is offering a variety of services scattered and unfocused or a wise path to multiple income streams? Or maybe success isn't about money at all for you?

    I'm pulling back the curtain on my own current business reality, sharing the revenue proportions, time commitments, what energizes me versus what drains me, and the messy truth about having a podcast, online courses, a planner, private practice, and teaching gigs all under one roof.

    You'll hear about my ACTivate Vitality program that represents a third of my income but takes twice the marketing effort I wish it did, my Practical ACT for OTs course that sells itself, and how my planner and podcast make up less than 5% of my revenue but remain worthwhile. I'm also talking about the unexpected pathways between my offerings, and how I make data-driven decisions for sustainable growth in my business satisfaction, and why I've chosen flexibility over indiscriminate scaling.

    This episode is for any OT who's wondering whether they need to niche down or scale up in their business and those questioning how to define success in their own work and life.

    The branches of my business:

    • ACTivate Vitality Personal Development Planner
    • The BRAVE OT Podcast
    • Practical ACT for OTs Course
    • ACTivate Vitality Program
    • Balance Works OT

    Join us in The BRAVE OT Facebook group to keep the conversation going!

    Thanks to Jane for supporting the podcast and providing an EMR OTs can trust. Book a Demo and use the code VITALITY at signup for a one month grace period.

    Questions OTs are asking: How do I create multiple income streams as an OT? What does a successful OT business really look like? How do I balance multiple projects without burning out? Is it better to niche down or diversify? How much money can you make as an entrepreneur OT?
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    31 Min.
  • Ep. 46: Multi-Passionate OTs Creating Work They Love, One Layer at a Time with Guests, Áine O'Dea & Jen Trzeciak

    Ep. 46: Multi-Passionate OTs Creating Work They Love, One Layer at a Time with Guests, Áine O'Dea & Jen Trzeciak
    Aug 1 2025

    Ever feel like you're the only OT who doesn't have their career path mapped out? Like you should have it more figured out by now or you thought you were on the right path and something's not right?

    Meet Áine and Jen, two multi-passionate OTs who've built thriving practices by embracing the messy, non-linear path of figuring it out as they go. From car crashes that changed everything to setting up businesses because "I don't really know what else to do," these two prove that sustainable, fulfilling OT careers don't require having it all planned out.

    What You'll Learn

    We explore how clinical supervision works as real professional development (not just another box to tick), practical ways to combat the isolation of solo practice, why starting with one client is enough to begin, and how to work with your ADHD brain instead of against it. Áine and Jen share the honest reality of career pivots, the power of getting help instead of doing everything yourself, and why the smallest therapeutic moments often create the biggest breakthroughs.

    This episode is for multi-passionate OTs feeling scattered, anyone considering private practice but overwhelmed by where to start, OTs feeling isolated in their current work, and those ready to stop apologizing for not having a traditional career path.

    Connect with Our Guests

    • Áine O'Dea Radiance Consulting Website, LinkedIn and Instagram
    • Jen Trzeciak Way Ahead Therapy Website, LinkedIn and Instagram
    • Listen to the Irish Occupational Therapy Podcast Website and Instagram
    • Private Practitioners Networking Summit: September 20th, Dublin
    • Emails available on their respective social media profiles

    Join the Conversation

    Head over to The BRAVE OT Facebook group to continue this conversation about supervision, private practice, and owning our professional worth. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

    Explore the ACTivate Vitality Planner

    The personal development planner (made by me!) that blends science and soul to guide you towards a vibrant, authentic, values-driven life. Now is a great time for a new start! Check it out here.

    Change Your Relationship with Documentation

    Not only will you get to explore the tool that we have all been wishing for that magically makes great chart notes while you're busy working directly with your client, you can also use my code VITALITY for a one month grace period on your new Jane account. Book a demo today.
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    1 Std. und 7 Min.