Introducing Growing Strong Roots: an OT's guide to  parenting, self-regulation, and resilience

Obstacles and setbacks are an important part of self-discovery, and my challenges have assisted me in finding the most authentic path and career choice. In this podcast, I'm going to share how I've navigated my own setbacks and how I use those experiences when working with kids and families.  As a mom and an occupational therapist working with families for many years, I've seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be to raise sturdy children. My goal is to share science-based strategies, real-life stories and resources that can help you nourish those roots so that you and the children in your life can grow stronger, sturdier, and more resilient.  At Oak Bloom OT, we provide holistic occupational therapy for children focusing on increasing functional life skills through interest-based learning and family involvement. Show notes: Growing Strong Roots: About Me and OT 00:00 — Introduction Welcome from Lee-Anne Bloom, occupational therapist and host. Overview of Oak Bloom OT and the podcast’s mission. 00:28 — Why This Podcast? Lee-Anne shares her motivation for starting the podcast and her goal to provide science-based strategies and real-life stories for parents and caregivers. 00:51 — Let’s Grow Together Encouragement to join in nurturing resilience and potential in children and families. 00:58 — About Lee-Anne: Personal Journey Lee-Anne introduces herself, her background as an OT and a mom, and how personal challenges shaped her career path. 01:19 — What is Occupational Therapy? Explanation of OT, its focus on meaningful daily activities, and Lee-Anne’s experience in various settings. 02:06 — Personal Experience as a Parent Lee-Anne discusses being both a provider and consumer of OT, especially for her neurodiverse son. 02:31 — A Diverse Background How Lee-Anne’s varied career experiences (art, teaching, design, etc.) inform her OT practice. 02:55 — Overcoming Challenges Facing disabilities, undiagnosed ADHD, chronic pain, and how these experiences foster empathy and creativity. 03:18 — Family Influence The impact of her father’s physical disability and positive attitude. 04:09 — Sensory Sensitivities Lee-Anne’s own sensory challenges and adaptations, and how they relate to her work with children. 04:32 — Embracing Differences The importance of creativity and determination in problem-solving for neurodiverse kids. 05:19 — Creative Approaches for Unique Kids How Lee-Anne helps strong-willed and sensory-sensitive children with tailored strategies. 06:02 — Understanding Atypical Learners Reframing “laziness” as a lack of adaptation or motivation, and helping kids find their strengths. 06:41 — Nonlinear Career Path Viewing past career changes as valuable steps toward her current work. 07:09 — Helping Families Thrive Combining broad experience and clinical training to support families. 07:32 — The Importance of ‘Armor’ Sensory tools and adaptations for children, and emotional tools for parents. 07:58 — Parent Coaching The value of collaborative parent sessions in OT. 08:24 — The ‘Ferret’ Approach Encouraging children to follow their interests and develop unique strengths, despite distractions like screens. 08:47 — Discovering Strengths Helping kids and parents find coping tools and strategies for hard things. 09:00 — Raising a ‘Hard Kid’ Lee-Anne’s personal experiences with her son’s sensory sensitivities and daily challenges. 09:14 — Progress and Coping Strategies How systems and strategies have evolved to support her son’s independence and self-reliance. 09:41 — Refining Solutions Together The ongoing process of finding customized solutions for families. 10:34 — Closing Thoughts Lee-Anne’s message of resilience, growth, and encouragement to reach out for support. 10:54 — Contact & Outro Invitation to connect via social media or OakbloomOT.com, and thanks for listening. Questions? Comments? Suggestions for future episodes? leave a comment here, contact us at https://www.oakbloomot.com/contact Transcript: [00:00:00] Hello and welcome to Growing Strong Roots, an occupational therapist's perspective on parenting, self-regulation, and resilience. I'm your host, Lee-Anne Bloom, owner and occupational therapist at Oak Bloom OT in Oakland, California. At Oak Bloom, we provide holistic occupational therapy for children focusing on increasing functional life skills through interest-based learning and family involvement. [00:00:27] As a mom and a therapist working with families for many years, I've seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be to raise sturdy children. My goal is to share science-based strategies, real-life stories and resources that can help you nourish those roots so that you and the children in your life can grow stronger, sturdier, and more resilient. [00:00:50] Let's root down together, water those roots so individuals and families can bloom to their fullest potential. [00:00:58] Hi, I'm ...