If you’re an Occupational Therapist feeling stretched by long waiting lists, high demand, or the emotional weight of supporting neurodivergent families, this episode may be exactly what you need.

In Episode 111, host Beki Eakins speaks with Anna Willis, a highly specialised Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner, about how she transitioned from a traditional, high-pressure clinical service into creating Calm Club - a parent-led online programme that is transforming home life for families.

This conversation explores what happens when we stop focusing solely on “fixing the child” and instead support parents to understand sensory needs and develop their own self-regulation. By shifting the model, outcomes improve, families feel more empowered, and practitioners reduce burnout while reclaiming their time and energy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

- Why traditional one-to-one OT services often lead to exhaustion and waiting lists
- The importance of supporting the parent’s nervous system as well as the child’s
- How sensory integration can be embedded into everyday family routines
- The practical steps involved in shifting from a clinic-based approach to an online programme
- What sustainable, neuroaffirming practice looks like in real home environments
- How Calm Club creates more capacity, calm and connection for families and practitioners alike

If you’re considering evolving your practice, offering support online, or simply want deeper insight into sensory regulation within families, this episode will be valuable, grounding and inspiring.

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Meet Anna 
Anna Willis is a highly specialised occupational therapist and Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner. She is the director of Active Play Therapies, an independent Dorset based occupational therapy and clinical psychology practice. Anna set Calm Club up following the never ending demand for sensory-based support for neurodiverse children, and her own experience of becoming a parent and experiencing overwhelm, requiring her to put her regulation theory and skills into direct practice for herself and her family. 

 Anna loves being creative and playful, and following this passion to support neurodiverse families is creating a growing platform to support parents to tap into this for themselves. Calm Club pulls on sensory integration theory, emotional regulation techniques and play - for all ages. Anna is passionate about combining her ‘bricks and mortar’ and online worlds together to create a truly excellent service for families to feel supported, whilst allowing Anna the time to spend with her own family. 

You can follow Anna at @annawillisot on Instagram and Anna Willis OT on Facebook. To find more about Calm Club, click here.

01:25 – Starting Active Play Therapies
Anna shares how and why she moved from the NHS into independent paediatric OT practice.

04:53 – The Waiting List Problem
The moment Anna realised the traditional model was no longer sustainable for her or for families.

06:17 – The Birth of Calm Club
How becoming a parent and experiencing overwhelm reshaped her understanding of regulation and support.

10:38 – Supporting the Family System, Not Just the Child
The shift from intervention on the child to empowerment with the parent.

31:52 – Money Mindset & Sustainable Practice
Anna reflects on pricing, accessibility, and why charging appropriately allows better quality support.

About the Podcast

OT Yourself To Freedom Podcast helps occupational therapists create a life and business they love. Host Beki Eakins shares practical tips, strategies, and real-world stories to inspire your journey to freedom

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