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I’m joined by fellow OT Sarah Anderson—an incredible therapist with over a decade of experience, now specializing in mental health. We dive deep into the intersection of OT and anxiety, especially how it shows up in neurodivergent kids with ADHD or autism.

Sarah shares her journey into the mental health field and offers powerful insights into identifying anxiety patterns, supporting emotional regulation, and creating environments that help kids feel safe during transitions. If you’ve ever wondered how OT can support your child’s mental health—especially when it comes to anxiety—you won’t want to miss this one.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Understanding Anxiety in Occupational Therapy
• Anxiety's function and origin
• Neurodivergence and its connection to anxiety
• Importance of understanding the base of anxiety for treatment
• Identifying Sources of Anxiety
• Patterns and manifestations of anxiety
• Anxiety's connection to neurodivergent conditions
• Sensory processing components
• Parent’s Role in Identifying Anxiety
• Observing and understanding child’s anxiety
• Early detection and support strategies
• Transition and routine change management
• Connecting Emotions, Feelings, and Body Responses
• Differentiating between feelings and emotions
• Interoception and alexithymia
• Methods to help children identify and express emotions
• Supporting Children Through Anxiety
• Tolerating discomfort and managing anxiety
• Environmental adjustments and tools
• Co-regulation and independence
• Therapy Approaches and Sessions
• What to expect in occupational therapy sessions
• Family-focused therapeutic approaches
• Sensory processing and executive functioning
• Progress and Emotional Management

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• Elevated Wellbeing OT
• Occupational Therapy For The Anxious Child
• How Occupational Therapy Can Help The Anxiety Epidemic
• A Chameleon Tale Book
• A Chameleon Tale Book Guide
• Episode 1: Unveiling the role of OT in Homeschooling
• Episode 9: The Impact of Music on Executive Functioning: A Homeschooling Perspective
• Bonus Episode: Parenthood and Homeschooling: Choosing the Right Activities for a Balanced Lifestyle
• Episode 13: Beyond the Five Senses: Understanding Your Child's Interoceptive World with Cara Kosinski
• Episode 14: Outdoor Activities to Develop Interoception in Children with Guest Caroline Santangelo
• Episode 15: From Morning to Night: Incorporating Social Emotional Learning in Homeschool
• Episode 16: Navigating the Interoceptive Sense: Insights and Strategies for Parents
• Episode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and Parenting
• What Are Executive Functioning Skills?
• Field Trips Can Build Executive Functioning

Connect with our Guest, Sarah Anderson

Dr. Sarah Anderson is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Elevated Wellbeing OT in Scottsdale, Arizona. She specializes in mental health, trauma, addiction recovery, and life transitions, using a neuroaffirming, client-centered approach to help individuals build sustainable habits and routines that foster resilience and well-being. With advanced training in perinatal mental health, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, and emotional intelligence (EQ-i 2.0, MSCEIT), she integrates sensory processing, cognitive strategies, and somatic-based interventions to support emotional regulation and recovery.

Dr. Anderson contracts with Scottsdale Providence Recovery Center, providing occupational therapy for individuals in addiction and mental health recovery at the PHP, IOP, and OP levels of care. She incorporates Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and sensory-based interventions to support anxiety, executive functioning, and neurodivergence, with a specialization in working with Autistic individuals and those with ADHD.

After seven years as a full-time faculty member at Midwestern University, Dr. Anderson recently stepped back to expand into a group practice. She continues to serve as an adjunct instructor, teaching the mental health curriculum and mentoring future occupational therapists.