What happens when your business feels out of alignment with who you are and you’re brave enough to admit it?

In this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Jess Reynolds, a collaborator and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and educator, to talk about what it really looks like to reimagine your life and work from the inside out.

In this discussion we explore some of our lived and learned experiences including:

• How inner work shapes outer success—and why it’s often the part we skip

• The hidden spiritual and identity layers of burnout

• Why teaching can be the best way to learn (especially the stuff you most need yourself)

• Disrupting default ways of practicing to make room for deeper alignment

• The introvert table, mindfulness beyond meditation, and laundry piles as existential mirrors

Whether you're an OT in private practice, an educator, or a healing professional trying to find your footing, this is a real conversation about being human in your work.

I think you'll find ah-has in:

• Jess’s experience pivoting from teaching technique to teaching transformation

• The gap between what practitioners need and what they actually seek out in CE

• Why "just be yourself" isn’t always accessible—and how to honor your capacity

• The shift from pre-recorded courses to community-based learning

• Personal stories of burnout, grief, reinvention, and finding flow again

Mentioned:

• Jess's Free Course https://aimonline.com/wellness-practice-essentials-page

• Book a demo with the Jane App and be sure to use my code VITALITY at the time of signup for a one month grace period on your new account.

• Carlyn's ACTivate Vitality Group Coaching Program

 

• Keep the conversation going in The BRAVE OT Podcast Facebook Group

Connect with Jess:

• Instagram: @drjessreynolds

• Website: https://aimonline.com/

Connect with Carlyn:

• Instagram: @balanceworksOT

• Podcast home: https://www.braveot.com

🎧 Subscribe to The BRAVE OT Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A Lunchroom Conversation with STEMinist Fiction Author and OT, Jaima Fixsen

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jaima Fixsen, a Canadian occupational therapist and USA Today bestselling author who writes STEMinist fiction novels while balancing roles as a mom and OT. We dive deep into how she uses her OT skills to support her creative work and manage the unstructured nature of writing and the midlife desire to shift into new, more aligned occupations. Spoiler alert: tap dancing and sourdough didn't work out.

Whether you're an OT interested in creative pursuits, managing your own practice, or simply curious about applying OT principles to your own life and work, this conversation offers valuable insights about embracing new occupations while honoring our professional identity.

 

Key Topics We Discuss:

• How Jaima transitioned from full-time OT to splitting her time between clinical practice and writing as a PAID occupation
• The concept of "middle-essence" - finding new occupations and meaning in midlife transitions
• Using OT strategies to manage executive function demands of creative work
• Creating sensory-rich writing routines to support focus and flow
• Setting boundaries and implementing behavioural strategies for productivity
• The fascinating historical background of her latest novel "The Specimen" set in 1828 Edinburgh
• The evolution of medical ethics and consent in anatomical studies
• Supporting local bookstores 

 

OT Insights to Apply in Your Own Work:

• Strategies for managing unstructured work time
• Creating supportive sensory environments
• Breaking down large projects into manageable chunks
• Setting appropriate goals and rewards
• Managing perfectionism and task initiation
• Techniques to find creative flow and stay healthy

 

Resources Mentioned:

• The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen - find it at your local bookstore
• Get 2 free audiobooks at Libro.fm while supporting a local bookstore of your choice
• Learn more about Jaima Fixsen
• Instagram: @byjaimafixsen
• ACTivate Vitality, my program and community for OT business owners
• Explore the Jane.app's time-saving writing features, including my fave AI Scribe, with a one month grace period on your new account using the code VITALITY

Episode Summary:

Is perfectionism keeping you stuck in “figure-it-all-out-first” mode? You’re not alone and you’re not broken. In this solo episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I explore a powerful reframe for occupational therapy entrepreneurs who stay in perfecting mode, immobilized by self-doubt and a need to get it right before they begin. Maybe you even use the term imposter syndrome. The antidote? The scientific method. Yes, the same framework we trust as clinicians. I walk through how we can approach entrepreneurship like the clinical scientists we already are. Instead of waiting until something is perfect, we can co-create, experiment, observe, revise, and grow. This shift can unlock so much momentum, clarity, and confidence in your business. AND it's best practice in entrepreneurship. I also share some behind-the-scenes updates: from developing a university course on entrepreneurship, to guest teaching, to getting ready for Bronwyn Paynter's Nature Day in Australia, and how all of it connects back to how we show up bravely in our work. This episode is here to help you move forward. One experiment at a time.

 

In This Episode:

• Why perfectionism is so common among high-achieving OTs

• What imposter syndrome really means (and why I rarely use the term)

• How the scientific method can be your best business tool

• What entrepreneurship and treatment planning have in common

• Why selling while you're testing matters more than you think

• How ACTivate Vitality helps therapy business owners build inner flexibility to navigate outer challenges

 

Interested in joining me at the Nature Day in Australia?

Learn more here → https://bit.ly/NatureDay2025

 

Want to learn about working with me?

I'd love to talk to you about supporting you as the whole person at the centre of your business with a community, collaborative support, human connection, and a proven transformative process to make your business and your life feel more aligned. Let's talk about ACTivate Vitality. Check it out and book a time to connect here: https://www.balanceworks.online/avprogram

 

A note from Jane:

Switch to Jane to make documentation easier with my new best friend, AI Scribe. If you'd like to meet Jane, book a personalized introduction call and you can also use my code VITALITY for a one month grace period on your new account.

In this episode, we hear from Jenny Gill and Krista Frahm, both occupational therapists and copywriters, as they discuss the dynamics of their professional relationship and the balance between collaboration and competition. They explore their individual journeys in the field, the importance of finding one's niche, and the challenges they faced when their paths intersected. The conversation delves into dealing with professional insecurities, the role of AI in copywriting, and practical advice for marketing occupational therapy services. You'll will gain insights into the value of collaboration, the nuances of creating effective marketing strategies, and the necessity of being courageous in business.

 

Join us in conversation about this podcast episode in our new online community.

It's in a Facebook Group called The BRAVE OT Podcast - Let's Discuss!

Jenny and Krista have shared some free resources that will be linked in the group.

• Krista's free training about testimonials
• Jenny's 5 Copywriting Mistakes Made By OTs (and how to fix them)

 

You can also follow both on Instagram: Jenny Gill   Krista Frahm

And check out their websites: 

https://www.kristafrahmagency.com/

 https://jennygillcopywriting.com/ 

 

🩵 And a big shoutout to our podcast sponsor, Jane.app. I'm grateful to be connected to this organization that feels deeply values-aligned. Did you know Jane won a 2025 Bronze Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year – Computer Software! Out of 2,100+ entries from around the world, it's no surprize that Jane’s world-class support stood out.

🩵 If you're ready to check Jane out, head over and book a demo HERE for a one month grace period on a new account. 

 

 

On this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I get to sit in the interviewee seat as OT student, Jacqueline Buhler, asks me questions about being an OT business owner!  Jacqueline brings her entrepreneurial spirit and curiosity as we discuss my experiences and reflections on choices I made and ways I adapted at different phases of my OT career and business.  We draw some parallels between the transition from OT student to emerging clinician and from OT to OT entrepreneurship, revealing how different traits and skills facilitate success. We explore how traits like adaptability, flexibiity, curiosity, self-awareness, and creative problem-solving are valuable skills to develop.   This authentic dialogue offers both validation and practical insights for OTs questioning their entrepreneurial potential or wondering how to leverage their natural traits while charting their own unique path in practice. ________________   ACTivate Vitality is currently open for OT entrepreneurs like you if you would like to grow personally and professionally as the whole person at the centre of your business. Send me an email if this sounds like you! [email protected] _______________ Reach our guest host, soon to be emerging OT, Jacqueline for networking on this Google Form. ________________ A shout-out to our sponsor, Jane, the EMR with heart. To see how Jane can help you reclaim your evenings and weekends, head over and meet Jane to book a personalized demo and, if you’re ready to get started, you can use the code VITALITY at the time of sign-up for a 1-month grace period applied to your new account.

This podcast conversation explores supervision in occupational therapy with Lynsay McFarlane-Shaw. Lyndsay brings 30 years of pediatric OT experience and has evolved her career to focus on supervision and mentorship.  We discuss the the concept of supervision in the UK as well as various other ways OTs support each other like coaching and mentorship.  If you've ever wondered about ways to enhance your professional development or support others in theirs, this conversation will give you plenty to think about. To connect with Lynsay

Five Tools You Need in Your Supervision Toolbox

Lynsay's Facebook Group

ACTivate Vitality is Accepting OT Business Owners The ACTivate Vitality program is opening up for 10 new members in March, 2025. It is a thriving community of OT business owners who support each other, collaborate, co-conspire, co-regulate, and help you not be alone in private practice. Together we build core skills from acceptance and commitment therapy to be more grounded and mindful in our practices, in our work, in our lives, aligning our actions in all domains with our values. We create community so that we can move forward in blazing some trails and doing the things that really matter, building more flow and satisfaction in our lives. Book a Clarity Call with Carlyn to explore this possibility.

 

To see how Jane can help you focus more on your clients than your costs, book your personalized demo today. If  you're ready to get started, you can use the code VITALITY at the time of signup for a one-month grace period applied to your new account.

Whether you're just starting a new OT business, or considering developing a new product, technology, or moving in the direction of retirement, I think you'll find a lot of value in this episode. I am excited to be talking to my friend and colleague, Ruth Duggan.  In this episode, we talk about a lot of parallels between the process of starting a business or a product and the familiar assessment and intervention process we use as OTs.  We share about our experiences in the early days of starting our businesses and how we've developed new offers and products. Ruth gives us a peek into how she is preparing for that next phase of her business where she's less active in it, and how she is leaving a legacy by transferring her knowledge through the development of an app and related training. You are invited to connect with Ruth at: [email protected] Cornerstone Occupational Therapy Consultants Cornerstone OT Consulting for Therapists Transitions Vocational Assessment App  Transferable Skills Analysis Online Education ______________________________________ We are still looking for participants for our research on the Cognitive Behavioural and Sensory Job Demands Analysis digital assessment tool. Learn more here: CoBS-JDA ______________________________________ OT Business Owners Need Community  The  ACTivate Vitality program is opening up in March, 2025 for our next cohort. It is a thriving community of OT business owners who support each other, collaborate, co-conspire, co-regulate, and help you not be alone in private practice. Together we build core skills from acceptance and commitment therapy to be more grounded and mindful in our practices, in our work, in our lives, aligning our actions in all domains with our values. We create community so that we can move forward in blazing some trails and doing the things that really matter, building more flow and satisfaction in our lives. Book a Clarity Call with Carlyn to explore this possibility. ______________________________________  To see how Jane can help you reclaim your evenings and weekends, book your personalized demo today. Or if  you're ready to get started, you can use the code VITALITY at the time of signup for a one-month grace period applied to your new account.

I am thrilled to share this authentic and vulnerable conversation with you. My guest is Dr. Fiona Lovely. You may know her from her mindblowing podcast, Not Your Mother's Menopause.

With two decades of experience, Dr. Lovely is a trailblazer in women's health. Specifically focusing on the menopause transition, perimenopause and menopause.

Stick with us on this vulnerable and passionate conversation because in it, we share stories of our own experiences and highlight how community and connection are the bedrock for growth and healing in a health system that has only begun to prioritize women's health.

Dr. Lovely helps us understand the growing evidence and debunks misconceptions in the menopause narrative. Spoiler alert, but there's a lot in here about social justice and a little bit of swearing.

We talk about the mental and physiological shifts women encounter during this time of renovation in our bodies and in our brains, and some myths about cognitive decline. 

This episode is packed with wisdom, practical advice, and a heartfelt big sister kind of conversation. Whether you're an occupational therapist, someone in their 30s and 40s experiencing symptoms you didn't know were perimenopause, or you're simply interested in understanding this vital aspect of health, there's so much here for you.

_______________________________________

Links to resources mentioned in the podcast:

Dr. Fiona Lovely's Website: drlovely.com

Podcast: Not Your Mother's Menopause with Dr. Fiona Lovely

Menopause Doula Society

Dr. Lisa Musconi - Neuroscience & Women's Health

AMS Menopause Symptom Scorecard

_______________________________________

Are you a therapy business owner seeking a community of support as the whole person at the centre of your business?

We will be accepting applicants to the ACTivate Vitality program and community in late January. Let's see if this is a good fit for you by visiting our site.

_______________________________________

A shoutout to our sponsor, Jane.app

Jane is an EMR with heart. Book your demo today and be sure to use the code VITALITY for a one month grace period. 

When I learned ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), it changed my OT practice and it changed how I navigate my own life. This is why I have created so many things that include ACT concepts - the ACTivate Vitality coaching program for OT business owners who want to thrive without the hustle, the ACTivate Vitality Personal Development Planner, and the Practical ACT for OTs course... that last one has a Black Friday promo coming out later this week. This podcast is taken from a presentation I did recently in a Facebook group for mental health OTs called MHOT ~ A Collective. It's a helpful introduction to using ACT as a modality in your OT practice to facilitate occupational engagement, particularly when clients are stuck in patterns of avoidance of difficult thoughts, feelings, or sensations. ✴️✴️Head to the Practical ACT for OTs course website to sign up to be notified when the Black Friday early bird registration and promo opens up or when the course officially starts toward the end of January, 2025.✴️✴️   Here are some resources mentioned in this episode:

Balance Works OT - Carlyn's OT practice 

Balance Works - Carlyn's personal and professional develoment services  

• ACTivate Vitality Program and Mastermind for OTs who want to THRIVE without the HUSTLE
• ACTivate Vitality Personal Development Planner 
• Practical ACT for OTs Clinical Education
• Vitality Guide - free download with ACT starter resources

ACT Made Simple Facebook Group Choice Point - Russ Harris MHOT ~ A Collective Facebook Group Meet Jane and get a one month grace period on your new Jane account with the code VITALITY.   Article Cited: Dindo L, Van Liew JR, Arch JJ. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: A Transdiagnostic Behavioral Intervention for Mental Health and Medical Conditions. Neurotherapeutics. 2017 Jul;14(3):546-553. doi: 10.1007/s13311-017-0521-3. PMID: 28271287; PMCID: PMC5509623.     Shoutout to our sponsor, Jane, the all-in-one practice management software we love. To see how Jane can help you reclaim your evenings and weekends, head over and meet Jane to book a personalized demo and, if you’re ready to get started, you can use the code VITALITY at the time of sign-up for a 1-month grace period applied to your new account.

This discussion with our guest, BRAVE OT, Erin Clarelli, brings together heart and mind as we dive into conversations that challenge norms, embrace unique perspectives, and foster the growth and vitality we strive for every day in our professional and personal lives. I am beyond excited to welcome Erin Clarelli to the pod! Erin is a force in the world of OT, deeply committed to mental health, self-compassion, and creating supportive spaces for neurodivergent individuals. She is highly involved in the non-, minimally, and unreliably speaking autistic community in her own private practice, SUNRISE Therapies. She is a passionate advocate and ally and a supportive agent of change for occupational therapists in this specific area of the autistic community.  Erin is here to share her wisdom, insights, and stories that will inspire you to rethink your approach, nourish your passion, and perhaps even spark a little bit of rebellion against the status quo. Be sure to check out Erin's online courses and mentorship programs at OT Level Up  and download the free OT Impact Blueprint. Follow Erin on social: Instagram -  Sunrise Therapies  Facebook - Erin Clarelli ________________________________   The ACTivate Vitality Personal Development Planner is available on Amazon. Learn more and find links to purchase on Carlyn's Website. ________________________________ To see how the Jane.app can help you reclaim your evenings and weekends, head over and meet Jane to book a personalized demo. As a listener of The BRAVE OT Podcast, you are invited to use the code VITALITY at the time of sign-up for a 1-month grace period on your new account.