The Jeneralist

The story of Breaking Trail OT.  Talking about the challenges of running a small OT practice and it's closing. Nicola and Jen share their final reflections and learnings since the closure of BTOT. 

Hosted by Jen Taubensee with season cohost Nicola Schaan 

The story of Breaking Trail OT.  Talking about the risks involved in running an OT practice. 

Hosted by Jen Taubensee with season cohost Nicola Schaan 

The story of Breaking Trail OT.  Exploring the power and importance of relationships in a small OT practice. 

Hosted by Jen Taubensee with season cohost Nicola Schaan 

The story of Breaking Trail OT.  Exploring the values of a small OT practice. 

Hosted by Jen Taubensee with season cohost Nicola Schaan 

Introducing the story of Breaking Trail OT, an OT business from side hustle to closure. Exploring the topics of 

Hosted by Jen Taubensee with season cohost Nicola Schaan 

Conversation with Sarah Good. Topics include:  mindfulness as a restful occupation,  empathy vs compassion and ways to incorporate mindfulness into your life and practice. 

Guest: Sarah Good OT(Reg) ON

Host: Jen Taubensee  OT (Reg) BC

Music by David Hyde

Sarah lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario as an occupational therapist and mindfulness teacher.

Both in her personal and professional life, she use nature and mindfulness meditation to bring calm and joy to each day- often incorporating a walk into treatment sessions or by leading a meditation.

She has been working as an occupational therapist for 18 years and have been practicing mindfulness meditation regularly for about as long. Sarah completed an intensive training program at the Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic.  In 2020, she launched a mindfulness program called Deepen Your Practice: Mindfulness for Occupational Therapists which is now in its second offering.

Currently Sarah is the Topic Editor for the Women's Health column in Occupational Therapy Now. Sarah Presents to other occupational therapists in the areas of mindfulness, pain management, women's health and sleep through the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

www.SarahGoodOT.ca   

Join the Mindful OTs Group on facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/194121812399872 

Contact The Jeneralist at [email protected]

Conversation with Rachel Thibeault. An international researcher and OT 

Topics include: Resilience, Meaning Focused Evaluation, Community based and driven development and social justice. 

Guest: Rachel Thibeault, O.C., Ph.D, FCAOT. 

Host: Jen Taubensee  OT (Reg) BC

Music by David Hyde

An occupational therapist who also holds a Ph.D. in psychology, Rachel specializes in Community-Based Rehabilitation, psychological resilience, and peer support in vulnerable populations. For the past 40 years, as a clinician or as part of her teaching and research career at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, Rachel has worked worldwide in complex contexts such as war zones and hard-to-access areas. In 2002, she received the CAOT Muriel Driver Award. In 2013, she was awarded the title of Officer of the Order of Canada and, in 2015, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Society of International Health and an Honorary Degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Now a consultant on resilience and psychological wellbeing, she provides training in a broad range of settings, from medical agencies and governmental organizations to student bodies and cancer groups, to name a few.

“I’m an occupational therapist, an obscure profession if there

ever was one. We are few and far between, maybe because

we have chosen to serve people with disabilities. All disabilities.

Not a glamorous endeavour, nor a lucrative one.

And I say serve because we deem that in helping we see

weakness, while in serving we see wholeness. We’ve opted

for wholeness nearly a century ago and have been at odds

with the system ever since. We don’t fix people, you see:

with them, we simply try to find a way to meaning, balance,

and justice. I chose occupational therapy because it

blends science and humanism, intellectual rigour and compassion.”

― Rachel Thibeault

Contact The Jeneralist at [email protected] 

Conversation with Pamela Russel leader of OT-Works! serving vancouvera area in BC. Topics include: Being a leader, connecting as a team and coping and healing through stories 

Guest: Pamela Russell, BSc, BSc(OT), MSc

Host: Jen Taubensee  OT (Reg) BC

Music by David Hyde

Pamela graduated from OT school at McGill University 22 years ago. Prior to that she obtained a bachelors degree in biology and psychology, and a masters degree in physiology (when she decided she likes humans more than frogs!) She started her practice in BC, and began leading OT Works! 19 years ago.

She’s been an active member of the CAOT-BC Private Practice Business Network since June 2009. More recently, she’s been a Member of the BC Occupational Therapy Workforce Collaborative. She’s been certified by Essential Impacts Coaching, and in the Progressive Goal Attainment Program.

She has been accepted by the Supreme Court of British Columbia as an expert in the areas of Occupational Therapy and the Assessment of Cost-of-Future Care.

Pamela’s practice has focused primarily on mental health, concussion, and chronic pain, facilitating return to work, return to life. She sees each client and their situation as unique and feels it is a privilege to be part of their recovery journey. She’s incredibly grateful to her team of creative, resourceful and inspiring occupational therapists at OT Works! and the amazing culture of collaboration they’ve grown together

www.ot-works.com               [email protected] 

Contact The Jeneralist at [email protected] 

Conversation with Moira exploring Sensory and Presenting Conferences. Topics include: creating and presenting a CAOT conference, reframing OT as lifestyle interventions and Moira shares how a change in the Autism diagnosis is leading to more funding for sensory related research and medical professionals turning to OTs for guidance on intervention. 

Guest: Moira Peña, BPHE, BScOT, MOT Reg. (Ont.)

Host: Jen Taubensee  OT (Reg) BC

Music by David Hyde

Moira Peña, BPHE, BScOT, MOT Reg. (Ont.) is an experienced occupational therapist who has dedicated her career to working with individuals across the lifespan who experience sensory processing, behavioural and emotional challenges. She holds training credentials from the STAR (Sensory Therapies and Research) Institute for Sensory Processing in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., the premier clinic for the treatment of children and adolescents with sensory processing challenges. She is currently in the process of completing her training to become a Certified Solution-Focused Healthcare Coach.

Moira works at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto with children and youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or other developmental disorders. She is an Expert Hub Team member of the ECHO Ontario Autism Program which aims to support and further develop pediatricians’ and school psychologists’ skills to screen, diagnose, and manage children and youth with ASD in Ontario. Her research interests focus on how children’s overall behaviours and abilities to participate in daily activities at home and at school can be improved through the use of sensory processing strategies. Moira holds a Status Appointment as a Lecturer in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto.

Moira’s work experience includes two years as an occupational therapist in an adult in-patient Eating Disorders program in London, U.K. She has also been a a Mental Health Consultant to Veteran Affairs Canada for the last 15 years and works with Veterans to address symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder through solution-focused and cognitive behavioural techniques within a strengths-based occupational therapy framework.

www.moirapena.com.      Instagram @MoiraPena_OT            Twitter @MoiraPenaOT

Contact The Jeneralist at [email protected] 

Conversation with Bronwen exploring play. Topics include starting with spirit and strength, occupation is enough, and OT-ing yourself.

Guest: Bronwen Poultney MSc(OT) AB

Host: Jen Taubensee  OT (Reg) BC

Bronwen graduated from the University of Alberta OT program in 2011, following an undergraduate degree in English and Psychology. Since then he has worked for Qi Creative Inc., a private practice in Alberta serving children and their families through success coaching, celebration of strengths and collaboration to create meaningful learning. Since 2017, Bronwen has worked part time for Qi, splitting his time between the Edmonton area and his tiny homestead in Invermere, BC. Bronwen loves skateboarding, snowboarding, beekeeping, travelling with his partner in their 1982 Volkswagen van (Buttercup), writing, and watching Ru Paul’s drag race with his pets

Music by David Hyde

Contact The Jeneralist at [email protected]