OT ~ What's your focus?

One word describes the wonderful 'grassroots' enterprise Weekday Wow Factor and that's inspirational! During this episode, I chat with Pasna Sallis about her pursuit of a holistic, accessible, person-centered OT enterprise within the third sector, and how she has developed her daytime disco from the ground up. This episode is packed full of Pasna's wonderful stories working with people, with her drive and passion to reduce isolation being evident from the start.  If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on!  You can also get in touch in the following ways: Follow me on Twitter @farrah_money Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus  Email:[email protected] Recommendations  Reflections on Doing, Being, and Becoming - Ann Allart Wilcock (1998) information on finding the article is below:  Wilcock AA. Reflections on Doing, Being and Becoming. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1998;65(5):248-256. doi:10.1177/000841749806500501 Elizabeth Townsend -  Townsend E. Occupational Therapy’s Social Vision. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1993;60(4):174-184. doi:10.1177/000841749306000403 There is also an episode here on OT what's your focus with Elizabeth so do try to check that out if you haven't already! 

Today's guest is Kim Griffin a sensory expert from Australia based in London. Kim graduated as an occupational therapist over 20 years ago and has worked for many of those years in paediatrics. We discuss a vast range of areas from ASI through to frameworks and outcome measures. If you are keen to know more about sensory integration and the area of sensory work as an occupational therapist or student then this episode will certainly offer that! Kims recommendations include:   Podcast by Dr Chatterjee with guest Dr. Judson Brewer who is a Psychiatrist and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Medicine at the University of Massachusett who discuss anxiety & addiction. Available on the following link:  https://drchatterjee.com/coronavirus-special-how-to-manage-anxiety-in-the-face-of-a-global-pandemic/  Link to Kim's website page on sensory diets and processing and Twitter links -  https://www.griffinot.com/sensory-strategies-sensory-diets-sensory-processing-sensory-integration/  Twitter: @Griffin_OT  Website: Griffinot.com  If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on!  You can also get in touch in the following ways: Follow me on Twitter @farrah_money Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus  Email:[email protected]

In this episode, I consider what bread and butter occupational therapy is. Is it a real thing? Does it exist? What are your thoughts on the matter? Regardless of the setting you may be working in; this episode acts as a real-time reflection using responses via an online poll I performed to guide and expand the discussion. Continue this discussion with me online, all views/opinions are welcome.

If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! 

You can also get in touch in the following ways - 

Follow me on Twitter @farrah_money 

Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus 

Email:[email protected]

Today's discussion is with Randall who lives in Cape Town South Africa. In this episode, Randall tells his story of how he came to be quadriplegic as a young boy and the impact this has had on him growing up. We discuss Randalls work in his community and the joy he gets from wheelchair dancing and mouth painting. I found Randall's story both moving and inspirational and I have no doubt you will too! Randalls recommendation  Link to the Youtube Video Randall and his technicolor dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nugwqSL4IM  Randalls Instagram details: randallwynkwart1980  There are also images to see of Randall and his paintings on my social media OT_whatsyourfocus as well as the Youtube video on my Twitter.  This is the link to the wish list I have created for Randall (You may need to log in on a PC to cut and paste the link). As I mentioned in the episode I will keep this open until the end of October and will ship later this year. The link will also be available on my social media following the airing of the show. https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1X6ZK0WMP4OBG?ref_=wl_share  If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! You can also get in touch in the following ways - Follow me on Twitter @farrah_money Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus Email:[email protected]

Today's guest is Laura Dunger. Laura graduated from the University of Northampton in 2011 and is currently completing her Masters in Advanced Occupational Therapy at the University of Salford (finishing this summer!). Laura has spent most of her post-graduate experience working within Forensic CAMHS. Since 2018 she has worked within a unique role, employed as a CAMHS Occupational Therapist working with children and young people who come into contact with our local acute hospital. These young people often experience significant physical symptoms such as not being able to move, eat, walk, significant fatigue, and/or pain that doesn't have an obvious biological cause but is associated with psychological health. These are often referred to as somatic, psychosomatic symptoms, functional, or medically unexplained symptoms.

Laura also has the capacity to see young people where their mental and physical health is impacting on participation, such as young people who have sleep disorders, significant obesity, chronic conditions, and eating disorders (such as young people admitted acutely because of their physical health).

We cover so much in this episode from Laura's journey to sensory integration and a day in the life of a CAMHS OT. I always appreciate your feedback so please do feel free to reach out to me on the below platforms and if you want to leave me a review on whichever app you listen from. 

Recommendations by Laura:

The Body keeps the score Mind, brain, and body in the transformation of trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk 

Lauras Twitter: @Smalls_OT

If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! You can also get in touch in the following ways - Follow me on

Twitter @farrah_money

Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus

Email:[email protected]

Dr. Ian Marsh talks about the critical thinking tool & about his knowledge in suicide & suicide prevention. We hear about how Ian came to occupational therapy as a profession, his work lecturing at university, and what he enjoys about his role. We discuss some of his publications and talk about whether or not there is value in teaching occupational therapy students about suicide prevention. 

Below is some information if you feel you need to talk following the contents of this show. There are many other helplines and organisations I have listed two of the main ones to get in touch with.

Samaritans - 

Are available online at: https://www.samaritans.org/ or if in the UK you can call 116 123 to talk on the phone. 

Shout - Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere.  It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.

Shout are available at: http://www.giveusashout.org/ or you can text 85258 to start up a confidential text chat. 

Unfortunately, I have been unable to insert an image of the Critical Thinking Tool (CTT) into the show notes but it is very easy to find on google if you want to know more. 

Ian's recommendations:

Three colours Blue -is a 1993 French drama film directed and co-written by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski. Blue is the first of three films that comprise the Three colour trilogy, themed on the French revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity; it is followed by white and red.

Fearless - is a 1993 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and starring Jeff Bridges.

If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! You can also get in touch in the following ways - Follow me on

Twitter @farrah_money

Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus

Email:[email protected]

Today's guest gives a great insight into the practice area of hand therapy. Katie has a super interesting story as to how OT became her career pathway. Katie is super passionate as well as extremely knowledgeable about her role in hand therapy. We cover common conditions seen, challenges faced, and debunk whether or not 4000 clinical hours are really needed here in the UK. Enjoy the show! 

Katie's recommendations:

Atul Gawande - Being Mortal (Book) 

This is a book about the modern experience of mortality. Gawande outlines a story that crosses the globe, as he examines his experiences as a surgeon and those of his patients and family, and learns to accept the limits of what he can do.

Channel 4 drama - Its a Sin 

Drama from Russell T Davies about five friends. With their lives tested as they grow up in the shadow of AIDS, they're determined to live and love more fiercely than ever.

If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! You can also get in touch in the following ways - Follow me on

Twitter @farrah_money

Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus

Email:[email protected]

Today's episode is with Alex Thompson an occupational therapist in the police force. What does Alex do as part of her role? How does she bring/incorporate those OT skills into her new role? What does an average day look like in the police? Find all this out plus much, much more! Alex worked in acute mental health prior to carving her current role as a wellbeing support worker out, all during the middle of the global pandemic too! It's lovely to find new and exciting areas with OTs working within them. Alex is a great inspiration to any OT out there who feels they can see their skills working out in what one might term a non-traditional role, enjoy listening and as always do get in touch with any comments.

Recommendations from Alex:

Blue a memoir Book by John Sutherland 

Emotional survival for law enforcement Book by Kevin M. Gilmartin

Website: Police care UK available at: https://www.policecare.org.uk/ 

You can follow Alex on Twitter at: @AlexThompsonOT

If you enjoy this podcast then please do subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! You can also get in touch the following ways - Follow me on

Twitter @farrah_money

Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus

Email:[email protected]

Sara Davis joins me on the podcast today all the way from Kansa in the USA. We cover so much from Sara's role to the framework used within her practice. We discuss the physical training element as well as how Sara obtains occupational balance within her role. I'm am so pleased to say that for the first time ever on OT what's your focus I have attached a full transcript of the discussion for any who may find this beneficial.  Enjoy the show! 

You can follow Official_Army_OT on Instagram. They provide insight on life as an Army OT and are a great resource to reach out to for further questions.

You can use the following link for the United States Army https://www.goarmy.com/amedd.html 

or for the British Army https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/army-medical-services/ to gain further info on how to apply and what is needed to apply. There is also information regarding training as an OT so do spend some time checking this out!

In the US there is also an entry-level OTD program coming in 2022, where individuals would apply after completing their bachelor's degree commission into the Army and spend their first three years of active duty getting their OT degree. 

Here's the first-ever transcript for this episode!  Sara Davis transcript.docx  

Hello everyone, I hope all is going well for you. So we have come to the end of my mini-series charting my placement experience within adult neuro! I hope you have enjoyed it and found some or all of it worthwhile in some way. Today I reflect on the placement overall and offer some top tips as well as discuss some challenges I faced. We will be getting back to the usual set up of guests on the next episode in two weeks times. 

If you enjoy this podcast then please do share with a friend or colleague who you feel may benefit from listening. You can also subscribe and leave a review on whichever platform you listen on! You can also get in touch in the following ways - Follow me on

Twitter @farrah_money

Instagram - OT_whatsyourfocus

Email:[email protected]