 |
The BRAVE OT Podcast | Real Conversations with Occupational Therapy TrailblazersAuthor: Carlyn Neek - OT Entrepreneur Coach, Educator, Founder of ACTivate Vitality
The BRAVE OT Podcast with Carlyn Neek is all about empowering occupational therapists to step-up, level-up, blaze some trails, and maybe engage in a little conscious rebellion in service of the profession, our clients, our work, our businesses, and living our mission wholeheartedly. We are all about keeping it real, doing hard things, unhuslting, being curious, trying new things, growing through our challenges, and finding joy and fulfilment along the way. Really, we are OTing ourselves and each other. About This Podcast The BRAVE OT Podcast features authentic conversations with occupational therapists doing innovative and interesting work, from private practice owners to clinicians pioneering new approaches to OTs, creating entirely new paths for the profession. Through real conversations, we explore the challenges of trailblazing, the reality of navigating uncertainty, and how OTs support each other through it all. Whether you're an OT practice owner facing uncertainty, a clinician exploring new directions to escape environments that contribute to burnout, or an occupational therapist who's ready to do things differently, these conversations will resonate. We talk about the messy middle of building something meaningful, the isolation that can come with going your own way, and what it really takes to create sustainable work that aligns with your values. Host Carlyn Neek brings her lived experience as a multipassionate ADHDer, her decads of work with adult mental health with high achievers and her OT mentorship and business coaching to these conversations. Creating space for honest dialogue about the challenges we face as innovators in our profession is her superpower. The BRAVE OT Podcast is perfect for: Occupational therapists in private practice, OTs exploring entrepreneurship, clinicians seeking inspiration and community, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of our profession. We aim for 2 episodes per month. An invitation from Carlyn: If you're an OT Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
Ep. 59: Beyond Values Alignment - Building a Sustainable Occupational Therapy Practice That Honours Your Needs, with Guest Rebecca Rae-Hodgson
Episode 59
Thursday, 20 August, 2026
Doing values-aligned work is supposed to protect you from burnout. But what happens when it doesn't? In this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, returning guest Rebecca Rae-Hodgson and I dig into what it actually takes to build a sustainable occupational therapy practice, especially when you're neurodivergent or managing a chronic illness. Rebecca was last on the show for episodes 22 and 23, and since then she's gone through the ACTivate Vitality program herself. She's back to talk about the pivot she's made away from 1:1 client work, and why she's learned that values alignment on its own wasn't enough to keep her from burning out. If you're an OT practice owner who's been feeling stretched too thin despite loving the work you do, this conversation names something you may not have had language for yet. In This Episode, We Discuss: Why Rebecca found herself burning out even though her work was fully values-aligned The difference between values alignment and sustainability, and why you need both What it means to bring "needs" into the conversation alongside values How Rebecca is restructuring her practice around supervision, mentorship, and organizational training Disability accommodations as an act of values-aligned self-support, not an exception to it The "90% good enough" mindset and letting go of trying to please everyone What it looked like for Rebecca to tell her clients she was ending 1:1 work, and why that felt so hard Redefining bravery as recognizing your limits and honoring them About Rebecca Rae-Hodgson In Rebecca's own words: "Kia ora, ko Rebecca taku ingoa. I'm an Occupational Therapist/Kaiwhakaora Ngangahau with lived experience of chronic and mental illnesses. I have also more recently discovered that I am Autistic and ADHD. I live in Golden Bay, in a tiny house with my dog (Octavia) and husband. While managing my own mental health and chronic illnesses over the years I have learned many things about myself, what works for me, what doesn't, and the kinds of supports I need to engage in the activities I want to do. I firmly believe in the power of meaningful occupations to improve people's lives. Using my lived experience and occupational therapy skills, I want to support other neurodivergent people with chronic illnesses and mental health challenges to engage in the things they want and need to do." Update Since Recording This conversation was recorded in late 2025. Since then, Rebecca has kept building. She's currently at capacity in her mentorship practice and won't be taking on any new clients until mid-2027. Her focus has shifted toward supervision, mentorship, and organizational training. Resources & Links Chronic Resilience OT resources and worksheets: chronicresilienceot.com/resources-shop Blog: chronicresilienceot.com/blog Lived Experience Feedback on Neurodiversity Affirming Practice in Mental Health https://www.chronicresilienceot.com/resources-shop/p/free-neurodiversity-affirming-practice-in-mental-health-lived-experience-feedback On-demand trainings: chronicresilienceot.com/on-demand-trainings Values Exploration for Us and Our Work Understanding and Supporting Sensory Processing for Mental Health Facebook: The Chronically Resilient OT Book mentioned: Who Deserves Your Love The Empower Model (Bryden Carlson-Giving) Solo School Connect With Rebecca For training inquiries, email is the best way to reach Rebecca. Full details on her current offerings are available at chronicresilienceot.com. Learn More About ACTivate Vitality If today's conversation resonated with you, if you're feeling stuck, burnt out, or isolated even though you're technically doing the work you value, I want you to know you're not alone. ACTivate Vitality is open to new clients right now. We're a community of international occupational therapy practice owners who support each other in building sustainable, values-aligned businesses. We've got coaching calls, an online community, an ACT-based framework to build entrepreneurial flexibility, and 1:1 support. It's not about hustling harder. It's about getting clear on what matters to you and what you actually need, and building a practice that serves your life instead of taking it over. ACTivate Vitality Program: balanceworks.online/avprogram Book a Clarity Call: tidycal.com/carlyn/clarity-call
