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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, Science, Social Sciences Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Ep. 55: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in OT Practice through Jen's Personal and Professional Experience
Episode 55
Wednesday, 28 January, 2026
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in OT Practice through Jen's Personal and Professional Experience What happens when an occupational therapist who supports others with mental health challenges experiences their own mental health crisis? In this episode, Jen Anderson-Frost shares their journey through perinatal OCD and how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy transformed both their recovery and their practice. If you're an occupational therapist curious about ACT, working with clients experiencing intrusive thoughts, or supporting parents with perinatal mental health challenges, this conversation offers practical insights alongside vulnerable, lived experience. Jen talks openly about the difference between traditional CBT approaches and ACT, why understanding that ego-dystonic thoughts are part of OCD mattered, and how creating space for difficult experiences, rather than fighting them, opens up new possibilities for recovery. This episode is particularly valuable for OTs interested in trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming approaches to mental health support. --- IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: - What perinatal OCD looks like and why it's often misunderstood - The concept of ego-dystonic thoughts and why this reframe matters - How traditional CBT exposure therapy can be traumatizing without nervous system consideration - The difference between CBT thought-challenging and ACT's approach to difficult thoughts - Why Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was more effective in Jen's recovery - How ACT fits naturally into occupational therapy practice across all settings - Using ACT with clients who appear "stuck" or "non-compliant" - Inference-based CBT (ICBT) as a neurodivergent-affirming approach to OCD treatment - Why professionals often hold themselves to impossible standards during their own struggles --- ABOUT JEN ANDERSON-FROST Jen Anderson-Frost (she/they) is an occupational therapist and intuitive living coach based in the UK. Drawing on both professional training and lived experience as a queer, neurodivergent parent and perinatal OCD survivor, Jen supports queer and neurodivergent parents with perinatal mental health challenges and burnout. Jen also works as a pediatric OT supporting neurodivergent children and families, and hosts the Intuitive Living with OT Intuition Podcast focused on perinatal mental health. Connect with Jen: LINK TO LINKTREE --- RESOURCES MENTIONED Books: - Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts by Sally Winston and Martin Seif - Break Free From OCD by Dr. Fiona Challacombe Podcasts: - Your Anxiety Toolkit with Kimberly Quinlan - OCD Stories podcast Additional Resources: - Inference-based CBT (ICBT) for OCD treatment - Research on intrusive thoughts in university students - OCD Action (UK support organization) --- LEARN MORE ABOUT PRACTICAL ACT FOR OTS COURSE Registration is open NOW for the February 2026 cohort! The Practical ACT for OTs course gives occupational therapists practical tools and confidence to integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into practice, regardless of your setting or specialty. What you get: - 4.5 hours of recorded learning modules (lifetime access) - Comprehensive resource library with handouts, worksheets, and references - 4 months of support including live Q&A calls - Online community forum for ongoing discussion - No certification required—ACT is designed to be accessible Enroll now: https://www.balanceworks.online/act-for-ots Registration closes soon for the February 1, 2026 start date. --- ABOUT THE BRAVE OT PODCAST The BRAVE OT Podcast features occupational therapists doing innovative work and navigating the challenges of building sustainable, meaningful practices. Host Carlyn Neek, BA, BScOT, provides coaching, mentorship, and community support for OT practice owners and clinicians who want to thrive without the hustle. Connect with Carlyn: - Website: https://www.balanceworks.online/contact-links ---
