Do you aspire to bring mindfulness to your work?
Is it a challenge to adapt mindfulness for your client population?
And how are you supposed to find the time or get your team on board?
Finally, a collection of resources, tools and support that will re-inspire you and allow you to bring mindfulness into your OT practice with ease!
Keep reading if you're an OT, OTA, student OT or an allied health professional who is looking to:
- Develop your knowledge of mindfulness so that you can bring it into your work
- Connect with a micro community of like-minded OTs from around the world
- Bring evidence-based interventions to your clients and teams
- Get access to ready-to-use materials to use with your clients
- Establish and build consistency with your mindfulness practice with support (meditation was always meant to be done in community)
“I am referencing this program daily as I talk with my co-workers about how best to apply my OT skills with greater mindfulness.” Sarah B
There is good evidence for using mindfulness as part of your OT practice.
It has been shown to help reduce stress, improve sleep, decrease rumination, decrease emotional reactivity, improve focus, improve memory, help us live within our values and manage to live well with pain.
Building a personal practice can increase your own resilience and that of your family and clients. In fact, if one person in a family practices mindfulness, the whole family gets some benefit. And if the therapist practices, the client outcomes improve.
Over 8 weeks, this program will give you the opportunity to establish your own mindfulness practice and to learn ways to start to integrate it into your work as a clinician right away.
- Gain access to easy to use resources built by and for OTs
- Be more inspired by your own work
- Develop more compassion for yourself and your clients
- Build confidence in bringing a mindfulness practice to your life and the lives of your clients
- Interact with OTs from around the world as part of a micro community
- Gain accountability to other OTs while you bring mindfulness into your own life
Registration for the next cohort will be open in for registration in September 2024.
There will be a mix of online content that you can work through at your own pace and weekly live group calls.
In order to meet different learning styles, there will be movement, reflective exercises, meditations, video content, discussions and written materials. You can focus on the ways that you learn best!
Why learn mindfulness taught by another OT? This course will look at mindfulness through an OT lens, including relating mindfulness to our sensory processing, posture and biomechanics. We'll have discussions to help you bring the information straight to your area of OT practice!
This course is intended for OTs, student OTs and occupational therapy assistants.
This course is only open for registration twice a year.
Included in this program:
- Live interactive coaching calls to personalize the material to your work
- 8 self-paced learning modules to help you build your own consistent mindfulness practice and relate mindfulness to your role in health care
- Trauma-informed tools to bring mindfulness to your clients or colleagues
- Opportunities to problem-solve with other OTs and ask questions
The investment for this program is $497 USD.
Program Bonuses:
- Group meditation opportunities
- A guided "Day of Mindfulness" retreat
- Downloadable guided meditations
- Meditation scripts
- Journal articles and summaries of the evidence for using mindfulness
- Tools to help you build your resilience during these challenging times
- Mindful movement videos
- Tracking sheets
- Educational resources you can use with your clients
- Certificate of participation
“This has been an excellent course and I would highly recommend it to any OT. I have loved all of the varied teaching methods you have used, giving us students such a menu of options for learning and such extensive resources. Thank you so much!” Jennifer
Here's a look at the Course Curriculum
Why learn mindfulness taught by another OT practitioner?
This program looks at mindfulness through an OT lens, including relating mindfulness to our sensory processing, posture, and biomechanics. We'll have discussions to help you bring the information straight to your area of OT practice!
As health care providers, we need to take care of our well-being during this challenging time, more than ever. This is an opportunity to build your practice as part of a small community of OTs, without leaving home.
And I'm excited to be your instructor...
Hi, I’m Sarah
I'm so glad you're interested in joining me on this journey! Mindfulness practices have been the most important skill I've learnt in more than 20 years as an OT.
I'm in Ottawa, Canada where I have a private practice working with adults with mental health issues or persistent pain. Over the years, I've also worked in a hospital and as a school-based OT.
Working with people with pain, led me to intensive training at the Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic to become a mindfulness teacher.
When the pandemic started, I began to think about how I could support other clinicians who want to weave mindfulness into their lives and practices by offering the first version of this interactive, online program. Since that time, the resources and learning opportunities that I offer have continued to develop.
Here's what past participants have said about the program:
- Highly recommended this program to friends and colleagues
- Reported it was one of the most impactful professional development opportunities that they have participated in as an OT
- Found a decrease in their work stress and improved relationships
- Brought the practices to their clients with success
- Build a consistent practice themselves
- Connected with like-minded OTs
“Thanks to this inspiring program, I’m returning to work from parental leave with new ideas and renewed energy!” Erin
Frequently Asked Questions:
I'm feeling time crunched. Should I still consider this program?
This program is not your typically course. While there are learning modules, much of this program is giving you tools and resources and help you customize them to your area of practice. My hope is that this program will make providing great therapy easier for you and will save you time.
Is this program just for OTs?
This program has an OT focus. In the past, we’ve had OTs, other rehab professionals, student OTs and rehab aides. If you are working in the area of OT or a closely related area, this program may be for you. Feel free to send me an email if you’re not sure ([email protected]).
One of the amazing and unique things about this program is the focus on mindfulness and occupational well-being so we will be using OT models and research.
When are the calls? What if I can’t make it?
This program gives you access to four coaching calls and an invitation to some meditation sessions.
To accommodate different time zones and work schedules, the calls are booked at different times of the day. The coaching calls will be recorded and you can submit questions ahead of time.
In reality, only about half the participants come to each call and the rest listen to the recording, which is available by the next day. You’ll be able to download an audio version of the recording if you want to get away from the screen while you listen or the video. If I use slides, you can also download the slides. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to ask your questions outside of the calls too.
How is the program taught?
There will be a mix of online content that you can work through at your own pace and live group calls.
In order to meet different learning styles, there will be movement, reflective exercises, meditations, video content, discussions and written materials. You can focus on the ways that you learn best!
How much time does the program take?
Most participants have reported taking 2-4 hours per week if they want to complete the program in two months (but you can take as long as you want). This includes a 1-hour call, pre-recorded materials, readings, and some meditations. I’ll be suggesting and providing meditation practices. It’s up to you how much time you spend on those which can lead to the variability in how much time the course takes each week. You can take as long as you wish to complete the materials!
How long is the program?
There are 8 modules in the program which will be released, one per week over 8 weeks. But, if you need longer, you’ll have access to the materials for at least a year.
Will I get CEU?
I’m not able to give CEUs but you will get a certificate with the hours at the end of the course. You can use that to approach your employer or regulatory body.
See you in the program!