Motivate: Occupational Therapy, Coaching & Consulting

07/29/2024

Excited to announce a podcast about why OT’s belong in design and how we can use our skills to change our communities and the world for people with neurodiversity 💙 We also explore lots of general sensory, autism, adhd, parenting, and life experiences because we want this conversation to be welcoming for all!

A podcast wasn’t really ever on my radar, but evolved organically through my passion to serve this community that has taught me so much 💙 Thank you, Nicole Holly, for always pushing me to dream bigger! Your perspective as a parent is invaluable, always.

If you’re a part of the neurodivergent community, a teacher, parent, advocate, therapist, or just want to be a part of the conversation, we would love to have you as a guest. Excited for so many cool episodes to come this year 💫

https://www.facebook.com/share/N8dr8edYk7jWsYrX/?mibextid=WC7FNe

We have been working really hard behind the scenes to bring you something special - a Sensational Spaces PODCAST!

Sensational Spaces Chat is a podcast designed to highlight how thoughtful design can make a significant difference in the lives of our kids, friends, family members, and co-workers. Featuring Amanda Perches, pediatric OT and owner of Sensational Spaces; and Holly James, mom to 3 kids and neurodiversity advocate. Sensational Spaces Chat hopes to create a gathering space to discuss how design and our environments impact our physical and mental health, especially those with neurodiversity. Pull up a chair, we’d love to partner with you on how to create and LIVE inclusivity for all.

First episode drop coming this week 🤗🤗🤗

06/14/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/EqFGHuFXvqQxqrwV/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Inspired to have spent a day in Washington DC collaborating with OT’s and educators to think about the future of school design. Mental health is at an all time low for many of today’s youth (for many reasons). I’m motivated to continue to advocate for healthier environments across all spaces to continue to improve the mental and developmental health for all kids everywhere 💚 🌎

01/05/2022

Worried about your kids social habits? I offer 1-on-1 Targeted Zoom Sessions to address behaviors and come up with practical strategies.

I can discuss any and all kid related questions for all members of the family! Sign up for your Zoom session here and use code Motivate10 for individual sessions and Package10 for package sessions: https://www.motivateotcoach.com/book-your-session

01/03/2022

Does this sound like your child :

• Say “NO” to every request?
• Struggle at school?
• Have Sensory Processing Disorder, and you don’t know how to help him or her at home?
• Constantly spin, crash, twirl, or hang upside down?
• Have trouble concentrating, focusing, or controlling him or her-self?
• Melt down with a change in routine?
• Have difficulty making or keeping friends?
• Have poor handwriting, scissor skills, and/or coloring skills?
• Constantly seek attention?
• Seem difficult to discipline, like nothing works?

There is hope! I can discuss any and all kid related questions for all members of the family! Sign up for your Zoom session here and use code Motivate10 for individual sessions and Package10 for package sessions: https://www.motivateotcoach.com/book-your-session

01/01/2022

Struggling with kid issues? Start the New Year off with me! I offer 1-on-1, Zoom sessions to discuss what is going on and come up with practical steps to work on connecting together.

I can discuss any and all kid related questions for all members of the family! Sign up for your session here and use code Motivate10 for individual sessions and Package10 for package sessions: https://www.motivateotcoach.com/book-your-session

09/06/2021

Awesome adaptability! And that smile at the end ❤️

09/02/2021

Let’s talk Connected Parenting!

The term “connected parenting” gets the reputation for being some unattainable, hippie parenting that just rewards bad behavior. In reality it just means you are creating teaching opportunities with your child that helps you build trust and attachment with your children!

Let me help you with your connected parenting plan! www.motivatecoach.com

09/01/2021

Wow! One of those moments when you realize your passion meets your purpose-can’t think of a better compliment 💙 So thankful for all the families I’m blessed enough to work with and so grateful for parents who actively and intentionally work to make generational changes in their own families! “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ~ Maya Angelou

https://www.motivateotcoach.com/

08/20/2021

One of the perks of being a pediatric OT is some days work looks like shopping in super cool toy stores while your daughter tags along as your
assistant!

Today I was looking for fun invitations to play for a 3 year old boy who “hates” fine motor and pre-writing activities. I think he’ll change his mind when I show up with finger paint, slime, fidgets, sand, dinosaur stamp art, & all sorts of other cool stuff.

Developmental skills don’t have to be and shouldn’t be taught thru boring pre-k “worksheets”: A child’s occupation IS play & that’s how they learn best! We will reach all our goals for manual dexterity; hand and finger strength, learning to draw lines and shapes, bilateral coordination, hand dominance, fine motor coordination, visual perceptual skills, and everything else thru FUN invitations to play that motivate him intrinsically to engage while I sneak in the skills I want to promote most that week. Can’t wait to surprise him! 🥳

08/11/2021

Teaching kids about failure is one of my most favorite therapeutic activities! We stop and clap for mistakes 👏👏-“yay, my brain just learned something!” We celebrate the GROWTH not the failure, empowering them to fail forward in every environment every day. Teaching kids to associate failure with negativity increases anxiety and actually typically creates MORE failure.

For kids especially what you focus on grows…so the negative feedback loop looks like this: failure>negative reaction from adult>Shame/fear/embarrassment in child>increased anxiety in central nervous system>afraid to fail again>child’s brain functioning in fight or flight>not able to access fully modulated skills and tools for optimal performance>more failures>repeat>angry/defensive child with poor connection to well meaning adult>chaos. Positive feedback loop: failure>supportive response from adult (take time to teach the WHY of the failure-explain/model a more efficient way)>calm child>brain functioning an optimal level> less mistakes/more room for growth>connected to adult>feels safe and empowered to attempt even bigger & harder skills AND to encourage peers to do the same. Moral of the story: Fail forward all day every day no matter your age 🌟❤️

08/09/2021

In today’s edition of how ADHD & Dyslexia can be super powers 🤩 Thanks for “not being a very good listener” and using your hall time wisely to dream and create an amazing character and series of books that all 3 of my kids have read and loved every word of!

When I’m working with a child who receives a diagnosis like this, the first thing we do is Google a list of “successful” people with ADHD, dyslexia, etc. It quickly shifts their perspective and mindset-it is so powerful for them and so humbling to watch. DO NOT LET A DIAGNOSIS DEFINE YOU OR YOUR CHILD. Yes, it can make school more difficult but It’s a matter of teaching our children how to use their individual superpowers to work smarter not harder. The Dreamers ARE the Doers 🌟💫 https://www.motivateotcoach.com

07/28/2021

Best visual of Co-Regulation I’ve seen 🤩😍 In terms of kids, co-regulation means sharing our energy to promote our end goal. During a tantrum if you fight fire with fire, you get more fire - fight fire with calm, and you eventually get love and connection. Share negative energy = negative kid. Model angry energy = angry kid. But if we intentionally model calm, loving, confident connection our kids will LEARN to be calm, loving, confident, and connected kids-in all areas of their lives! Co-regulation is teaching the fundamentals of self-regulation which is the BIGGEST predictor of “success” in childhood. Kids NEED co-regulation because developmentally they just don’t have self-regulation yet. They’re counting on us to TEACH them.

What do you want to teach your child? How do you want them to show up in the world? Remember this visual next time your child shows up with fire, take a deep breath, get on their level, and be a quiet, calm space until they’re ready to feel your energy. https://www.motivateotcoach.com/