Health Coach OT

10 Why Carryover Determines Occupational Therapy Outcomes (And How Coaching Skills Help)

Most occupational therapy outcomes are decided outside the session. In this episode, I explore why carryover — what clients actually do in daily life — matters more than in-session performance, and how coaching skills support real-life change in OT practice. Occupational therapy practitioners are trained to design effective sessions. But clients spend far more time navigating real routines, real barriers, and real environments without us. If an intervention doesn’t carry over into daily life, it doesn’t produce meaningful outcomes. Using the example of missed home exercise programs (HEPs), I discuss why “noncompliance” is often just information. When a client says they didn’t follow through, that moment reveals habits, readiness, context, and feasibility. Coaching-informed occupational therapy helps us slow down, ask better questions, and adjust interventions based on real life. In this episode, we discuss: - Why carryover determines occupational therapy outcomes - How productivity-driven systems prioritize visible performance - Why missed home programs are data, not failure - Where coaching skills naturally live in OT practice - Why coaching conversations can feel uncomfortable - How coaching strengthens therapeutic use of self This episode is for occupational therapy practitioners who want to support behavior change and participation without leaving OT scope. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 02:30 – Carryover vs in-session performance 05:00 – The missed home exercise program moment 08:30 – “Noncompliance” as information 10:30 – Coaching conversations in OT 12:00 – Productivity systems and discomfort 13:24 – Closing reflections 📥 Resources Download the OT Coaching Intervention Framework & Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1667608/160601731305047244/share [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1667608/160601731305047244/share] 🔎 Hashtags #OccupationalTherapy #OTPractice #OccupationalTherapyCoaching #BehaviorChange #HealthCoachOT

9 Three Health Coaching Career Paths Every OT Practitioner Should Consider

Tired of being stuck in the traditional occupational therapy system with limited autonomy over your schedule, interventions, and client outcomes? Discover three distinct health coaching career paths that leverage your unique OT background while offering flexibility, remote work opportunities, or the potential to earn more than traditional OT salaries. In This Episode: Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz breaks down three health coaching career paths specifically designed for occupational therapy practitioners, each with different benefits, challenges, and income potentials. What You'll Learn: Path #1: Employee Health Coach - Work remotely for established companies like insurance providers or health tech startups, with immediate income and flexible scheduling Path #2: Independent Health Coaching Practice - Build your own business with unlimited income potential and complete autonomy over your practice Path #3: Integrated Coaching Skills - Enhance your current OT practice with evidence-based coaching techniques for better client outcomes Key Takeaways: - Why OTs are naturally suited for health coaching roles due to their training in activity analysis, behavior change, and client-centered care - How health coaches can work across state lines and provide services both in-person and online - The advantage of coaching scope allowing broader geographic reach compared to traditional OT practice - How these paths aren't mutually exclusive - you can combine approaches to build a career that works for your life Who This Episode Is For: - Occupational therapy practitioners experiencing burnout in traditional settings - OTs seeking geographic flexibility and remote work opportunities Practitioners wanting to enhance their clinical effectiveness with coaching skills - Allied health professionals interested in expanding beyond traditional interventions Resources Mentioned: Health Coach OT website: www.healthcoachot.com Weekly newsletter with evidence-based coaching tips and updates on our health coaching certificate for occupational therapy practitioners. Connect with Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz: Website: healthcoachot.com Email newsletter for coaching tips and early access to programs

8 From Traditional OT to ADHD Coach

Discover how an OT enhanced her approach to ADHD treatment by shifting from traditional one-hour weekly sessions to comprehensive family coaching that creates lasting change. In this episode, Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz interviews Julia Welter, an occupational therapist who made the bold transition from traditional pediatric OT practice to specialized ADHD coaching. Julia shares her journey from archaeology student to ADHD expert, revealing why the traditional therapy model wasn't enough to create the lasting change families desperately needed. What You'll Learn: - Why traditional one-hour weekly OT sessions have significant limitations for ADHD treatment - The key differences between treating the child versus coaching the entire family system - How to identify performance deficits in children with ADHD beyond the obvious hyperactivity symptoms - Practical intervention strategies that parents can implement throughout the week - The strengths-based approach that transforms how we view ADHD - Essential resources and next steps for OTs interested in ADHD coaching Guest Bio: Julia Welter is an occupational therapist with seven years of experience in outpatient pediatric settings. She specializes in working with families navigating ADHD challenges and has developed a coaching approach that empowers parents with the tools and strategies typically reserved for therapy sessions. Her business, Wildly Brilliant Brains, focuses on helping families understand and support the unique ADHD brain. Connect with Julia: Instagram: @WildlyBrilliantBrains Facebook: Wildly Brilliant Brains 🎯 TAKE ACTION: If this episode inspired you to explore ADHD coaching or expand your approach with neurodivergent families, we want to hear from you! - Share your biggest takeaway on social media using #HealthCoachOT and tag @healthcoachot & @wildlybrilliantbrains - Connect with fellow listeners who are also expanding beyond traditional interventions - Have a question for Dr. Schwartz? Send it to jaclyn@healthcoachot.com for a chance to be featured in a future episode - Know an OT who needs to hear this? Forward this episode to a colleague who works with ADHD families Stay Connected: Website: www.healthcoachot.com Instagram: @healthcoachot Email: jaclyn@healthcoachot.com ⭐ Love the show? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Your reviews help other therapists discover these game-changing approaches to client care.

7 Coaching in Early Intervention Occpational Therapy

Join Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz as she speaks with Dr. Katie Bogan, an early intervention occupational therapist. Katie share more about her life as an early intervention OT, and she discusses coaching techniques that she uses in practice. This episode is perfect for therapists who want to see practical examples of how coaching tools like motivational interviewing, the stages of change model, and permission-based coaching can transform client relationships and outcomes. Guest Bio Dr. Katie Bogan is an occupational therapist who found her calling in early intervention as a second career. She specializes in working with families of young children with developmental delays in their homes, daycares, and community settings. Katie is also founder of HelloJoyOT.com, a mentorship network for early intervention occupational therapists. Key Topics Discussed - Early Intervention Model - How early intervention differs from traditional therapy approaches - Family coaching model vs. direct service delivery - Working in natural environments (homes, daycares, community) - Embedding strategies within existing family routines - Motivational interviewing in early intervention - Assessing family readiness for change using the transtheoretical model - Permission-based interventions that respect client autonomy - Practical examples of coaching language and techniques during therapy visits - Why coaching skills enhance rather than replace OT clinical expertise Key Quotes - "Instead of going in and working directly with a child, I am going in and working with a family while the family works with the child." - "It's very much meeting the family where they are, seeing what tools they have available, what have they already tried, what's working, and then meeting them with strategies that they can use that are reasonable and practical for their family." - "All the milestones, like you can work on milestones all day long, but at the end of the day, what really matters to human experience is relationships." Resources Mentioned Takeaways for OT Practitioners - Expand Your Toolbox: Learn coaching skills alongside clinical expertise to better serve families - Think Systems: Consider the whole family system, not just the child with delays - Cultural Humility: Recognize that Western developmental norms aren't universal truths - Flexibility is Key: Be prepared to adapt your approach based on family needs and circumstances - Relationships Matter: Focus on connection and relationships as much as developmental milestones Resources: Child of Mine by Ellyn Satter - Recommended approach to feeding babies and toddlers Zero to Three - https://www.zerotothree.org/ [https://www.zerotothree.org/] HelloJoyOT.com - https://hellojoyot.com/ [https://hellojoyot.com/] Connect with Katie Website: www.HelloJoyOT.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellojoyot/ [https://www.instagram.com/hellojoyot/] Email: Katie@HelloJoyOT.com Connect with Jaclyn Website: www.HealthCoachOT.com Email: jaclyn@healthcoachot.com

6 What is Health Coaching? A primer for occupational therapists

In this foundational episode, Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz explores the intersection of occupational therapy and health coaching, providing essential knowledge for practitioners ready to transform their approach to chronic disease management. Learn how health coaching can enhance your OT practice and create lasting behavior change with your clients. Key Topics Covered - What is Health Coaching? - Why Health Coaching Matters for OTs - Health Coaching vs. Traditional OT Approach - Scope of Practice Considerations - Evidence Base - Application Across OT Settings - Getting Started: Next Steps - Addressing Common Concerns Key Takeaways Health coaching enhances rather than replaces OT clinical skills Addresses the "why" behind behavioral change, not just the "what" Focuses on sustainable, long-term habit formation Leverages OTPs' existing strengths in client-centered, holistic care Creates opportunities for deeper impact with chronic disease management Resources & Contact Host Contact: Jaclyn@healthcoachot.com Website: www.healthcoachot.com Ready to expand what's possible in your OT practice? Join the newsletter at healthcoachot.com for weekly tips and updates on upcoming certification programs designed specifically for occupational therapy professionals. References and Resources Wayne, N., et al. (2015). Health coaching reduces HbA1c in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Patient Education and Counseling, 98(9), 1123-1129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.04.004 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.04.004] Whittemore, R., et al. (2020). A systematic review of the effects of nurse-led diabetes self-management interventions. Patient Education and Counseling, 103(6), 1157-1172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.01.014 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.01.014] Angermayr, L., et al. (2018). Multidisciplinary disease management programs in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Cardiology, 266, 226-236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.04.010 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.04.010] Graham, F., et al. (2018). Coaching skills training with occupational therapists: A mixed methods pilot study. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 25(5), 362-370. https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2017.1409261 [https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2017.1409261] Poulsen, A. A., et al. (2019). Coaching approaches in occupational therapy for children with developmental coordination disorder. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 39(4), 384-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2018.1541906 [https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2018.1541906] Rosenberg, L., et al. (2022). Effectiveness of occupational therapy using coaching versus standard care for children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 176(5), 438-445. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.6845 [https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.6845] National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching: https://nbhwc.org [https://nbhwc.org]