Sarah Dehnel

This TED talk talks about how occupational therapist can play a role in person center design. These design principles mirror Concepts found in the PEO model and universal design for learning. This TED talk explores potential avenues for OT’s outside of traditional hospital settings.

Tedx Talks. (2019, May 29). TEDxAlmansorPark - Dr. Shawn Phipps - Occupational therapy and neuroplasticity after brain injury. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/AEzsxKQ3Gfc?si=FwQ1BiAzJqpfdmsC

This TedTalk by Jacqui Barfoot discusses the idea that children struggle when their "emotional world" and "thinking world" are out of balance. This lack of balance is what Barfoot calls the seesaw effect. When intense emotions increase, thinking and regulation decrease. She emphasizes that a child's resilience and development depends on others helping them regulate their feelings and emotions, as a child's brain is not ready for that on their own. Main themes from this TedTalk include the idea that emotional regulation is a foundation (and necessary step) for participation in occupation, and coregulation is a necessary part of this for children. Our job as OTs is to help children balance the seesaw, and have equal amount of emotion and engagement. This is a necessity, as it needs to be done in order for children to use their higher level cognitive skills for other necessary tasks (fine motor skills, socialization, learning). I would definitely suggest this to any of my peers who will be working in pediatrics. It's extremely important for us all to understand that a child cannot learn adequately when they are dysregulated, and we play a big role in ensuring this regulation happens.

This TED Talk is presented by Grace Branjerdporn, an occupational therapist and researcher. She spoke of her research, which showed that the bond between a pregnant mother and her unborn child can significantly influence a child's development, including temperament, behavior, and early sensorimotor skills. She emphasizes that this relationship begins before birth and that strong prenatal attachment is associated with better developmental outcomes compared to those who lack that attachment. More specifically, she discusses sensory processing and how it is shaped while in the womb, as a child begins to receive, integrate, and respond to sensory information. She explained that mothers who had a negative bond with their unborn child were more likely to have children who were more irritated and distracted by all of the sensory information after birth. I found this topic interesting because it focused on how sensory processing begins even before birth. Overall, I recommend this TED Talk, as it provides insights into prenatal development and sensory processing.

I would recommend this as it was engaging and clear. It is also applicable across different settings such as pediatrics, neuro, acute care, etc. It is also different, which shows that learning all must be slow and repetitive.

I found this talk interesting because Dr. Stephens discusses how new technology, behavioral measures, and neuroimaging techniques, such as VR and EEG, can be used during the course of treatment. I would recommend my peers to watch this talk as this is a specialized area of rehabilitation that OTs can get involved in.

The ideas in the talk also relate to OT’s focus on mental health, habit formation, and balance. Understanding dopamine helps therapists address challenges like addiction, burnout, or dissatisfaction by designing routines and environments that support healthy motivation and presence in daily life.

Overall, the talk deepens understanding of how the brain influences engagement and well-being. It is worth recommending to peers because it links neuroscience with OT principles of motivation, participation, and mindfulness in everyday occupation.

To address this, he introduces the LEAP approach (Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Partner) as an effective way to build trust and help clients receive the care they need. LEAP aligns closely with principles used in occupational therapy, such as Motivational Interviewing and client-centered communication. It emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and respect for the client’s perspective. Beyond supporting clients with anosognosia, this technique could also be valuable for fostering rapport and authentic connections with a wide range of clients. Because anosognosia can affect individuals across many populations, occupational therapists in diverse settings may find the LEAP approach a useful tool to enhance engagement and promote participation in therapy.