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OTSM

Phone: +61 417 372 147

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• Occupational therapist

23.01.2022 Why is it so important for us to be able to regulate or manage our emotions? To understand this, we first need to ask what are emotions? At first this may seem a simple question, but it can also be complex. Emotions can be defined as feelings that are experienced in response to different situations. They affect the way we think, interact with others and behave. Sometimes they make us feel good like when we are happy or excited. Sometimes they don’t feel so good such as when w...e are frustrated or angry. What happens if someone is unable to interpret how someone else is feeling or voice their own feelings? When some children and teenagers become either distressed or overwhelmed, they may not be able to manage their emotions. This can result in behaviours that others may interpret as being disruptive or even inappropriate to the situation. Tiredness and hunger can affect our emotions and our ability to manage them. Though typically developing children and teenagers will generally develop better control of their own emotions and not demonstrate melt downs as they get older, others who experience conditions such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Oppositional Defiant Disorder may find it more challenging to manage their emotions especially when stressed or in new situations. This may impact their ability to form and maintain friendships with their peers, engage in daily activities, maintain concentration, and their ability to learn may also be affected. Thus, impacting on self-confidence and resilience. At OTSM we work with children/teenagers and their families. we and strategies that address the following areas: - Emotional awareness - Self-regulation - Understanding social cues - Social skill development - Managing meltdowns - Resilience - Transitioning between activities - Improving concentration and increasing learning opportunities. If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] Thank you for visiting this page! And remember to stay tuned for next week.

21.01.2022 7 top tips for promoting Resilience We often hear the term resilience used, but what is it and why is it so important for children and teenagers to develop this quality? Resilience is the ability to overcome difficulties when faced with challenging or stressful situations. We are all individuals and we all respond to stress in different ways. When a child or teenager develops resilience, they can bounce back or adapt to challenges more easily. Children and Teenagers who a...re resilient are more likely to try new activities and tasks to learn new skills. Examples of resilience include coping with changing schools and meeting new people in a social situation. Some ways to encourage resilience are: 1. Encouraging social skills development. 2. Role modelling positive relationships. 3. Talking about emotions. Understanding our own feelings and the feelings of others helps develop empathy. 4. Preparing for new situations by talking about them in advance. 5. Encouraging problem solving. This can assist with developing strategies for dealing with situations that may be new or stressful. 6. Fostering independence where possible. For instance, encourage your child/teenager to prepare their school lunch or pack their school bag. 7. Providing opportunities for building confidence! At OTSM we work collaboratively with children, teenagers, young adults and their families. We teach strategies to help promote resilience and build confidence! Thank you and remember to stay tuned for next week. If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]

12.01.2022 Hello, Welcome to the OTSM Facebook page! Here you will find resources and information for parents, carers and teachers. I’m glad that you have joined us, as each week we discuss a new topic and share useful tips and links. Please stay tuned for our first instalment What does an OT do, and when to make a referral? next week.... Thank you for visiting this page we would love to hear from you!

10.01.2022 What does an OT do, and when to make a referral? The first question that people often ask is What does an Occupational Therapist do? The answer to this question is that Occupational Therapists (OT’s) work with people across their lifespan by promoting health and wellbeing using everyday activities that are meaningful to the individual. OT’s can work in a variety of different settings. At OTSM we focus on working with children, adolescents and young adults.... What does this actually mean? OT’s work collaboratively with clients and their families where appropriate to form holistic client centred goals to identify areas for therapy. For a child this may mean that they do not have the social skills to make friends and play with their peers or perhaps they are having trouble with writing and grasping a pen leading to tired hands and messy writing. OT’s will work with clients to help develop and consolidate these skills. Adolescents and young adults are often faced with emotional, cognitive, physical and social challenges that may impact on their wellbeing and mental health. In this instance OT’s may focus on working with the individual to increase their communication and social skills to increase self-esteem. OT’s may also work on other areas such as self-care and school/work or even home modifications such as ramps or adaptive equipment for instance adaptive shoelaces, where appropriate. When should someone be referred to an OT and who refers them? Children and Adolescents may be referred to an OT by their GP, Paediatrician or Teacher. Some may also be self-referred. Some reasons for referral include: - When a child does not reach developmental milestones - Difficulties with age appropriate social skills including play skills and interpersonal skills. - When a child struggles with skills such as cutting, drawing and writing - If a child has poor balance and coordination skills and may appear clumsy. An example of this is when a child displays poor ball skills. - Visual processing challenges such as visual tracking or recognition of letters. - Oversensitivity to touch/sound/textures. This is often associated with heightened reactivity when exposed to these. - If a child is easy distracted - Learning challenges. At OTSM we help children, adolescents and young adults overcome challenges and achieve their goals, whether it’s social skills, fine motor/gross motor skills at school or in the community, sensory challenges or concentration. We aim to promote greater independence, resilience and self-esteem! Thank you and remember to stay tuned for next week. If you have any questions or would like to book a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or visit www.otsm.com.au