All Things Sensory by Harkla
Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC & Jessica Hill, COTA/L
Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill, are two passionate Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants who answer your questions related to all things sensory, occupational therapy, parenting, self-care, nutrition, and health, from a therapist’s perspective. Providing raw, honest, fun ideas, and strategies, for parents and families to implement into daily life. Great for those who work with children with sensory processing disorder, special needs, autism, and ADHD. This podcast is brought to you by Harkla. At Harkla, our goal is to help those with special needs live happy and healthy lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 9, 2021 • 43min
#156 - Hand Eye Body Coordination with the Expert Dr. Jacob Weiss
Dr. Jacob Weiss, Director of the HandEyeBody Academy, shares his expertise on hand-eye-body coordination. He discusses the importance of this skill in various contexts and age groups. Dr. Weiss highlights therapeutic activities he has developed and compares his methods to similar approaches. He emphasizes the value of fun and novelty in learning and focuses on educating trainers. The podcast explores stories of success and ends with information on how to get involved with the HandEyeBody Academy.
Jun 2, 2021 • 31min
#155 - Sensory Tips for Traveling With Kids
Traveling can be quite challenging, so it's time to revisit this topic as the world is opening back up again and there are more opportunities to travel. Here we give you some helpful advice on how to put together sensory diets to help your kiddos feel successful during times of travel, and tips, tricks, and strategies to make your life and your child's lives just a little bit easier. You’ll hear about what a sensory diet is and how it can be used to help both kids and adults cope with traveli...
May 26, 2021 • 58min
#154 Normal is Boring with Kristi Brewer: Autism Mom, Weightlifter, & Advocate
There is still so much to learn and share in the world of autism, parenting, and just pushing forward the conversation around difference. We are happy to welcome Kristi Brewer today, who is very difficult to put into a box! She is a mother to two daughters, weightlifter, CPA, business-owner, and all-around powerhouse for positive progress. Kristi admits when her second daughter was diagnosed with Autism she felt very overwhelmed and scared due to her ignorance on the subject. K...
May 19, 2021 • 20min
#153 - What Do I Do After My Child Gets a Diagnosis?
Receiving a diagnosis for your child can elicit a wide range of emotions, and that is completely normal. In today’s episode, your hosts Rachel and Jessica, dive into ways to deal with your own feelings around the diagnosis, as well as the best things that you can do for your child once they have been diagnosed. The discussion dives into the importance of doing your research and finding a community; this can be found in online or offline groups. It just depends on what resonates with...
May 14, 2021 • 54min
Bonus Episode - Connection Between Tongue Ties and ADHD with Melanie Henstrom, IBCLC
In this bonus episode, Melanie Henstrom, a lactation consultant, discusses the connection between tongue ties and various health issues like ADHD, sleep deprivation, and breastfeeding difficulties. She shares her personal journey and the need for greater awareness of the tongue in infant development. Tongue tie symptoms in babies, the impact on breathing, and treatments through palatal expansion are also explored.
May 12, 2021 • 49min
#152 - Finding Optimal Health with Dr. Zink, Airway Dental Medicine
Today’s guest, Dr. Sam Zink, is a dentist who focuses on airway dental medicine. Dr. Zink’s practice is rooted in the belief that all dentistry should support and enhance an optimal airway. In today’s episode, Dr. Zink shares how having his three sons struggle with upper airway resistance syndrome drew him into this specialization. We hear about why tongue and lip ties often go undiagnosed and the importance of finding a team that understands what it takes to diagnose and treat thes...
May 5, 2021 • 32min
#151 - Disciplining a Sensory Kiddo 2.0
Back in episode 16, we talked about disciplining a sensory kiddo and it has remained one of our most listened-to episodes. So, we thought we would revisit the topic and incorporate some new ideas. Discipline is a tricky topic, and it presents challenges even without a sensory difficulty or diagnosis, so we are here to share what we think works best. We walk through a case study in a classroom setting, unpacking the child's response to being overstimulated and overwhelmed. It appears...
Apr 28, 2021 • 35min
#150 Aquatic Therapy with Nicole, OTR/L & Owner of Lullaby Waters
Aquatic therapy can be used as a treatment modality for Occupational Therapy and comes with a range of benefits for both adults and children. Today we sit with Nicole Nickell, an Occupational Therapist and founder of Lullaby Waters. In this episode, we take a deep dive into aquatic therapy and what makes it so impactful.We talk to Nicole about the genesis of Lullaby Waters, as we discover how her love for water-based therapy evolved from a stint at St. Luke's Rehab Institute. We the...
Apr 21, 2021 • 24min
#149 - The Palmar Grasp Reflex
Today’s episode is about another primitive reflex: the palmar grasp reflex. Primitive reflexes impact so many things! Be sure to check out our 5-episode series on primitive reflexes (#100-104), as we continue our mission to get this information out there to everyone! The palmar grasp reflex happens when pressure is put on an infant’s palm & they reflexively curl their fingers to grasp whatever is in their palm. You’ll hear about all things related to palmar grasp reflex, in...
Apr 14, 2021 • 49min
#148 - Is Cranial Sacral Therapy VooDoo or Healing? An Interview With Sonya and Lynnelle
Sonya Abegglen and Lynnelle King from the Family Seasons Postpartum Clinic discuss craniosacral therapy, its emotional components, and differences from chiropractic care. They share their morning routines, the definition of the practice, and whether it can be practiced at home. Tune in to learn more about this gentle therapy and their advice for trusting your instincts as a parent.
