

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

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.

Apr 7, 2021 • 28min
#147 - Tips for Improving Body Awareness, Mid-Range Control and Force Modulation!
This podcast episode focuses on body awareness, mid-range control, and force modulation. The hosts discuss the importance of addressing these challenges, signs of struggles in children, and strategies for improvement. They explore blindfolded tasks, vibration techniques, therapy products, and video feedback to enhance body awareness. The concept of force modulation and strategies to improve it are also discussed, along with teaching children expected behaviors and the importance of practice. The episode concludes with gratitude to listeners and details about the show's website and discount offer.

Mar 31, 2021 • 1h 8min
#146 - All Things Essential Oils with Erin from @thesupernaturalproject_
The topic of essential oils gives rise to varying opinions & reactions, & to help us understand this often misunderstood topic, we invited our friend Erin Owings, who runs The Supernatural Project, to have a discussion! As the mother to two children who have struggled with Laryngomalacia, which can greatly inhibit a baby's ability to breathe, Erin discovered the power of essential oils out of necessity, to help her children thrive. The immense difference that a few simple pr...

Mar 24, 2021 • 27min
#145 - Your Guide to Navigating the Pediatrician's Office
Today’s show is all about speaking to your pediatrician about the different developmental stages of your child when they are between the ages of three months and one year old. Your hosts, Jessica and Rachel, are both mothers, so they are speaking from experience, and the episode is full of their personal stories. Rachel and Jessica want all new parents to know that decisions regarding your child’s health are entirely up to you! Don’t feel bad to ask as many questions as you need to, ask ...

Mar 17, 2021 • 58min
#144 - Blymiller Update: FMT, PANDAS and Health & Wellness with Angela and Shawn
Raising a child with Level 3 autism and a combined diagnosis of PANDAS can be a challenge for parent and child. Today we welcome back the Blymillers. We first interviewed Angela and Shawn 122 episodes ago! Much has changed since then. In this show, we check in with these super-parents to find out how their five-and-a-half-year-old boy, Theo, is responding to his various therapies, and to hear some of the lessons they have learned. We hear how Angela and Shawn have refined their priorities, ho...

Mar 10, 2021 • 24min
#143 - Teach The Skill, Not The Goal
Learn about the importance of addressing underlying skills for specific goals, such as buttoning, in this episode. Discover the skills required for buttoning, cup drinking, and handwriting, and explore strategies for improving visual perception and empathy. Don't miss out on the discount code for Harkla products!

Mar 5, 2021 • 2min
Trailer - What We're About & Where to Start!
Welcome to All Things Sensory by Harkla! This trailer is a great place to start if you're new to the show! We cover:Who we (Rachel & Jessica) areWhat our background is as Certified Occupational TherapistsWhat are our most popular episodesWho Harkla isIf you're looking to go deeper on any of the shows, we always include show notes and transcripts as Harkla.co/Podcast.If you want to connect with us more, make sure to follow up on Instagram!Podcast Listeners Save at Harkla.co:All Things...


