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There is a lot of information out there. How do we as Occupational Therapists (OTs) find what we need for our specific clients, in a time-sensitive way? This process of putting research into practice is complex. There are strategies you can use to make it a little bit easier and fit it into your busy day... 1) Gather your questions When I was a practising OT, I had a notepad or sticky note taped to my computer and would write questions as they occurred to me. Often, if I did not do this, I would forget about them by the end of the day. This strategy is helpful for me to follow up outcomes at the end of the day. 2) Search keywords in multiple databases

This article will explore both my professional and personal perspectives, beginning with the latter... Having a stroke, from my perspective... It was a normal day on 8th January 2026 - up around 4am, breakfast, then to the YMCA to practice my martial arts. Later that morning, walking down the hall in our house, I noticed my gait had changed and I was beginning to step more heavily onto my left heel. In the 39 years I have worked as an Occupational Therapist, I had occasionally wondered what the onset of a stroke might feel like. As I reached the bedroom, to my horror, I began to suspect I was learning this in real time, as my left hand was also demonstrating a loss of coordination. My wife and I drove to the emergency department (ED), at the US hospital where I had worked for the past twelve years. However, the medical worker there didn't seem to be quite comfortable with performing a neurological exam, diagnosing me with 'dizziness'. We left four hours later, without being seen by a physician. The next day, I found I was exhausted soon after starting my sword training, which convinced me I needed to visit another ED. The resident on duty quickly sent me for CAT scans and then ran me through a well-organised set of neurological assessments. Nothing appeared in the scans, but he strongly encouraged me to travel to a nearby hospital that offered MRI testing, as cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) sometimes take some time to become visible. Author Bill, engaging in sword training My sister (a retired nurse) was even more directive, with her "GET in the car!" - and we soon headed for a Veterans Administration hospital, thirty miles South. I won't bore you with all the details, but the professionals who make up this service were exemplary in their compassion, expertise - and ability to clearly explain findings to me and my support group (of spouse, daughter, sister and former co-workers). They were very much the 'third leg' of keeping my spirits up and giving me gentle nudges in those first few overwhelming hours. All these people made it possible for me to return home - and begin this article six days later, with the understanding that I had incurred two small CVAs on that first day. While in the VA Medical Center, one of the first deficits I noted was not being able to use a fork in my left hand while eating. It seemed like meals took twice as long as they should, as I chased food around, and often off my plate... That night, part of what I did while in bed was to analyse the components of my left arm dysmetria. Dysmetria is a difficulty controlling the distance, speed and range of motion required for coordinated movements. In your occupational therapy classes, you will, at some point, have covered activity analysis. I well remember how much I disliked this class, as (for us) it involved analysing the motor, sensory, cognitive and psychological components of macramé! Yet, were I to be completely honest, it has been one of the most useful life skills I have ever learnt - used in my occupational therapy treatments, leadership duties in the military and woodworking, to name but a few. Bill undertook an activity analysis of macramé I spent the initial days analysing my own activities of daily living (ADLs) and looking for how to use objects in my hospital room to address my dysmetria. Initially, I would reach to touch various body parts. As my ability to touch these improved, I moved to touching parts of my bed, followed by touching objects with a specific finger on the left hand. I was still able to completely extend the arm from supine or sitting positions, but it displayed a definite case of the 'wobbles'. As the ability to accurately point at a distant object improved, I began to concentrate on diminishing the wobbles. The day I could sit on the edge of the bed and not push food off the plate was definitely a thrill... One of the next challenges was being able to tie a hospital gown behind my neck. It was not a boring stay, to be sure! Thoughts for the acute care therapist All too often, a client will say "Well, I'm off to therapy now", meaning physiotherapy (physical therapy), following time with his or her Occupational Therapist. You may be left with the reaction of "What am I, chopped liver?" It is disappointing and will probably always exist as an artifact of our use of daily activities as our therapeutic tool. Not at all as impressive as the equipment found in the gym... Your client will likely want to focus on regaining mobility; that is of vital importance of course. But I recall the response of an Occupational Therapist, who replied something like: "I understand that mobility is vital to your future independence, but you will need to be able to use your hands when you arrive at your destination!" The Occupational Therapist as a teacher In a previous article, Are You Treating the 'Whole' Patient? (2024, on the Hub), I expressed my belief that one of the most important skills we have as Occupational Therapists is our ability to 'get to know' our patients. I cannot emphasise this more strongly or deeply. Take the time to learn your client's history; vocations, avocations (hobbies), interests, etc. In terms that your client/their family can understand, educate them on the physical and neurological components of what has happened to them. Stress to them how occupational therapy will positively impact their ability to return to independence. I cannot begin to recall the number of times a stroke survivor would tell me "I want to work on increasing the strength in my hand/arm." Physicians would remark on how strong my own arm was, even after the CVA. The issue was not with strength, but in my inability to control the limb. Spending acute care time educating your patients may not seem to be a top priority. But understand that your goal is to help build awareness of how to use everyday objects and activities to increase their ability to function post-discharge. You won't be there; if your client returns home and spends their day sitting in front of YouTube, the Occupational Therapist has failed them... The client returns home I believe the weakest leg of therapy occurs post-discharge and involves compliance - or rather a lack thereof, once they return home. To create an effective home program you must explore how the client's daily routine may be used to help them in recovery. I don't think therapy works well when you simply provide a fixed home program; this likely goes out of date soon after they return to their home setting. In the 'old days', Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists always performed a visitation as discharge approached. This doesn't consistently happen anymore - making helping the client to recognise home treatment opportunities more difficult. My own experience? Upon my own discharge back home, I used seemingly unrelated activities to work on retraining the arm and hand. Above is a wooden dachshund puzzle my wife had jigsawed years back. It sits beside my chair and gets taken apart and put back together multiple times each day: Can I hold the parts with the left hand? Can I assemble with fewer drops than yesterday? Do I see any perpetual deficits in recognising how they fit together? Imagine the thrill that I experienced, the first time I was able to hold a fork while cutting food with my right hand... Remember that you, the Occupational Therapist, are the expert in activity analysis. So use your skills to help your patient understand why putting a puzzle together can help his or her recovery. Encourage them to find other objects or challenges than those you suggest. Maybe one assignment can be to find or create a new activity. Your job is to teach them the skills to continue their own rehabilitation independently, as therapy time will always be too short. I don't practice for 'X' minutes per day; I stop and try multiple tasks throughout the day. Standing in the bathroom this morning, I looked around and discovered yet another set of possibilities. Could I accurately touch the objects on this shelf with the left hand? Could I do it with eyes closed? When I worked in the outpatient clinic, I commonly employed a strategy of having a client reach out and touch an object three times with eyes open, then do the same with eyes closed. Now at home, it was initially quite a challenge for me - but the arm soon began to accurately find the target. To make things more interesting, I made smaller objects in the nail grooming kit my targets (lower left of photo). Finally, I worked on picking up any three objects in front of me, with my eyes closed. One of the concepts this modification to the original task introduces is grading. As you read through this article you will have encountered other examples of grading. You are looking at offering your client a 'just-right challenge': Too easy and it's not really doing any good. Too difficult and the patient will grow frustrated and stop trying. I constantly graded those initial tasks until I found what I could do with my hand, while still experiencing a challenge. In the clinic, once a patient could accurately reach out and touch my hand, I would tell them "Well no good deed goes unpunished, so we will make this a bit more challenging. Close your eyes; your target is now one inch up and one inch to the right of where it has been." Patients commonly expressed amazement that that they could soon find it. I would then encourage them to ask their spouse, or any visitor that came to the house, to join their 'therapy team'. While in bed at the hospital one night, I was sleeping poorly and recalled being a drummer in a band much earlier in life; see Of Swords, Paradiddles and Solitaire (2020, on the Hub). So I began to perform bilateral drumming sequences - some of which were no long possible. I found that I could still move my left wrist in time with the right, although finger motions were a mess... Let's look at that in more depth for a moment. (It helps if your roommate is as hard of hearing as I am, so you don't awaken them!) When my hands were close to midline, wrist motions - and the digits controlled by the median nerve - were relatively intact. But I could not perform tasks that required quick motions of the 4th and 5th fingers of my left (L) hand. Drummers learn various sequences, called rudiments, one of which involves alternatively performing a beat that goes RLRR LRLL with the drum sticks. The rehabilitation unit did not have drum sticks, but moving my wrists in this rhythm was possible. Initially I could not perform the motions quickly, so I forced myself to slow down (grading) until I reached a speed where I could. Once this was possible, I gradually increased speed. When the wrist was more accurate I moved distally to the fingers - again, gradually increasing speed. I doubt that you will often have a drummer as a client, but we are not trying to teach them drumming, are we? We are adopting the use of occupation as means; our goal is to return function of a limb, or the ability to perform a cognitive task. During your acute treatments, teach your client how to analyse a task, how to break it down into sub-tasks and then to reassemble those sub-tasks into a whole. But you must do your homework. Before you can teach this, you must perform activity analysis of the desired task on your own. Help them understand how their home treatment program will help them rebuild those skills. This is tremendously important. If your client doesn't see the relationship between the home program you give them and recovering their independence, they will discard your plan. I worked for a home heath agency for a number of years and enjoyed it, but I was allowed a limited number of visits. If you educate your patient in a limited version of activity analysis, so that they can use objects and activities at home to promote self-treatment, they will be greatly increasing their overall treatment times. However, treatment can easily go wrong if not organised well - as it did for my friend Joan. Joan was discharged home following surgery for appendiceal cancer. The surgeon ordered physiotherapy and occupational therapy, but the therapists did not contact her and came to see her too soon. Pain control had not yet been well established, so both therapists came at a time when her pain levels prevented her participation in therapy. Essentially, Joan never received therapy... Returning back to my home treatment plan: Yesterday I added standing on the balls of my feet as I shaved, to improve balance. Then I wondered if I could shave with my left hand while doing this. Thankfully, I still have sufficiently functioning neurons to realise that, since I never did that pre-morbidly, it was not likely to end well! Give clients permission to laugh, cry and/or swear... As a client approaches discharge, consider bringing them and their significant other together in a private space. Ask them to talk about how the stroke has affected their lives and/or perception of themself. Long ago, I used to bring patients and spouses into my classroom. Although older, one couple were newly weds, of just six months. I said, "You may not have even considered that one of you could experience an event like this just six months after you started your lives together." They were silent for a few minutes; my anxiety began to rise. Then they both began to cry. The patient's wife looked at me and said, "Nobody has ever invited us to talk about this." For a time, they drew their attention away from us, speaking with each other about their love and their desire to work together. Recovering the use of an arm or the ability to walk is vital, but just as important is the ability to talk about these experiences. Believe me, I am so thankful that during my experience of stroke, my own 'team' was there to speak to. Closing thoughts Author Bill, engaging in his much-treasured occupation of drumming Take the time to learn what is important to a client, in terms of pre-morbid activities of daily living. Take the time to understand the mechanisms which resulted in those deficits in those areas. Teach and then challenge the client to perform their own activity analysis. Think about having their spouse, significant other or family member photograph rooms and objects at home, prior to discharge. Use those images to help the client select activities that will be part of that initial home program. Encourage breaks… Maybe a walk around the unit or their house, when frustration overwhelms. I did this frequently while hospitalised and was amazed when a nurse stopped me and said, "You are the only patient who walks, others just lie in bed most of the day.” Teach the client how to expand that home program out, beyond the initial one you give them. Therapy becomes life-long, but it can be tremendously rewarding as independence increases. Even failures along the way have the potential to bring on some serious laughter. References and further learning Cleveland Clinic (2023) Dysmetria (online). Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25232-dysmetria. Accessed 21 April 2026. Croninger, W. (2020) Of Swords, Paradiddles and Solitaire. In Therapy Articles, on The Occupational Therapy Hub (online). Available from: https://www.theothub.com/article/of-swords-paradiddles-and-solitaire. Accessed 21 April 2026. Croninger, W. (2024) Are You Treating the 'Whole' Patient? In Therapy Articles, on The Occupational Therapy Hub (online). Available from: https://www.theothub.com/article/treating-the-whole-patient. Accessed 21 April 2026. The Occupational Therapy Hub (2022) Occupational Therapy - Activity Analysis (PDF document). Available from: https://www.theothub.com/product-page/occupational-therapy-activity-analysis. Accessed 21 April 2026.

The 'therapeutic use of self' is a term that is often used in occupational therapy and other therapies. However, many clinicians do not know what the therapeutic use of self is , or why it is so important. Read this concise article to find out more... Therapeutic use of self 'The thoughtful and deliberate use of one's personality, opinions and judgments as a component of the therapeutic process' ( Mosby’s Medical Dictionary , 2009) The term originates from philosophy and the theories of self . This demonstrates that researchers and practitioners acknowledge that, if you are asking a research question, completing research, running a business, or delivering care or a service, you will be influencing the outcome . What does this really mean though - and can therapy be delivered without considering the therapeutic use of self? - Why is therapeutic use of self important? - Asayand Lambert (1999) investigated what influenced change in psychotherapy clients, separating the possible influences for change into: therapeutic relationship, extra-therapeutic change (e.g. support, personality or 'ego strength'), placebo and technique. The results from their meta-analysis are as follows: This indicates that therapy cannot be delivered without considering how the therapist is influencing the outcome , through their therapeutic use of self. If the therapeutic use of self is so important, more so than technique, shouldn’t there be a general consensus about how therapists are going to influence change? - Techniques to consider if using therapeutic use of self - Carl Beuhner is quoted as saying "They may forget what you said - but they will never forget how you made them feel." Consequently, therapists and care providers need to consider how they are making their clients feel. Ask yourself: Are you rushing around and not giving clients the time they need when you are delivering care or treatment? We all do this at times because everyone is stretched, but if that feeling influences outcomes by 30%, then haven't you just ruined the opportunity for change, by letting the client know you don’t have time for them? "They may forget what you said - but they will never forget how you made them feel" - Carl Beuhner The first technique then is attunement . Attunement is the ability to be completely present with the client, developing a feeling of connectedness with them. The majority of the work around this is from psychotherapies however, as an occupational therapist , don’t you pride yourself as having origins in arts and crafts, psychology, architecture, nursing, social work, philosophy, teaching and psychiatry? Therefore, you should be considering all of these aspects within your work, both in everything you do and in what you recommend. Within attunement you should be considering what your body language is saying, how your tone of voice is delivering the message, if your facial expressions and body language (including eye contact) match what you are saying and if you need to mirror the client in order for them to recognise that they have your full attention. The second technique is providing the client with unconditional positive regard . Unconditional positive regard is the ability to accept that the client is trying their best and accepting where they are at that time. This does not mean you have to agree with their choices or even like them as a person. However, it does mean that you are providing client-centred care and treatment - whilst allowing the client to make mistakes, through their ability to make their own self-determined choices. Self-disclosure is the third technique. There are two types of self-disclosure; intra-session disclosure and extra-session disclosure . Intra-session refers to reflecting how something they have done or has happened during the session has made you feel. Extra-session disclosure is disclosing information about yourself, whether that be previous qualifications, family life or interests and events. Self-disclosure can be a positive experience for the client, building rapport with them and developing a therapeutic alliance. However, Leanne Hall states there are five golden rules to self-disclosure: Waiting Being brief Being clear that this is your opinion Considering the client’s values Considering the impact self-disclosure is going to have Waiting refers to the therapist considering why they are self-disclosing, whilst being brief is to ensure the client does not feel the therapist is hijacking their session. Therapists also need to ensure that when they are self-disclosing the client knows this is their opinion and is not part of their clinical expertise or experience, as the statement could be contrary to the client’s own beliefs and values. Additionally, if the statement is contrary to the client’s own beliefs and values, consider if this self-disclosure is going to jeopardise the therapeutic relationship and alienate the client? This then leads to the final factor of considering the impact that self-disclosure can have, as clients may be left feeling burdened by the self-disclosure rather than aligned with the therapist. Whilst these 'golden rules' ensure self-disclosure is used appropriately, it is important to remember that it can assist the client with humanising the therapist. The final technique is the ability to balance the power differential . Clients often believe that the therapist or professional has greater power than them. However, this belief can lead to self-helplessness , whereas a therapist should be promoting self-empowerment and self-help . Therefore, it is essential to understand the client's background and culture , whilst presenting yourself in an honest and congruent way. That means the power imbalance should be addressed during therapy or care. The acknowledgement that you may know more about a particular solution to their problem based on your training and experience should be made, whist acknowledging that they are the expert about themselves, their culture, their expectations and their own lives. The client and the therapist should then be working together to problem solve how the 'solution' that the therapist suggests can be integrated into the client's life, based on the information the client has about themselves. - Summary - In summary, based on my research and training, the therapeutic use of self encompasses four techniques: Attunement Unconditional positive regard Self-disclosure Balancing the power differential If therapists and care providers incorporate these techniques in a positive and helpful way for the client, without hijacking the client's treatment or care, then better outcomes should be gained.

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This paper states that therapists should 'develop strategies that tailor the rhythm, melody and harmony of musical instruments, according to the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of individuals.' OT+ Members can read this 2026 original research study within the Creative Occupations research theme. 21/05/2026 Research Portal OT+ Occupational Therapist Helps Stroke Survivor Achieve Dream Proposal Carl told OT Amanda his secret plan to propose in New Orleans, the day before his girlfriend's 60th birthday. To do so, he needed his OT to help him regain strength and coordination to kneel, hold the ring and create a meaningful gift using his affected hand. Amanda, of FOX Rehabilitation: "It was everything that OT is - meaningful and functional. I couldn't wait to help him plan and make this proposal a reality." Upgraded to OT+ ? 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Your Hub Account and responsibilities As a membership-led platform and app, we actively encourage the sharing of information and content , for the benefit of the global community. At the same time, we ask that you acknowledge the following: Please remember that you control what personal information you provide while using the platform and/or app You are fully responsible for all activities that occur under your Hub Account and other actions you take on the platform and/or app You must not create content that is inappropriate, misleading or unlawful; Hub Management may change or remove any such content You are responsible for maintaining the security of your Hub Account information and its content; you must notify Hub Management of any unauthorised uses of your Hub Account, or any other breaches of security We are not responsible for (and cannot control) the use by other Hub Members of information which you provide to them. You should exercise caution in selecting the information you share. Similarly, we cannot assume responsibility for the content of information which you receive from Members through the platform and/or app. You release us from any and all liability in connection with the contents of any information which you may receive using the platform and/or app. Creating content By creating content, you represent and warrant that:- The Occupational Therapy Hub has the right to use (host, index and format) and display your content on the platform and/or app Hub Management reserves the right to refuse or remove any content or terminate or deny access to use of the platform and/or app Your Account is not named in a manner that misleads readers into thinking that you are anyone other than yourself If your employer has rights to intellectual property you create, you have permission from your employer to make this available The content does not contain or install any viruses or other harmful or destructive content Downloading, copying and use of the content will not infringe the copyright, patent, trademark or trade secret rights of a third party The content is not obscene, libellous or defamatory, hateful or racially or ethnically objectionable; it does not violate the privacy or publicity rights of any third party OT+ Membership Standard Hub Membership accounts provide access to a breadth of free resources Upgrading to OT+ Membership provides unlimited access to a wider range of tools and resources; it also offers Priority Response from the Hub Team (via direct communication, or within the dedicated OT Circle) On purchase, OT+ plans are charged on a recurring basis (as selected), unless cancelled . Please ensure payment details are kept updated, for auto-renewal and continued access to your OT+ resources. At any point, The Occupational Therapy Hub may choose to transition Free Membership resources to OT+ Membership resources (or vice versa). In its sole discretion, Management may also add, remove or change the services and resources offered, or the fees charged, at any time. Management will notify Hub Members of such changes , prior to any new or altered fees taking effect. Changes to Terms The Occupational Therapy Hub reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace any part of the Terms. Whilst we notify Members of key changes related to platform and app Policies/Terms, it is your responsibility to check the Terms periodically for changes. Your continued use of the platform and/or app, following the posting of any changes to the Terms, constitutes acceptance of those changes. The Occupational Therapy Hub may, in future, offer new services and/or features through the platform and/or app (including the release of new tools and resources). Such new features and/or services shall be subject to the Terms. Account termination In the event that a Member breaches The Occupational Therapy Hub's Terms of Use, Hub Management may terminate access to all or any part of the platform and/or app at any time, with or without notice, effective immediately. Member Comms Member Communications / Cookies and Privacy Cookies/Privacy MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS - Free and OT+ Signing up as a Hub Member When you register as a Hub Member, you will be asked to provide a name, email address and a private password, which will become part of your Hub Account information The Hub securely stores Membership details provided; further details are below Any information requested will be used to activate your account, provide the platform/app's services to you and communicate with you about the status of your Hub Account As part of Membership, you receive periodic Member Newsletters * by email; these include CPD recommendations and alert you to any service changes The 'Sign up' screen includes a link to this Policies page - to review all current policies, prior to joining as a Member Your Profile Page Each Hub Member is given their own My Profile page; this can be accessed through the Member Bar, or via the Member Directory * A public-facing My Profile page is optional . To activate this, v isit My Details * and scroll down to ' Visibility and privacy ' (N.B. o nly your My Profile tab will be publicly visible). It includes the name used to sign up, alongside an optional profile picture and profile text - for the Member to promote their work in, or linked to, the occupational therapy profession Other than storing it for you, we do not do anything with information here; it is there for networking purposes only However, if information is posted that is deemed by Hub Management to be inappropriate or offensive, the Member will be notified and the information will be removed * Requires logging in to access. Membership sign up here . How can I edit or turn on/off communications? Email alerts : To make adjustments, visit Settings * within your Hub Account OT Circles alerts : To adjust email, platform and/or app alerts for a specific Circle (group), click the ' ⫶ ' icon (top right of each Circle) Member Newsletters : We send educative and CPD-related content periodically. These communications also keep Members updated about key service changes. If you no longer want to receive these, click the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of any newsletter. COOKIES AND PRIVACY - KEY POINTS The Occupational Therapy Hub takes the privacy of its Members and visitors' information very seriously. We adhere to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2016/679) and the UK Data Protection Act (2018). Hub Management continually reviews its policies. Personal information We only collect, process and securely store personally identifiable information that you actively submit Such information is used solely for us to provide you with our services, or respond to a communication Once signed up as a Member, you can edit your 'My Profile' page; if you opt in, this can be publicly visible As part of Membership, we send Member Newsletters, to the email address provided No personally identifiable information is passed on to external organisations You have the right to access and edit your information on the Hub, at any time. On email request and subject to proof of identity, you may access personal information that we hold, have used or communicated to you and you may ask that any necessary corrections be made Demographic data Cookies allow Hub Management to understand anonymous visitor demographics and trends. In turn, this shapes and improves the service we provide you with. Cookies also allow any adverts shown to be more relevant. A Facebook pixel within The Occupational Therapy Hub's platform is used to gauge the efficacy of any social media adverts we run Protecting your information Information processed within The Occupational Therapy Hub is encrypted via secure HTTPS networks Data is backed up securely in a cloud-based drive managed by our platform host By using the platform or app and/or joining as a Hub Member, you consent to our Policies , as signposted on the Sign up screen. Personal information: what is collected, processed and stored? The only personally identifiable information we collect, process and/or store is that which you actively submit. This may be your name, email address or other contact details that you provide us with. We do not transfer this information to other organisations, unless: You provide us with explicit written authorisation, by email or post It is necessary to comply with the law, or to protect the rights, property or safety of our Management, Team or Members We collect information when you: Sign up as a Hub Member (see above) Register for OT Webinars * Submit an entry to the Service Directory Register and/or participate in OT CPD Courses * Submit research for inclusion in the Research Portal * Apply for a platform/app competition or promotion Submit a podcast episode or series to the Podcast Portal * Engage in communication, via an email or one of our forms (e.g. Connect with the Hub ) Purchase a product , such as a PromOTe Partnership or an item in the Hub Store Upload a file to the Hub's cloud storage, such as when contributing content within OT Circles * Upload content to Therapy Articles * (a moderated space , with Member-generated content) Upload a post to OT Circles * or The OT Journal Club * - ( moderated spaces , with Member-generated content) * Portals marked with asterisks require Member log in to use in full. Membership sign up here . Demographics: what non-identifiable information tools do we use - and why? Cookies : When using The Occupational Therapy Hub, cookies (non-identifiable data) may be placed locally on your computer. These can be used by Google Analytics , to allow Hub Management to establish general visitor demographics and trends. This allows us to better shape and refine our service. Such information may also be provided to Google Adsense, so that advertisements on the platform are relevant to you. Cookies do not disclose personally identifiable information about any visitors or Members. Facebook pixel : This is embedded within the platform and collects anonymised visitor data. This is used solely to allow Hub Management to gauge the efficacy of any advertisements run on social media. How do we protect your information? We implement a variety of safety measures to maintain the security of your personal information: The personal information you provide within this platform is secured within HTTPS networks . HTTPS is the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and The Occupational Therapy Hub site. The ‘S’ at the end of HTTPS stands for ‘Secure’. These communications are encrypted. Data is backed up securely in a cloud-based drive . Member information is not stored in physical form. Statements from our website host: 'If you are a visitor, user or customer of any of our Users [The Occupational Therapy Hub], please read the following: [website host] has no direct relationship with the individual Users-of-Users whose Personal Information it processes. If you are a visitor, user or customer of [The Occupational Therapy Hub] and would like to make any requests or queries regarding your Personal Information, please contact [Hub Management] directly. For example, if you wish to access, correct, amend, or delete inaccurate information processed by [website host] on behalf of [The Occupational Therapy Hub], please direct your query to [Hub Management] (who is the "Controller" of such data). If requested to remove any Users-of-Users' Personal Information, we will respond to such request within thirty days.' 'The transmission of sensitive payment information (such as a credit card number) through our designated purchase forms is protected by an industry standard SSL/TLS encrypted connection; and we regularly maintain a PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards) certification.' Other than a Member’s My Profile page - optionally viewable by the public - personal information can only be accessed by Hub Management; all management staff keep this strictly confidential Rights to my information You have the right to access and edit your information, at any time, through the web interface provided as part of the platform and app. On written request (by email) and subject to proof of identity, you may access the personal information that we hold, used or communicated and ask that any necessary corrections be made, where applicable, as authorised or required by law. However, to make sure that the personal information we maintain about you is accurate and up-to-date, please inform us of any change in your personal information by email. Third party links The Hub is a collaborative space for all. With this in mind - and to provide a breadth of content - third party links to useful, external resources and websites are listed. These are mainly found within: Therapy Articles * , OT Circles * , OT CPD Courses * , OT Updates * , Podcast Portal * , Therapy Videos * and Service Directory . These external links (websites, videos, PDF documents, podcast platforms) have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these links. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our platform and app and welcome any feedback about these linked sites, including if a specific link does not work. * Portals marked with asterisks require Member log in to use in full. Membership sign up here . Changes to our policies If our policies change, amendments will be posted here. Policy changes apply only to information collected after the date of the change. Your consent By using The Occupational Therapy Hub platform/app and/or joining as a Hub Member, you consent to our Policies. Links to this Policies page are located within sign up sections. Questions or feedback? If you have any questions or comments - about our policies, your personal information, to make an access or correction request, to exercise any applicable rights, or to make a complaint - our Data Protection Officer can be reached by email: hubteam@theOThub.com . Alternative methods of communication are listed on the Contact us page. Our registration with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Data controller: The OT Hub Ltd Registration reference: ZA319265 Nature of work Occupational therapy information service and networking website and application. Description of processing The following is a broad description of the way The Occupational Therapy Hub processes personal information. To understand how your own personal information is processed you may need to refer to any personal communications you have received, check any privacy notices the organisation has provided or contact the organisation to ask about your personal circumstances. Reasons/purposes for processing information We process personal information to enable us to provide a current, sustainable information service and networking service for our Hub Members and platform/app visitors; to maintain our own accounts and records; to support and manage our staff team. Type of information processed We process information relevant to the above reasons and purposes. This can include: Hub Membership details, within the Member Directory * Therapy Articles * and Therapy Videos * content Financial details, for OT+ Members , PromOTe Partnerships and Hub Store customers In-house and external resources within Therapy Articles * , OT Circles * , OT CPD Courses * , OT Updates * , Podcast Portal * , Therapy Videos * and Service Directory . * Portals marked with asterisks require logging in to use in full. Membership sign up here . Who the information is processed about To operate our service to you, we need to process information about: Hub Members (Free and OT+) Members who participate in courses or OT Circles (networking groups) Visitors who inquire about or submit files to the platform or app Customers who purchase a product External occupational therapy practices External occupational therapists External resources and services External podcasts External research Who the information may be shared with In very rare circumstances, in the interest of the public, the company or its Members' safety or security, other governing organisations may need to be contacted. Where this is necessary, we are required to comply with all aspects of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (2016/679) and the UK's Data Protection Act (2018). In this instance, only when required of us, we would share information with: employer associations examining bodies central government suppliers and service providers persons making an inquiry or complaint Hub Store Terms of Use Hub Store For the attention of anyone using the Hub Store . Please read these Terms of Use ('Terms') before purchasing items in the Store. Charges The Occupational Therapy Hub cannot issue refunds for digital products that are downloaded, as these cannot be returned If you make a purchase, you agree that our third party payment gateways will securely store your payment information If the payment method you provide has expired and/or valid payment information is not provided, the transaction will not occur At any point, The Occupational Therapy Hub may choose to transition products from paid to free access (or vice versa). In its sole discretion, Management may also add, remove, update or modify a product, or the fees charged , at any time. Management will notify Hub Members of such changes , prior to implementation of any new or altered costs. Limitation of liability You agree that, under no legal theory, will The Occupational Therapy Hub or its management or team be liable to you or any third party acting on your behalf for any indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages or losses, arising from or relating to the use of (or inability to correctly use) a product it provides. General representation and warranty Your use of the platform and/or app will be in strict accordance with these Terms, the Privacy, Cookies and Communication Policies , the Hub Membership Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations. These include, without limitation, any local laws or regulations in your country, regarding online conduct and acceptable content. These include all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United Kingdom, or the country in which you reside Your use of the platform and/or app will not infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party Miscellaneous If there is any dispute between you and The Occupational Therapy Hub, about or involving the Terms or a product, you hereby agree that the dispute will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. PromOTe Terms PromOTe Partnerships Terms of Service For attention of commercial partners and clients. Please read these Terms of Service ('Terms') carefully before purchasing a PromOTe Partnerships plan. If you don’t agree to these Terms, as well as The Occupational Therapy Hub’s Privacy, Cookies and Communication Policies , you should not use our services. If you are entering into the Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to the Terms. Fees and renewals The Occupational Therapy Hub cannot issue refunds for partial months of PromOTe Partnerships marketing If you purchase one of our services, you agree that our third party payment gateways will securely store your payment card or other payment information You expressly agree that we are authorised to charge you: A fee for any applicable service which you have purchased, billed on a basis of the outlined and agreed plan period Any charges for use of our service in excess of the usage or other limits placed on your use of our service (and you hereby consent to such charges) If the payment card you provide expires and you do not provide new payment information or cancel your Account, you authorise us to continue billing you and you agree to remain responsible for any uncollected fees. Limitation of liability You agree that, under no legal theory, will The Occupational Therapy Hub or its owners, directors or team be liable to you or any third party acting on your behalf for any indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages or loss of profits (even if The Occupational Therapy Hub has been advised of the possibility of such damages), arising from or relating to the Terms or your use of or your inability to use the platform and/or app. You agree that The Occupational Therapy Hub will not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as the result of any interactions or dealings with partners or advertisers, or as the result of the presence of such advertisers on the platform. General representation and warranty You represent and warrant that: Your use of the platform and/or app will be in strict accordance with these Terms, the Privacy, Cookies and Communication Policies , the Hub Membership Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations. These include, without limitation, any local laws or regulations in your country, regarding online conduct and acceptable content. These include all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United Kingdom or the country in which you reside Your use of the platform and/or app will not infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party Miscellaneous If there is any dispute between you and The Occupational Therapy Hub about or involving the Terms or the service, you hereby agree that the dispute will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Copyright Copyright The OT Hub Ltd is the legal copyright holder of the resources, functions, designs, logos and names ('The Occupational Therapy Hub' and 'The OT Hub'), belonging to The Occupational Therapy Hub platform and app. Our content may not be reprinted, reproduced or modified without written consent. A link to The Occupational Therapy Hub's website (www.theOThub.com ) must appear in all authorised copies of any content owned by The OT Hub Ltd. Content uploaded by Hub Members, via their accounts, is copyright of its respective owners. OT CPD Courses * Courses and contents are owned by their respective hosts. External resources cited are owned by their respective external organisations. OT Circles * and The OT Journal Club * Documents, uploads and external resources (via hyperlinks) are owned by their original creators/authors. Therapy Videos * Video footage showcased within the 'Community Videos' channel is owned by its respective publishers, not by The OT Hub Ltd. Podcast Portal * Logos, audio content and embedded links to series and platforms are owned by their original creators/authors. Research Portal * Content uploaded is owned and copyrighted by the research author(s). Hub Store Assessments, documents, presentations and clinical and reflective tools are owned by The OT Hub Ltd, or their creators/authors. Service Directory Logos, information and external resources and services (via hyperlinks) listed here are owned by external organisations. * Portals marked with asterisks require logging in to use in full. Membership sign up here . The Occupational Therapy Hub is owned and managed by The OT Hub Ltd, registered in England and Wales. Company number: 11084421.