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N.B. A Hub collaborative partnership: Some marketing elements; no paid sponsorship If you are an occupational therapy (OT) practitioner or student, you will be familiar with the multifaceted challenges your patients and clients face. The intricate interplay between physical and mental health - intertwined with lifestyle and social factors - requires a holistic approach. OT assessment and intervention considers and seeks to address the whole person; sometimes there is a need for additional self-care practices, to help transform lives. Enter yoga - a versatile tool, offering a complement to OT intervention, with evidence that supports its physical and mental health benefits. A 2018 research paper (1) found that: 'Occupational therapists reported that yoga increased self-awareness, including the development of self-efficacy, self-regulation and self-care. Participants noted that the practice of yoga was motivating and elicited a sense of empowerment, that resulted in positive perceptions of health-related quality of life and overall well-being.' Yoga's versatility for Occupational Therapists Yoga provides occupational therapists with a set of invaluable skills applicable to a broad spectrum of individuals - both to patients and to fellow clinicians. Beyond the well-recognised physical benefits, yoga contributes significantly (2) to mental health and well-being. In a systematic review (3), discussing yoga therapy as a modality in occupational therapy practice for adults experiencing mood disorders, researchers concluded: 'Yoga therapy may be a promising method to integrate into care plans, to reduce the impact of mood disorders such as depressive symptomatology.' Yoga and yoga therapy is also cost-effective, compared with some other methods. As a healing modality, it can be adapted in most client-care settings, with approaches and techniques that are simple and easily translated to multiple populations, for both short and long-term management of chronic conditions. How can yoga practices be shared by Occupational Therapists in a real life setting? With suitable grading and positioning guidance, basic and fundamental yoga practices can be incorporated into daily routines. They can include breathing and relaxation techniques. With sufficient activity analysis, they can also be applied to specific conditions that Occupational Therapists handle on a regular basis. Two such conditions are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia. One recent, interesting, state-of-the-art 2023 narrative review article (4) looked specifically at the benefits of mind-body techniques for these coexisting conditions. These conditions share common pathophysiological mechanisms; sensitisation of peripheral and central pain pathways and autonomic dysfunction. The review found that: 'On an individual basis, mind-body interventions have been reported to benefit both the conditions and influence central pain syndromes and autonomic dysregulation.' Such health conditions are also seen by Yoga Therapists, who undergo two years of training. You can read about the concept of yoga therapy here: What is Yoga Therapy? (7). Rising yoga practices - for both Occupational Therapists and patients As a busy clinician (with a non-work life to prioritise too), the likelihood is that you have no additional time on your hands to study yoga in-depth for two years. However, simple key postures - including standing poses, forward and back bends, twists, sun salutations and simple inversions - support healing and recovery on both physical and psychological levels. It is essential to apply specific techniques safely of course, emphasising the importance of postural alignment alongside breath awareness and mindfulness. These techniques can be learnt in a relatively short time frame. Specifically, there is a growing trend in the practice of chair yoga (8), which is a safe and accessible way to integrate yoga into a patient-Occupational Therapist relationship. Supporting patients with chair yoga gives an accessible practice, which can also be continued outside of traditional OT/clinical settings. A 2023 study (5) supported this rise, finding that: 'Chair yoga therapy can enable older adults with knee osteoarthritis to adopt and practice the therapy at home as part of their daily life, lessening the risk of their disease progressing to disability.' Chair yoga is designed to make yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. The practice is one that many occupational therapists already use as a treatment adjunct with their patients. It is worth acknowledging the growing acceptance of chair yoga in healthcare settings, offering a practical solution for patients with varying physical capabilities. Accessibility of yoga instruction for Occupational Therapists? A recent study (6) found healthcare professionals are motivated to recommend yoga to patients, but face barriers, due to lack of information about how patients can access appropriate and affordable yoga instruction... In light of this, Liz Oppedijk - Yoga Therapy Educator at The Minded Institute and Founder/CEO of Accessible Chair Yoga - is offering a one-day online course: Basic Yoga Techniques for Health Professionals leaves participants with the ability to weave foundational yoga skills into their work immediately. As a valued Member of The Occupational Therapy Hub, you are entitled to a 10% discount on the full price of this course. Simply click the link above, add the course to your basket and enter the discount code OTHUB10 at checkout. Please contact marketing@themindedinstitute.com with any questions or queries. Empower yourself, empower your patients. Why not elevate your practice with yoga? References and further reading Graham, J. and Plummer, T. (2018) Perceptions of Occupational Therapists and Yoga Practitioners of the Effects of Yoga on Health and Wellness. Annals of International Occupational Therapy. 1 (3): 127-138. Available from: https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/24761222-20180620-01. Bös, C., Gaiswinkler, L., Fuchshuber, J., Schwerdtfeger, A. and Unterrainer, H.F. (2023) Effect of Yoga involvement on mental health in times of crisis: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychology. 2023; 14. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10074601/. Crooks, C., Toolsiedas, H., McDougall, A. and Nowrouzi-Kia, B. (2024) Systematic review protocol of yoga therapy as a modality in occupational therapy practice for adults experiencing mood disorders. British Medical Journal (Open). 14 (1). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10773392/. Majumdar, V. and Manjunath, N.K. (2023) Editorial: New insights into yoga and mental health. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2023 (17). Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1239411/full. Yao, C.T., Lee, B.O., Hong, H. and Su, Y.C. (2023) Effect of Chair Yoga Therapy on Functional Fitness and Daily Life Activities among Older Female Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis in Taiwan: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Healthcare (Basel). 2023; 11 (7): 1024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10094373/. Smit, C. and Cartwright, T. (2023) Recommending yoga for health: A survey of perceptions among healthcare practitioners in the UK. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2023 (52): 101765. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388123000464. The Minded Institute (2024) What is Yoga Therapy? The Minded Institute (online). Available from: https://themindedinstitute.com/what-is-yoga-therapy-2. The Minded Institute (2023) Chair Yoga, Accessible to Everyone, from Simple to Profound. The Minded Institute (online). Available from: https://themindedinstitute.com/chair-yoga-accessible-to-everyone-from-intense-to-simple/.

This piece is dedicated to a remarkable individual I had the privilege of treating for approximately two weeks. 'S' - a young man in his early twenties, from a small village in Assam, India - arrived at our department in a wheelchair, due to the sequelae of a non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite his physical challenges, S displayed an exceptional level of positivity and resilience... S was an aspiring fashion designer, who moved to Delhi to follow his passion. The lack of funds for his higher education forced him to look for a part-time occupation, which led him to take a keen interest in the make-up and beauty industry. Soon, S realised that he had a talent for using knowledge of colour theory in applying make-up and started gathering a small clientele for himself. Tragedy struck with the advent of COVID-19 and, along with many others, S was also a victim of its atrocities. Within time, he was rendered paraplegic, requiring full use of a wheelchair and with 'no possibility of going back to work again'. Clinically, S presented with impairments in: trunk control upper limb strength functional skills wheelchair mobility Recognising his aspirations and potential for rehabilitation, I immediately initiated a comprehensive treatment plan, tailored to address these areas of concern. Our first target was to establish good trunk control and dynamic sitting balance, by engaging him in activities that challenged him in these areas. For example, overhead ball throwing and graded stooping in a high-seated position. Once that was established, we worked on improving upper limb strength and endurance, as it was essential for wheelchair mobility and transfers. Push-ups were a great option and his performance was evaluated based on clearance, endurance and level of assistance provided. Perfecting a static push-up was essential for relieving pressure during long sitting hours, to prevent pressure ulcers. Dynamic push-ups were necessary for independent transfers, from bed to wheelchair and vice-versa. During our therapy sessions, one of the main issues to address was how his current functional status affected his work, to a point of resigning as a make-up artist (MUA). He educated me on all the postural and technical difficulties a male MUA faced, while doing his job in a wheelchair. His biggest challenge was the lack of trunk stability. The other issue he faced was positioning the client to accommodate his wheelchair. He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of leaning over the client’s face with the risk of falling over them while he worked. Another problem he faced was engaging in bilateral activities like hair washing and setting, since it involved him moving all around the client while working. He wouldn’t be able to manoeuvre the wheelchair if his hands were coated in any hair-care products... In order to better understand these hurdles, we conducted a simulation with some modifications, to better suit his functional status. Two of my colleagues assisted as volunteers; we gathered all the basic tools and equipment needed for him to apply basic make-up over a client. We were immediately able to identify some factors that affected his activity performance: The quality of wheelchair used significantly affected his performance. The size, material, state of repair, presence of chest strap, quality of brakes and removable armrests were important aspects to take into account. Environmental factors, like accessibility and open space, were necessary to take into account. Using more handheld tools and gloves helped with prevention of cross-contamination. Having the client, in this case, the volunteer, seated at an inclination instead of lying supine also made a positive difference. A detachable lapboard to place all his tools on was also a better option than the trolley that was usually used by them. Throughout our sessions, S's determination and creativity shone brightly. Despite facing financial constraints and the devastating impact of COVID-19, he remained unwavering in his pursuit of regaining independence and pursuing his passions. With the support of his mother and close friends, S embarked on a journey of self-discovery and adaptation. Incorporating occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation and physical therapy, our sessions focused on enhancing S's functional abilities, while exploring opportunities for him to re-engage in his interests. Despite initial scepticism, S embraced the idea of utilising his talents in the makeup and beauty industry - leveraging his knowledge of colour theory and artistic skills. Our therapy sessions evolved into a collaborative exploration, of adaptive techniques and strategies tailored to S's unique needs. From mastering wheelchair positioning for optimal makeup application, to implementing pressure relieving techniques during prolonged sessions, each session served as a learning opportunity for both S and myself. As our time together drew to a close, S's remarkable progress and unwavering optimism left a lasting impression on me. His resilience in the face of adversity serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for adaptation and growth. S's journey continues, as he undergoes long-term rehabilitation at another branch of our institute. While I may no longer be directly involved in his care, I remain inspired by his tenacity and consistent determination to overcome challenges and pursue his dreams. In conclusion... S's story exemplifies the transformative impact of rehabilitation and the strength of the human spirit. As healthcare professionals, it is both our privilege and responsibility to empower individuals like S, to reclaim their independence and pursue their passions - irrespective of the challenges they may face. Further reading and learning World Health Organization (WHO) (2013) Spinal cord injury (online). Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/spinal-cord-injury. Accessed 13 April 2024. OT CPD Courses: Fundamentals of Posture, Pressure and Ergonomics (2022, The Occupational Therapy Hub). Plus+ Member access to participate and receive a certificate.

Every now and then, the ambience in our office is disturbed by a member of the public roaring with laughter in the corridor, whilst reading the 'Sleep Office' sign on our door. We prick our ears with a sense of familiarity, anticipating what is coming next. "Sleep Office. Ha ha! What do you think they do in there then, sleep?" While the idea of sleeping on the job sounds amusing to some, to our patients, sleep at any time has often become a living nightmare. Night after night, for years or decades - stuck in a seemingly inescapable cycle of desperately wanting to sleep, yet spending much of the night exhausted and awake. We call this insomnia, which is one of the many sleep disorders we deal with at our sleep clinic. To those who have never struggled with sleep, it is hard to understand the profound impact that sleep disorders have on a person’s life. While they may be seen as a nighttime problem, they have a significant impact - across the full 24-hour spectrum - on: health emotions cognition productivity quality of life You might call me biased, but I think that sleep is the ultimate occupation! Every other occupation is affected by how well we sleep, and similarly, sleep is affected by all our occupations. At the Royal Surrey County Hospital (in the UK), we are a team of three Occupational Therapists, working within an outpatient National Health Service (NHS) sleep clinic to provide assessment and behavioural treatment for sleep disorders. While our respiratory nurse and physiotherapy colleagues provide the sleep disordered breathing service, our primary focus is on delivering treatment for insomnia. We also support patients with circadian rhythm disorders, concurrent insomnia and sleep apnoea (COMISA), nightmare disorder and parasomnias. Our patients range in age from 16-90 years and, unsurprisingly, many have complex medical or mental health issues in addition to their sleep disorder. A day in the life... Today, my day started with a remote clinic. Due to there only being a few NHS Insomnia services in the UK, many of our patients are not local and prefer remote treatment, to avoid long journeys. My first patient was a 45-year-old lady who, for the last 10 years, has taken several hours to fall asleep and then woken for another hour or two overnight. At first assessment, she estimated sleeping around 5 hours on a good night and was feeling desperate. Despite describing herself as a naturally positive person, her life had become a battle. She felt exhausted all the time, had been pulled up for mistakes at work and her relationship with her husband was deteriorating - not helped by their recent 'sleep divorce' (separate bedrooms). We initiated cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for Insomnia, which is misleadingly named, as it is nothing like regular CBT. After only a few weeks, her sleep is improving. CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first line treatment for people with chronic insomnia - although sadly few services exist, which means that most sufferers are fobbed off with no help, or ineffective sleep hygiene. CBT-I has a robust evidence base, demonstrating efficacy in primary and co-morbid insomnia (references 1,2). It is a multi-component intervention, addressing cognitive and behavioural factors that perpetuate sleep disturbance. We deliver our programme in an innovative way, through a combination of treatment videos (which I created, after we were forced to close our service during covid-19) and one-to-one support (to tailor, troubleshoot and top-up video content). While the principles of CBT-I are quite simple, in reality they can be challenging, both to deliver as a healthcare professional and to implement as a patient. For example, techniques such as sleep scheduling can be very daunting. This requires an already-sleep-deprived individual to sacrifice catch-up sleep, get up at a consistent time and temporarily reduce their overall time in bed, in order to increase sleep efficiency. Not surprisingly, occupational therapy coaching skills are extensively employed, including: evaluating motivation explaining rationale instilling hope compassionately acknowledging concerns adapting guidance to overcome barriers or resistance In spite of patients’ initial scepticism, CBT-I literally changes lives within a matter of weeks. That was the case for my first patient. Only four weeks after first seeing me, she was surprised to find that she was falling asleep within 30 minutes - and getting back to sleep quickly during the night. Her average sleep duration had already increased to 6.5-7 hours a night. I explained the next steps and congratulated her on the positive spiral she was creating - where increased sleep consistency produces greater confidence, which in-turn promotes calm at bedtime and consequently promotes more sleep! My next patient was a 62-year-old man, whom I was speaking to for the first time. He explained that his sleep had been poor for years; as is the case for many of our patients, his physical and mental health was suffering. After initially describing symptoms suggestive of insomnia, he flippantly disclosed violent dreams associated with thrashing around and dream-related movement. Further questioning revealed a history consistent with REM Behaviour Disorder (RBD). Sadly, around 70% of those with RBD develop Parkinson’s Disease within 12 years (reference 3). RBD is not something that can be treated behaviourally and a formal diagnosis requires a laboratory sleep study, which we do not have available at our hospital. So I inform the gentleman on good sleep practices, recommend safety measures to avoid injury overnight, advise the GP to remain vigilant to other prodromal Parkinson’s symptoms and refer him to a London clinic, for a formal diagnosis. Other activities during the day include setting up a respiratory sleep study for a lady with insomnia - but whom I suspect has sleep apnoea too. Plus talking to a young woman with a severely delayed sleep rhythm (4am - 1pm) about light therapy. That and wading through an endless stream of admin, triaging referrals, attending a multidisciplinary (MDT) meeting and cursing the new electronic records system that isn’t cooperating... As my day draws to an end, I am left utterly convinced that when we help our patients sleep, we help them live. If this article has inspired you to think more deeply about sleep, I would encourage you to start building your knowledge of sleep, through reading or training. From there, your most powerful tool is to ask your patients about their sleep. In the words of Jane, a former patient and former insomniac: "Life feels so much brighter, better and happier when you’ve slept well!" Struggling to sleep? Listen up! This free 30-minute one-off podcast will provide insights and evidence-based techniques, to help you and your clients sleep better tonight! If you are struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, please listen in below. Created by article author Louise Berger, the talk will cover: How you are not alone and there is hope What to do when you are having a few bad nights The difference between a few bad nights and full-blown insomnia How insomnia develops The vicious cycle of trying too hard to sleep The two systems that determine how well you sleep - sleep drive and hyper-arousal The difference between being sleepy and tired Practical ways to increase sleep drive, so you can fall (and stay) asleep more easily Ways to reduce alertness and anxiety at bedtime and overnight Why you don’t have to sleep 7-8 hours every night Why your insomnia isn’t going to take you to an early grave References Trauer, J.M., Qian, M.Y., Doyle, J.S., Rajaratnam, S.M.W. and Cunnington, D. (2015) Cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine. 163 (3): 191-204. doi: 10.7326/M14-2841. Edinger, J.D., Arnedt, J.T., Bertisch, S.M. et al. (2021) Behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 17 (2): 263-298. Roguski, A., Rayment, D., Whone, A.L., Jones, M.W. and Rolinski, M. (2020) A neurologist's guide to REM sleep behavior disorder. Frontiers in Neurology. Jul 8; 11:610. Berger, L. (2024) Say Goodnight to Insomnia Podcast. Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust: Occupational Therapy > Insomnia Clinic. Available online: https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/saygoodnight. Accessed 15 February 2024.

As Occupational Therapists, we are always trying to identify activities that a client might connect with. Gardening is an accessible, adaptable pastime, that many clients have experienced and which an intervention can be built around. However, barriers exist with many mental health conditions, such as volition and fatigue, that need to be overcome in order to engage. Take this short course to explore these themes further. Questions and self-reflection will follow content, to help test your knowledge and provide evidence of learning.

Introduction As Occupational Therapists, we are always trying to identify activities that a patient or client might connect with. Gardening is an accessible, adaptable pastime, that many clients have experienced and which an intervention can be built around. However, for many mental health conditions, there are barriers such as volition and fatigue, that need to be overcome in order to engage. These can be minimised by using techniques to encourage engagement, predominantly appropriate for Occupational Therapists, but also Social and Therapeutic Horticulturists. A brief overview of depression Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a debilitating mood disorder and mental health condition. It can affect people of all ages, races, ethnicities and genders, often presenting itself with low mood and cognitive distortion (Gonzalez et al, 2009). Characteristics often impact the ability to engage with others and in daily life activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. Although men, women and people of all genders can feel depressed, how they express symptoms - and the behaviours used to cope with them - may differ. An individual with depression is likely to experience some (but not all) of the following signs and symptoms, most of the day, nearly every day: Persistent sad, anxious, or 'empty' mood Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness Feelings of irritability, frustration or restlessness Decreased energy, fatigue or feeling slowed down Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Difficulty sleeping, waking early in the morning, or oversleeping Becoming withdrawn and detached; isolating from family and friends Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities Problems with sexual desire and performance Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems (no clear physical cause) Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts [National Institute of Mental Health, 2023] Depression interferes with day-to-day functioning and causes significant distress for the person experiencing it. Statistically, 4-10% of people in England (for example) will have depression at some time (NICE, 2011), with 7.8% being diagnosed alongside anxiety (HSCIC, 2009). The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2008) predicted that depressive conditions would be the second major cause of disability in the world by 2020. As symptom severity is highly variable, any effective intervention should be appropriate to the degree of depression. Evidence that gardening is beneficial for depression Soga, Gaston and Yamaura (2016) carried out a statistical quantitative research review of the health benefits of gardening and concluded it can provide a reduction in depression. This supports many of the qualitative experiences of the benefits of gardening with depression. "Gardening is a constant boost to my consciously nurtured optimism, as I am surrounded by the natural world, which pursues life with eager enthusiasm." (Mind, 2017) Gonzalez et al (2009) evaluated the impact of therapeutic horticulture on clinical depression, by measuring changes in the severity of the depression and the participants' perceived capacity for attention. They found a correlation between the extent to which attention was captured and the reduction in depression. They deduce that this was a result of the disruption to the participant’s rumination and the effortless attention involved in engaging in gardening. Berg and Custers (2011) demonstrated that gardening increased positive mood, reducing cortisol levels and enabled participants to handle acute stress better (Kings Fund, 2016). Rostami et al (2014) noted that visitors of gardens felt that the experience reduced their depression by 94%. Providing access to a garden environment - even visiting public areas - can have positive effects on well-being, evoking a sense of identity, meaning and reducing stress. The MIND charity and University of Essex (UK) have developed an eco-therapy project - including gardening and food growing - to support mental health conditions, including depression. They found 69% of people experienced significant increases in wellbeing by the time they left the Ecominds project. Their survey of GPs stated that the eco-therapy was a valid and suitable treatment for anxiety (52%) and depression (51%) (University of Essex, 2013). Thrive (2017) suggest that gardening is an activity that enables a person to often connect with their past, while developing personally through their growing horticultural knowledge. It provides essential physical exercise, social connectedness and environmental connectedness (Sempik et al, 2005).

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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 below) ​Register for OT Webinars * or an OT Event 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 our Connect with the Hub form Engage in Hub CPD , the collaborative professional development programme Purchase a product , such as a PromOTe Partnership or item within the Hub Store Submit an entry to Access Occupational Therapists or the Resources + Services Portal Upload a file to The Occupational Therapy Hub's cloud storage, such as when contributing to Therapy Videos * Upload content to Therapy Articles * ; this is a moderated p ortal , with Member-generated content Upload a post to the Therapy Forum * , Student Spaces * or The OT Journal Club * - Member-generated content ( moderated ) ​ * 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 surfing 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. ​ ​ How can I edit or turn on/off communications? Email alerts : Click 'Settings' in the Member Bar , which sits top- right of every web page [ The Member Bar also allows you to review account details, Plus+ Membership and to log in/out of the Hub] Therapy Forum alerts : To adjust email or platform alerts for a specific forum, click the 'Follow'/'Following' button 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 ​ Third party links To provide a breadth of website content, we list third party links to useful, external resources and websites. These are mainly found in: Access Occupational Therapists , Therapy Articles * Therapy Forum * , OT CPD Courses * , OT Updates * , Podcast Portal * , Therapy Videos * and Resources + Services Portal . These external links (websites, videos, PDF documents, podcast platforms) have separat e 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 or 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. ​ ​ ​ Registration with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO ) ​ ​ 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 site 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 Plus+ Members , PromOTe Partnerships and Hub Store customers External resources in Access Occupational Therapists , Therapy Articles * Therapy Forum * , OT CPD Courses * , OT Updates * , Podcast Portal * , Therapy Videos * and Resources + Services Portal . * 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 Plus+) Members who participate in courses Customers who purchase a product Visitors who inquire about or submit files to the platform or app External podcasts External resources and services External research External occupational therapy practices External occupational therapists 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 (Our Policies) For 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 Partnerships (Our Policies) 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 (Our Policies) Copyright The OT Hub Ltd is the legal copyright holder of the Portals, 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. E xternal resources cited are owned by their respective external organisations. ​ Therapy Forum * , Student Spaces * and The OT Journal Club * Documents, uplo ads and external links are owned by their creators/authors, not by The OT Hub Ltd. Therapy Videos * Video footage showcased within the 'Community Videos' channel is owned by external organisations, not by The OT Hub Ltd. ​ Podcast Portal * Logos, audio content and embedded links to series and platforms are owned by their creators/authors, not by The OT Hub Ltd. ​ Research Portal * Content uploaded is owned and copyrighted by the research author(s), not The OT Hub Ltd. ​ Hub Store Assessments, documents, presentations and clinical and reflective tools are owned by The OT Hub Ltd, or their creators/authors . ​ Access Occupational Therapists / Resources + Services Portal Logos, information and links to external resources and services listed here are owned by external organisations, not by The OT Hub Ltd. * 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.

occupation We believe in the power of for health & wellbeing Your global occupational therapy community The platform and app run by Occupational Therapists. Shaped by 20,400+ Members , in 195 countries. News + Latest Free Membership Membership Plus+ Passionately empowering clinicians, students and those they support The Mission To show the world the value of our health and social care profession . ​ To share knowledge and resources, across an international community. To provide a community of practice, reducing geographical and professional isolation. On upgrading to Membership Plus+ : "I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in to the resources, as they look fantastic. Thank you for your hard work on The Occupational Therapy Hub." ​ ​ Carina (email, 2024) Testimonials Community dashboard Josette Caivano 5d Middle/High School Supports anna.norbiato150201 6d Study on caregiver of patientes with SM Catherine Lipinskis Apr 30 Dissertation support Colette Montgomery May 05 Research support Aarti Brahmbhatt Apr 23 OT placement Verity Jones Mar 21 Research with Paediatric Occupational Therapists Amy Patterson Apr 20 Children & Young People with Chronic Pain Gill Court Jan 19, 2022 OT practitioners working in Domestic Abuse - making connections? ek.dawson Apr 15, 2022 OT and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) - UK help please!? Latest OT CPD Courses (Plus+) Sleep: An Occupational Therapy Domain 2 Plans Available Join ADHD and Occupational Therapy 2 Plans Available Join Therapy Article Highlights Clinical Reference Using Yoga to complement Occupational Therapy Reflective Journals Reflections on the Rebirth of an Artist A Day in the Life 'Drawing back the covers' on the OT role in sleep: An article and podcast Hub News Hub News Poll So, what do you think? Shaped by Members every day, the Hub is your global community of practice. So, to focus our efforts in developing OT resources that are most useful to you , we ask you to consider submitting opinions and/or constructive feedback in 2024's Membership Poll . We will upgrade a random participant's account for free, regardless of their answers or ratings given. The poll takes just a few minutes. It will close on Sunday 30th June . In advance, thank you for helping to make this the best occupational therapy community possible! 28/04/2024 Membership Poll 2024 Plus+ Dementia in Australia: Clinical recommendations post-diagnosis (2024) Over 400,000 Australians are thought to be living with dementia; this number is expected to double by 2058. The recommendations in this research can help individuals, families and healthcare providers to navigate this difficult time. Upgraded to Plus+ ? Read the 2024 discussion paper now, within the Development and Ageing theme of the Research Portal. 27/04/2024 Research Portal (Plus+) Plus+ Research: The i mpact of assistance dogs on the occupational engagement of children with autism and their families ‘Having the dog as part of our family gives us hope’. Assistance dogs reportedly progressed children from community ‘isolation' to freedom. Plus+ Members c an learn about the three identified themes and explore the 2024 study's findings, within the Neurodiversity section of the Research Portal. 22/04/2024 Research Portal (Plus+) Free New article: Reflections on the Rebirth of an Artist This story of 'S', who had a spinal cord injury, exemplifies the transformative impact of rehabilitation and the strength of the human spirit. As healthcare professionals, it is our privilege and responsibility to empower such individuals, to reclaim their independence and pursue their passions - irrespective of the challenges they may face... Read this and other educative and reflective articles here - or via The OT Hub app . 14/04/2024 Therapy Articles Free Watch: Perinatal Occupational Therapy What is perinatal mental health and how can occupational therapists help both mums and dads over this testing transition period? Watch a TV interview with OTR/L Hayle to find out! Access this (and other) educative and informative videos right here - or on-the-go, via The OT Hub app . [Video credit: ND Today]. 10/04/2024 Therapy Videos Plus+ Researcher Seeks to Improve Motor and Cognitive Function in Children with Autism "OT interventions can be effective in changing brain performance... We rewire the brain by utilising strategies that enable it to process sensory information in a more functional manner... Strategies can be specifically designed to motivate and engage children, while addressing their unique sensory-motor, psychosocial and cognitive-behavioural needs." Access the latest news and stories from the profession worldwide, with Membership Plus+ . 06/04/2024 OT Updates (Plus+)

The global OT community, in your pocket. We are excited to provide you educative occupational therapy tools and resources, in app form! 'The OT Hub' App is available to download on Android devices, via Google Play - and iOS devices, via the App Store . Why join us over on the app? Convenience and ease Simple design and interface makes browsing and learning easier. Community support Quickly engage with Members. Contact the Hub Team via Chat. Personalised content View Free and/or Plus+ resources, depending on your plan. iOS devices Please note Due to Apple's policy update, Members using iPhones or iPads are unable to upgrade to Membership Plus+ or purchase items in the Hub Store directly on the Hub App . Both of these actions can be done via the mobile or desk/laptop site. Once upgraded, Plus+ resources will then be visible on your iOS app. Available now Hub App Queries or feedback regarding The OT Hub App? Contact us