Ep. 52: Occupational Therapy: Strengthening the Foundation of the Brain

Marti Smith, OTR is an Occupational Therapist, fellow with the Child Trauma Academy, and founding Board Member with A-TROT, the Alliance for Trauma Responsive Occupational Therapists. Marti is a dear friend and close colleague. We met what feels like eons ago at a Trust Based Relational Intervention training and became quick friends. I’ve learned so much from Marti in my own career about chasing the ‘why’ behind a behavior-- and not just the relational and attachment need, but the biological and physiological need behind a behavior. The Brain is Behind Everything We Do The foundation of my work rests on the idea that the brain is behind every single thing that we do- so let’s get curious about what is going on the brain that is underneath a specific behavior (which is the foundation of the course Parenting after Trauma: Minding the Heart and Brain ). Marti’s work as an occupational therapist beautifully dovetails the work I do as a mental health therapist while also offering a new perspective by looking at the physical body and autonomic nervous system factors that are related to behaviors. Marti’s expertise in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics helps keep her focus on the foundation of the brain as a way to support kids with challenging behaviors. She knows keenly that the foundation of any skill must be strengthened before moving on to more advanced skills. I mean, if you want to do calculus you’ve got to have addition down-pat! Connect with Marti Marti is doing some truly ground-breaking work within his community- go check it out! https://CreativeTherapies.com The Connected Therapist Trauma Tips Video Podcast KALMAR I would love to have you join me this March in Durango, CO for a 3-day, retreat style workshop: Presence in Practice: An experiential workshop into the neurobiology of how change happens. All details and registration ------> https://RobynGobbel.com/Durango Register by December 19 for $75 off! Get access to over 25+ free resources in our brand, new Free Resource Hub! RobynGobbel.com/FreeResourceHub ::: Grab a copy of USA Today Best Selling book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/book Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion Follow Me On: Facebook Instagram Over on my website you can find: Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE) eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE) LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)