Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Emer, occupational therapist who specializes in menopause health. While studying at UCC, she developed an interest in menopause and noticed a lack of support for it in Ireland, which prompted her to set up a private practice called The Menopause OT, which provides holistic, personalized care and treatment plans for all people experiencing challenges during the menopause transition.

Emer is passionate about the important role of occupational therapy in supporting people during menopause. She is committed to expanding her knowledge and expertise in this area. 80% of caregivers are women, and menopause can significantly impact parenting, especially of children with additional needs.

In this podcast episode, Emer shares simple lifestyle changes that can help manage menopause symptoms, like eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, and building sustainable habits. She also discusses how sensory needs may change during menopause. Emer emphasizes the importance of understanding menopause as a time of introspection and change, when women often reconnect with female friends and seek to define their identity beyond being a parent or spouse.

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Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Georgie Coney , a dedicated and fully qualified teacher, author, and dyslexia specialist with over two decades of experience. She is passionate about fostering positive learning environments for all children, with a deep understanding of learners with specific learning difficulties.

As a qualified diagnostic assessor of specific learning difficulties in the UK and a specialist teacher, Georgie brings a wealth of expertise to her practice. She serves as a coordinator and dyslexia tutor at the Dyslexia Association of Ireland and runs her own tutoring business, Dyslexia Span.

Georgie has held various teaching roles, including teacher training for parent partners and education, and has worked as an inclusion manager, SENCO, and learning support coordinator in mainstream and special education settings. She has authored several books on spelling and phonological awareness to aid learners with dyslexia and other challenges.

In addition to her teaching work, Georgie co-hosts the "The Long Way Back" podcast on neurodiversity with Timmy Long. She is committed to supporting learners with dyslexia and other learning differences through her teaching, advising, and advocacy efforts.

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Banu Balaji, the host and an occupational Therapist chats with Padraig Danaher, an occupational therapist specializing in infant, child, and parent mental health. Padraig emphasizes the importance of "doing" as mindfulness for mental wellness. He says that engaging in meaningful activities and movement is crucial for young people's mental health and resilience. Padraig advises parents and caregivers to encourage children to engage in activities they enjoy that involve moving their body, leading by example. He also stresses the importance of gradual skill-building through small, manageable steps and lots of praise. Additionally, he advises delaying the introduction of smartphones as long as possible, as research shows that this can increase anxiety and depressive symptoms. Padraig talks about empowering children to be independent and engaged in the world will serve them better in the long run as they develop into resilient adults. You can contact Padraig on theotcoach.ie

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Or email us at therapodpodcast@gmail.com. Thank you for listening!