Boudry Therapy and Rehab

The role of an Occupational Therapist is limitless! I have a passion for helping reduce stress and build connections through therapy!

Tongue posture matters! If you can’t suction your tongue; your airway health could be compromised. This can lead to poor sleep, inattention, lack of focus, and anxiety. Want the Myo Guide; comment Myo below!

Laughter really can be therapeutic!

Did you know that shallow breathing keeps your autonomic nervous system on high alert and can mimic anxiety symptoms?

Are you a diaphragm or a chest breather?

Any transition is difficult; however transitioning from a day that is fired by structure and routine for kids can be difficult. From preschool to high school children we see disruptions and increase behaviors and anxiety fueled by the unknown. Giving them some knows can help that process; weekly meal planning provides structure. Giving them a set time you’ll eat lunch or snack can help. Giving them a schedule for the day; this morning is free time and this afternoon at 2 we are going to the park, movies, pool. These little things can make a huge difference in deflecting behavior.

The biggest barrier you will face in changing a relationship is you. How you define yourself creates a wall for change, for accepting others and growing strong relationships. Letting go of your defines roles can help create space for wonderment and change.

Your struggle is real and it is seen. There are so many reasons why you are struggling; the bereaved mother, the birth mother, the mother of a special needs child, the mother of a complex medical child, the waiting mother, the mother that can’t conceive, the daughter that has lost their mother; it’s okay for this day to hurt.

Time to schedule for summer! 262-297-3150 or email [email protected]

It’s that time of year…summer schedule is open! Call 262-296-3150 or email at [email protected]

Super easy eye gaze system I made for a client in hospice a few years ago.

The picture popped in my memory widget, bringing me to reflect upon all the amazing lives that have touched mine through OT. I feel honored to do the work that I do, it is a privilege to walk along side families.

The gut brain axis is part of our autonomic nervous system providing communication to and from our digestive system to the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis via our vagus nerve.

How can you support your mental health and GI system?

🌟Take care of our gut health and your natural microbiome via heathy and natural foods. *

🌟Vagus nerve exercises

*The system is complex and typically requires a multidisciplinary team to create homeostasis within the body.

Myofunctional therapy is a game changer for the development and support of airway and jaw muscles. Therapy can also help support feeding through gaining proper latching patters, tongue movement for feeding and GI motility.

Worry, disappointment, anger, sadness is going to happen it’s how you cope and your resiliency that matters.

Everyone has sensory preferences; and at times it can be challenging to live with someone that doesn’t have your same preferences.

We all need a friend or relative to talk to, to be near, to help us regulate by sharing our space, listening, touch, or helping us problem solve.

The number one question I ask is sleep. I often hear it’s great, I/they sleep through the night….but what is the quality?
If you have any of these signs there is a sleep problem.
-Restless legs
-Open mouth breathing
-Snoring
-Difficulty falling asleep
-Frequent waking
-Feeling groggy when waking up
-Frequent whole body movements
-Bed Wetting

Therapy can help set routines, promote body symmetry, promote airway and proper breathing, oral rest positioning, and creating safety pathways.

We have 600 million bytes of information that affects our thoughts, feelings, and actions. At one moment we are only conscious of 5-30 of them!

Do you need to uncover and pack the other 570 million bytes to function? No!
Does every past experience need to be healed? No!

Being trauma informed means just that, we recognize things have happened in the past. We build off of the good and the bad to build resiliency, hope, and guide us through life.

Bad things happen. Sometimes those things stay surface level longer. Sometimes they lay just under the surface affecting how we act and feel.

Sometimes they become part of us and help prepare us for future experiences and triumphs.

If a therapist asks you to leave during therapy…RUN!

Unpopular opinion; there is nothing wrong with your child. The struggle to recover after injury is not solely the responsibility of the individual who suffered the insult.

We are interconnected systems. Therapy with one person will not fix a broken struggle within a family system. The family needs to be involved every step of the way.

Therapy involves not only your child and loved one but how those intervention strategies fit within your lifestyle to help the carryover of those strategies. No child should be left to initiate an intervention strategy by themselves. Nor should there be interventions that don’t help the relationships and understanding of one another.

No matter what kind of OT you are seeking (Myofunctional therapy, pediatric developmental, mental health, or neuro) therapy needs to fit into family systems and routines, along with a global understanding of those systems, interactions, and developmental expectations.

Building secure attachments with your child is one of the most important things you will ever do. Securely attached children will grow to be regulated, loves and be able to love and hold relationships.

✨One of the most important steps to secure attachment is to be present. This can be proximity while your baby or child sleeps or plays you maybe folding laundry in the room that they are in. Being present where they can smell you and hear your breathing.

✨ Meeting your child’s needs and your own needs seem daunting at times. Don’t let it be; acknowledge them. Acknowledge their feelings; resonate with them, no matter if they are 3 months or five. Babies and young children love to be talked to. For example,” Your upset, I get upset to or I want to change my mind too sometimes.” You are relating and co-regulating while building your relationship.

✨ Consistently meet their needs. Always answer their cries; even if you need to take a break. Answer their cry, make sure they are safe; take a few breaths and return.

Parenting is hard. Parenting is easy. Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. Every parent makes mistakes. Secure attachments last a lifetime; building a foundation of love and trust will help the hard moments.

The answer isn’t as simple as it seem; it may be all there or just two. And the underlying causes can go much deeper.

Toe walking may come from postural asymmetry or tightness that may stems from restricted oral tissues that is putting traction on the musculoskeletal system. This over time increases the chances for tightness and tactile sensitivity form.

In the case of tactile sensitivities this can lead to muscle tightness and restrictions. Sensitivities may be caused by traumatic birth or delivery, NICU stays, trauma, decreased attachment or exposure to touch.

Finding the root causes from a holistic approach is crucial to helping toe walkers.

Not sure if OT is right for you? Keep reading!

Our body’s all connected by muscle fascia. This plays a critical role in the way our muscles and nerves move within our body. Add developmental growth and if there is a deficit in range of motion or strength a natural imbalances tension is created. This tension leads to changes the arches in developing systems ( pelvic floor, diaphragm, and upper palate). This can lead to torticollis, bladder accidents/ urgency, eating difficulties/ sensitivities, toe walking, and over breathing.

OT can address any of these issues that are present.

🌟 Understanding the body’s interconnectedness is key! 🗝️
Pelvic floor tightness can affect posture and movement patterns, like toe walking, impacting the whole body. Pelvic floor dysfunction can also cause dysfunction in breathing. But what came first pelvic floor dysfunction or teethered tissues?

Let’s prioritize holistic approaches for better health and mobility!

🌟 Understanding the body’s interconnectedness is key! 🗝️

Pelvic floor tightness can affect posture and movement patterns, like toe walking, impacting the whole body. Pelvic floor can cause the diaphragm to not fully contract and airway issues….BUT….what came first? Pelvic floor tightness tethered oral tissue ?

Let’s prioritize holistic approaches for better health and mobility! tissue

Fun Facts about Executive functioning
1️⃣ Executive functioning skills are like mental air traffic control, managing tasks, emotions, and impulses.
2️⃣They develop gradually throughout childhood and adolescence, with significant growth continuing into adulthood.
3️⃣Strong executive functioning skills are linked to academic success, career achievement, and overall well-being.
4️⃣They’re crucial for navigating complex social situations and making sound decisions.
5️⃣Challenges with executive functioning are often associated with conditions like ADHD, autism, and traumatic brain injury.

What are simple things you can do to improve executive functioning skills regular exercise, mindfulness practices, completing activities such as puzzles, strategy games, and goal-setting exercises.

Sharing a great local community resource!

I’m going to leave this here to give space to.

We know from a neurobiology standpoint that anxiety is an emotional state. We know that emotions are caused from cognition, interoception, conscious and unconscious memories.

Anxiety is a signal to stay present, and conscious of what’s going on. When you are conscious about what is going on in your body, you can create more safety, pathways and reassurance rather than more worry.

Saying your wrong in front of others models behaviors that others will emulate or leave. Admitting wrongs no matter your role is important! Everyone in a relationship has a valid role in the relationship. Relationships work because of your ability to make mistakes, grant forgiveness, see things from another’s point of view and the ability to know your strengths and limitations.

Boundaries. Rules. Compliance.

You can search and give space to the why without “giving up boundaries and rules”.

Asking why? Giving space to the why? And wondering the why build relationships of trust and respect.

With mutual respect you get compliance, safety, and understanding.

Why does not mean there are not rules or boundaries. Why does not mean that there won’t be push back. There will be plenty; but how you approach it will build or rupture.

Yes, set rules. Yes, keep the rules. Yes, have an open mind and heart. Yes, repair the ruptures when they happen. ( and they will).

Found yourself in a power struggle? The secret strategy to win is to connect. Why is this so important to the other person? No one is going to be defiant to be rude, mean, or “get back” at someone.
Ask yourself; are they hurt, scared? Is there guilt and shame involved?
Self reflect; what are thoughts and feelings in regards to the situation? What are your thoughts and feelings on your past experiences related to the situation.

Perspective can make a difference between relationship growth and rupture.

If you or your loved one is stressed and agitated or shut down. Three questions can help shift to a sooner outcome.

1️⃣Do you need space?
2️⃣Do you need someone to help problem solve
3️⃣ Do you need someone to listen?

Knowing the answer to this can lead to better understanding, attunement, empathy. This builds stronger relationship where needs are met and valued.