Ep50 Senses & Regulation: Occupational Therapy w/ Caitlin Russ

"It is not the soul alone that should be healthy; if the mind is healthy in a healthy body, all will be healthy and much better prepared to give God greater service."
~ St. Ignatius of Loyola

Why do I respond to things differently from others?
What can I do when I'm feeling overwhelmed?
How can I help my kids process & respond to the world around them?

Episode 50 brings an eminently relevant conversation between Kenna and guest Caitlin Russ, a trained occupational therapist. Together they bring out the importance of proactive strategies for managing sensory overload and daily stress, and the unique sensory responses of individuals in finding balance and well-being. Join Kenna and Caitlin as they explore the ways that God made our minds and bodies to receive sensory input, offering practical insights and strategies for navigating life's difficulties, transitions and various seasons.

Caitlin Russ is an Occupational Therapist who spent years working in a pediatric outpatient clinic and with older adults in transitional care. She is passionate about educating people about the benefits of occupational therapy especially as it relates to regulation and sensory processing, and she now utilizes her training in raising her children. Caitlin received her degrees in Psychology and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame and went on to St. Catherine University for her Masters in Occupational Therapy. She currently resides with her husband, Sam, and their four, soon to be five, children in Inver Grove Heights, MN. They love spending time outdoors either at the baseball park or hiking.

Episode 50 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
9:06: What is occupational therapy?
20:48: Different people receive input differently
33:44: How do I respond when I'm overwhelmed?
49:25: Behavior can indicate needs
56:17: Challenge By Choice

Questions for Reflection & Discussion:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. How do you know when you're feeling overwhelmed? What signs do your loved ones give you when they're feeling overwhelmed?
3. What kinds of sensory input are most likely to feel like "too much" for you and for those in your household?
4. How do you regulate your senses when you've taken in too much input? 
5. How could your sensory capacity be stretched to tolerate more input? What parts of your sensory profile in need of being accepted as part of God's design for you?

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Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.