As we’ve interviewed expert clinicians on the podcast, clear trends have emerged. These clinicians have two things in common:

1. They have a pretty set arc to their treatment sessions.
2. They tend to work from “menus” of intervention options.

I’m pretty sure they do this- because this is what they’ve discovered works. But, I’ve never really seen this approach studied or discussed in research…until now.

I was honestly flabbergasted to hear one of the most prominent rehab researchers in the world, talking about these two things, in his paper Many Paths to Recovery: The Case for Treatment Pluralism. From what I understand, Dr. Cook gives these concepts some formal names: he calls those intervention menus ‘treatment pluralism‘—and he calls the components of the arc of a session ‘therapeutic ritual‘… driven by what researchers call contextual factors

In today’s episode, I can’t wait to dig deeper into this paper—and how our guest Dr. Chad Cook currently understands the factors that make therapy effective.

This is an episode that could fundamentally change how you think about each patient encounter.

See full course details here:
https://otpotential.com/continuing-education/course/msk-treatment-pathways

See all OT CEU courses here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses

Check our our live webinar schedule here:
https://otpotential.com/live-ot-ceu-webinars

Support the show by using the OTPOTENTIAL Medbridge Code:
https://otpotential.com/blog/promo-code-for-medbridge

Try 2 free OT Potential courses here:
https://otpotential.com/free-ot-ceus

Support the show

When you look at the intersection of vision and reading in schools, the gaps are impossible to ignore.

Consider the data:

• Two-thirds of American fourth graders cannot read at grade level.
• One in four school-age children has a vision problem.
• School vision screenings miss up to 75% of children with vision problems.

To make matters worse, standard school vision screenings frequently miss the functional vision deficits—such as convergence, accommodation, and visual perception issues—that directly impact a student's ability to sustain near-work in the classroom.

As occupational therapists, understanding how vision impacts functional tasks like reading, writing, and navigating the classroom is central to our holistic approach. We have the foundational textbooks, the clinical frameworks, and the training to address these challenges.

So why isn't the full skillset of OTs being utilized to support functional vision in schools?

In this course, we sit down with Jaime Spencer, an OT who has been at the forefront of successfully integrating vision into school-based practice. Together, we explore the systemic barriers she has encountered and the practical solutions she has proven to work—from assessment and direct intervention to teacher education.

This course is designed for any school-based professional who knows the current system isn't working well enough, and is ready to explore how OTs can deliver deeper, more impactful support for struggling students.

See full course details here:
https://otpotential.com/continuing-education/course/ot-and-vision-in-schools

See all OT CEU courses here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses

Check our our live webinar schedule here:
https://otpotential.com/live-ot-ceu-webinars

Support the show by using the OTPOTENTIAL Medbridge Code:
https://otpotential.com/blog/promo-code-for-medbridge

Try 2 free OT Potential courses here:
https://otpotential.com/free-ot-ceus

Support the show

Only in this past year did it come on my radar that some therapy clinics are offering prenatal therapy. While I can personally relate to the desire to have a therapist guide you through such a complex stage of health, I thought that because it isn't offered widely, the evidence base would probably be weak.

I couldn't have been more wrong. The evidence for prenatal prevention therapy is robust for improving:

Pelvic health. Pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy reduces urinary incontinence by 28% and cuts the risk of severe perineal tears in half (Zhang et al., 2024).

Pregnancy outcomes. Prenatal exercise programs lower the risk of gestational diabetes by 25%, hypertensive disorders by 33%, and cesarean delivery by 14% (Xiang et al., 2026).

Mental health. Mind-body interventions like yoga, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy significantly reduce prenatal anxiety, depression, and stress — while also improving pain management and self-efficacy (Miao et al., 2026).

Maternal role and quality of life. OT-specific prenatal interventions improve maternal quality of life, emotional regulation, and coping — with benefits that persist into the postpartum period (Karakus & Akyurek, 2026).

Despite this evidence, prenatal therapy remains vastly underutilized. The gap between what the research supports and what is actually available to pregnant individuals represents one of the biggest opportunities in our profession right now.

In this course, we'll welcome Marissa Ruhl from Thrive OT, who is paving the way in offering these services and will share what she has learned about helping to build a thriving practice around this massive need.

See full course details here:
https://otpotential.com/continuing-education/course/prenatal-therapy

See all OT CEU courses here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses

Check our our live webinar schedule here:
https://otpotential.com/live-ot-ceu-webinars

Support the show by using the OTPOTENTIAL Medbridge Code:
https://otpotential.com/blog/promo-code-for-medbridge

Try 2 free OT Potential courses here:
https://otpotential.com/free-ot-ceus

Support the show