EP 51: From Graduation to Innovation with Joey (OT with Joey)
Join me as I chat with the legendary Joey from OT with Joey. Joey shares her journey from being a new grad in covid times through to her her innovative ventures such as the Therapist's Planner, and the Bunny Ear Buddy. Joey is making waves clinically and across social media and she is just an absolute breath of fresh air. You guys will LOVE this chat.
Joey's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otwithjoey/
Joey's ETSY Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/otwithjoey/?etsrc=sdt
Joeys Book recommendations:
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: Patrick Lencioni
- The Resilience Project: Hugh Van Cuylenburg
- Dare to Lead: Brene Brown
EP 51: From Graduation to Innovation with Joey (OT with Joey)
Join me as I chat with the legendary Joey from OT with Joey. Joey shares her journey from being a new grad in covid times through to her her innovative ventures such as the Therapist's Planner, and the Bunny Ear Buddy. Joey is making waves clinically and across social media and she is just an absolute breath of fresh air. You guys will LOVE this chat.
Joey's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otwithjoey/
Joey's ETSY Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/otwithjoey/?etsrc=sdt
Joeys Book recommendations:
- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: Patrick Lencioni
- The Resilience Project: Hugh Van Cuylenburg
- Dare to Lead: Brene Brown
Today's episode is very proudly brought to you by InReach Co, australia's first exclusively regional, rural and remote Allied Health job platform. Inreach Co was created by Allied Health professionals for Allied Health professionals and is committed to connecting Australian communities with the Allied Health care workers they need For a simple and interactive way to explore current regional and remote positions, or for businesses wanting to explore job advertisement opportunities. Head to wwwinreachcocomau. The links will also be in the show notes. G'day guys and welcome to Holly the OT podcast. My name is Holly and I am an occupational therapist looking to create a judgment-free zone for all OT students, new grads and early year therapists. Join me as I give my honest opinions on the highs and the lows and the ins and the outs of being an OT. Before I start today's episode, I'd like to acknowledge the Wujak Nongar people who are the traditional custodians of the land. This episode was recorded. G'day guys, and welcome back to another episode of Holly the OT podcast. Thank you so much for tuning in. I have got an absolutely wonderful episode today with the wonderful Joey from OT with Joey. Joey is an absolute legend and we chatted all things social media and business, and journey is a new grad and just all the cool things that Joey is doing, and it was an absolute hoot. I think you guys are going to love this chat. If you don't already follow Joey, please go and follow her. She's a breath of fresh air and he's just wonderful. Oh, that was a mouthful. I need a breath of fresh air.
Speaker 1:Before we get into the episode with Joey, though, let's do my highs and my lows For the last fortnight. Actually, it's been a fortnight since I released my last step, but I have just had one of my bestest friends visiting over in Perth from all the way from Lightning Ridge. If you've been a long time listener of the pod, you will know Beth. Beth is a speechy who I used to work with in Lightning Ridge. We lived together, we worked together, we did literally everything together, and then I decided to move to the other side of the country, so she was visiting with her wonderful partner, sam, my other housemate, and their dog, george, who was undoubtedly the favorite housemate, but we just had an absolute epic time. We went down to Margaret River, we went to Rotnest Island, we just ate good food and just had fun, and it was just a hoot, and unfortunately, my low for the week is that, men, I've done no work and I've just got a very long to-do list. So I guess I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed, but not really, because it was so like worth it. So I'm not really mad, if you know what I mean. Like it's not a big deal, but yeah, that is my low for the week.
Speaker 1:Also, in very exciting news, if you follow me over on the Gram, you will have seen I announced a cool little project. I've been working on that. I've been sugarcoating in this episodes for the last few weeks, but it's the daily otinary. I'm not going to go too much into detail because you can check it all out over on the Gram, but just know I'm so excited for it to be released. I'm getting all the packaging ready and writing on my thank you notes and, yeah, all the details over on the Gram. I'll be posting on the Gram when they are ready to be released and when they are on sale. But yeah, hope you guys love.
Speaker 1:But let's get into the chat with Joey. Like I said, absolute legend and just a bundle of energy and I think you guys will absolutely love this chat. So let's get into it, alrighty. Welcoming today's guest to the Holy the OT podcast. We have the wonderful Joey, who you guys may know over on the Gram or TikTok, ot with Joey. Joey is a senior occupational therapist at a wonderful clinic in western Sydney, as well as being the creator behind some epic products, specifically the therapist planner and recently, the bunny ear buddy. Joey shares all about life inside and outside of OT over on her Instagram and she's just a breath of fresh air in the OT space and I am just so excited to have this chat and learn more about her journey. Welcome to the pod, joey.
Speaker 2:Hello, I'm so excited to be here. I feel like I've been looking forward to this all week and everyone has heard at work how excited I am. So good to finally be here Amazing.
Speaker 1:I'm so excited as well, and I start all of my podcast interviews the exact same way and I know you've come prepared, which I am excited for, and that is weird Tootroose and a lie and I haven't done one for a few months. I've only just gotten back into the interviews today, so I'm a little bit out of practice. But I'm excited to see what you've got for me so you can pip me. What do you got? Tootroose and a lie.
Speaker 2:I'm always terrible at this thing because I end up saying three lies, but I have to make sure I get this right. Okay, so the first one is that I broke three bones across my life, one of them in a skiing accident. The other one is that I once lost a tooth in session. I had a a tweed like flying hit me in the face. And the third one is that I once was so sick on the way back from Europe on the plane that I had to sit with the cabin nurses and quarantine was called when we landed. Oh my, yeah, they're all pretty niche. They all sound like lies.
Speaker 1:I think I saw you post a real what maybe saying that you lost a tooth in a session or maybe there was some sort of tooth injury. Could we get me on details? I am going to say you haven't broken three bones, because the last one sounds too niche to not be true and I want to know more about it. But I'm going to say your first one is your lie.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, you're right, the most normal one is your lie, so the wakiest ones are true.
Speaker 1:Run me through quarantine was called. How did that happen?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was like really young, at 1920. It was the first time I ever went to Europe and coming back like I'm really tired, um, I've always had bad air sickness. But our stopover was in China, so it was from China to Sydney and I was sitting by myself and just yeah, it kept getting sick, like over and over again. And one of the nurses noticed and she took me to the back of the cabin and they had to give me like all sorts of medication and stopped. Like that's how bad I was. Yeah, and they said to me um, if you get a temperature, we're going to have to call quarantine because, like, this isn't normal, we just want to protect Australia. And, um, yeah, I ended up with a temperature. So, yeah, quarantine came on, but I was fine, it was just air sickness, um, presenting very badly, but I was so scared and I was just like, of course this happens to me.
Speaker 2:Um, yeah, I've always had really bad air sickness. That's the worst. Will you buy yourself? Did you say. Well, yeah, like, I was traveling with friends, but I was the one flight where we were separated. Um, yeah, yeah, and then I was also sitting next to the window, so I had to keep climbing over this pool. Um, yeah, man to get to the bathroom and I just like it was. The worst experience was 14 hours yeah, oh, my god, I like.
Speaker 1:So I had a similar. I get bad motion sickness as well and I my last flight coming back, my signature Perth flight I was sick in the landing and I was by myself. I had to take my hat off and I was sick into my hat while we're all like sick out of it. It was the worst experience of my life and I said, oh, I'm never flying alone again, like that was horrible, but it's the worst. It just absolutely duped me 14 hours of it and then being caught into quarantine. I can never complain about mine again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah and then you get almost a bit anxious, thinking like, oh, like I've got another 12 hours of this and it feels like it's been so long because we've been sick for two hours and you can't stop it. Like you can't get off, you're in the air and like I'm okay with the flying thing, I'm just when I start getting sick. That's when I start to get worked up and yeah, it was just the worst and please can you share the story of losing a tooth in a session?
Speaker 1:I think we can't skim on with that.
Speaker 2:Yes, um, I was in my new grade year and I was seeing this fairly for like the second time. It wasn't even my client actually, no, I was filling in for another therapist. So it was even more awkward. And it was like 8am in the morning, like 10 minutes into our session, and I don't know if you see no stretchy toys the children like. So she had the arms and I had the legs and it so was not her fault, because I've said to her let go and she did and it's gone, like banging to my face and like a new straight way, like I went to, fell into my hands and I'm looking at the mum like what did you say? In those moments? I don't even think it was the pain, I think it was just like the situation I was shocked about and I'm a pretty social person. I just did not know what to say. Like I wasn't hurt, I was just lost my truth. I hope like I remember. Remember what I said.
Speaker 2:I just kind of walked out and walked down the hall, like holding my truth and poor family in the room, and I've gone to one of the girls, my best friend. I said, angie, I'm holding my truth, and she's like and like stepped into mum mode and okay, it's all right. Yeah, I'm going to call a dance that senior workout. What's happening with your client? I went in I said to them look, I don't think I can finish the session, I'm so sorry, and like the mum was more, she felt so bad, but it was no one's fault. The little girl was upset Like, but she was also like so funny. She was like, can you whistle? And I was like I don't know, it's not time for jokes, but now, like we always joke about it and it like made us so close and she still draws pictures of me without a truth. So, yeah, it just so. She's still your client, now my client, and it just strengthens the relationship. So it gives us a sign to bond about.
Speaker 1:Just that's something you learn about, like how do I deal with my truth falling out in a session. Get those skills, do you?
Speaker 2:No, no, and they really didn't expect their OOT to lose a truth in that session either.
Speaker 1:Not from a soft stretchy toy either, like, I feel like there's plenty of toys in an OOT session that could do damage and you would probably put the stretchy toy pretty low.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, no one uses it. Now I think we up or I chuck them all out and the head's really strong. The head's like made of like this strong plastic. So that's what hit me. Okay, yeah, so never again. The stretchy toys are yeah. At least they have a very strong resource. It's a good story.
Speaker 1:It's a very good story. Yeah, it's a very good story. Go tell me a little bit more before we get into the OOT side of things. A little bit more about you outside of OOT. I think the coolest thing about OOT is we're so multifaceted and we do so many wonderful things. So, yeah, what does life outside of OOT look like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love spending time with friends so lucky to have lots of very close friends within the team, but also outside of the team. I like going to the beach. Music is a big part of my life, love music and the exercise as well, particularly over the last year. I like going to the gym. I like going on walks and stuff. So, yeah, trying to develop that area though of having things outside of OOT, that's still a work in progress, just yeah, trying to strengthen those social occupations, yeah, it can be tricky too, I know, like obviously, with the social media side of things and we'll get into a little bit later.
Speaker 1:We share so much of our lives and then it can very easily turn into becoming a job outside of OOT and it's oh, it is a job obviously. But it can make it tricky to sort of find that balance as well. But yeah, I've definitely sort of felt that try to get that balance right. It can be really tricky at times.
Speaker 2:Yeah, everything can turn into, like with social media. I think you really need boundaries because everything can turn into I'm going to take my phone out here, I'm going to take my phone out there and I, you know, find no means an influence or anything. But I can understand how it can be really tricky to separate work from, like, your personal life when you start recording everything. So, yeah, just working on having those leisure occupations that are just not OOT and not linked to anything is a big work in progress.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. Joey, one of my favorite things about this podcast is learning how people got to being an occupational therapist. It's usually not a linear story and there's usually some roundabout way that people found OOT and landed into studying OOT. What did that look like for you? How did you land and up at uni studying occupational therapy?
Speaker 2:I wanted to be a physio. Amazing, yeah, I didn't get the marks to get into the physio course directly. I think a lot of people were like that Coming out of high school, the A-tiles super high and when I start the course I ended up really liking it and, yeah, pediatric just kind of fell naturally from that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. What were you like at uni? How did you go? Were you an academic student? Did you prefer the practical side of things? How was it?
Speaker 2:I feel like I definitely wasn't the most academic I passed and I feel like I probably could have prioritized the academic side of uni a lot more than I did. Even socially I just was very shy. I think I had a growing life experience to do before I became comfortable in making friends outside of high school. It's kind of an awkward phase being a student, but I did really like uni. I think it was just tricky with COVID and some other things that happens with that social aspect of it and I really struggled in the neuro yeah, those subjects that everyone didn't like.
Speaker 1:I was also not good at Reaching to the choir. Yes, yeah, reaching to the choir. So how much of your degree was during COVID and what impact did that have on your degree?
Speaker 2:I was in my fourth year when COVID started and placement actually looked fairly the same. Everything was face to face, so we were really lucky with that. But first semester was all online and I feel like that's when it starts getting really exciting in terms of your OT degree. Like you have just little things. We didn't have that OT ball. There's something that happens that all the other years had and we didn't have that. We didn't have our graduation. We had that the next year. So, yeah, some of those events where I feel as though you come together as a cohort and you get closer, we didn't get as much, but yeah, it was. Also there was process of starting online.
Speaker 1:It was a lot more flexible and convenient as well, because Camel Town wasn't local to me Did you find that having that sort of change towards the end of the COVID year, did you find that major transition to being an OT tricky? Like there wasn't that closure, there wasn't that big ceremony, there wasn't the ball, what did you find? Like it was just such an unknown time, you just sort of got on with it and didn't know any different.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was expecting that. But, if anything in pediatrics, I feel as though it quit me to do things like telehealth. And we went into the second lockdown when I was in my new graduate year and that was a really long one and I was like, oh, I know how to use Zoom, I can do telehealth. I did my degree on it. So I feel as though it did become a strength and truth is, stay on it. A lot of pediatric OTs are still doing telehealth sessions, like we are, because we have to be flexible with our clients. And, yeah, it became a strength, which is nice, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I don't know how I would have gone doing telehealth straightaway. Obviously you didn't have another choice, like you sort of had to do that, that challenge of like leaning into engagement and that relationship. I'm sure that was a really tricky over Zoom. How did you find that overall, your new grad experience, obviously given the challenges of telehealth and COVID, but just being a new grad overall, what was it like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was hard. We were lucky in the sense that we had a little opportunity to make face-to-face relationships and then we went into lockdown. So I think the lockdown was about halfway through a year, but I will say that, like supporting a child's regulation via telehealth, is extremely difficult, and you had to get very good at communicating with parents and coaching them through some of the things that they need to do to support their child, and you had to get really good at separating work from personal as well, which I think was just the whole world trying to work out how to separate their work from their personal lives when they were all being done in the same place as well. Pros and cons.
Speaker 1:It was such a weird time.
Speaker 2:It was weird, it was so weird.
Speaker 1:It's so weird to like look back on it like it really wasn't that long ago but it feels like universes ago, Like it just is so bizarre to think about.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll be honest, I really struggled in the lockdowns. I know a lot of people said that they liked them and they felt like they could finally switch off at ourself. So I was like, yeah, really needing that social interaction and a bit of structure in the day as well. I feel like everything just kind of blurred into this weird like sense of time. So, yeah, very grateful to be out and about now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm the same as you. I did not arrive in lockdown at all and I went on as many weeks as I possibly could every day Get me out of the house and I was lucky I was up in Newcastle and down the South Coast at that time, so didn't cope it as bad as Sydney did by any means but definitely had limitations and definitely struggled with that social isolation and just glad it's a thing of the past, oh and it makes you so thankful as well for these things that we used to take for granted.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was really tricky. We tried to do things as a team which were really sweet and they did help at the time. We would catch up on Zoom and like, try and do like social things. It wasn't the same, but it was something. Or even with like my friends outside of work, we would try and have like Zoom parties I know you have a kid one of those.
Speaker 1:Oh, I didn't know that, yeah, where you just like play online games.
Speaker 2:You know what. They actually weren't too bad Like at first. You're like, oh, but then it ends up becoming really fun because it's all you have to look forward to. Yeah, so those sort of things really helped. And then one of my best friends she was one of the girls I work with she's a dancer, so she used to do like these little like sometimes it would be during lunch, sometimes it would be after lunch where she would run a dance class pretty much like it was so easy like a stretch class or something just for well-being and to get us moving, because we weren't moving enough and they become really nice and then the kids used to get involved in those as well. So we opened it up to all the clients and their parents and their families and, yeah, they used to join on Zoom and it was just the most fun thing ever.
Speaker 2:So those sort of things would have never had happened if it wasn't for that lockdown, but that was really special at the time.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. We had to sort of make the positives where we could and get creative. You're very open on your social media with the workplace that you work at now and it seems like an incredible place to work and you're very, very, very positive about your workplace. Is that where you started your career?
Speaker 2:Yes, that's where I started and I really don't think I would have the same outlook to where I teeth. I was in another place, like that. Unfortunately, I've heard some really terrible stories in terms of how people have started their new graduate and I think that makes me more passionate about what I do and why I do it. Yeah, very big on work-life balance and the team culture is another thing that really helps us to enjoy our work and the team bonding and all these things which, if I'm being honest, I didn't know to look for in a job. I just got really lucky. However, my advice for a new grad now would be to ask those questions in your interview and Instagram isn't anything, but if you can see that they are doing the things that, you would want to have in your workplace, and that's a great place to start as well, I think it's very evident.
Speaker 1:You can sort of tell I don't know if it's just because I post on social media and you might be the same but you can sort of tell when it's a little bit curated and it's a little bit forceful of, well, we've got this really positive experience, but all these team members are leaving and it's just yeah, you can sort of tell that vibe. But with the stuff that you guys post, it's very evident that everyone is having a great time and everyone gets along. Are you happy to share the name of where you work? Yes, yes, I work at.
Speaker 2:oh yeah, I stayed a long time. I don't know why I was on being a bit secret. It's Nippeen's speech and OT. Yeah, my boss would be thrilled to have her name mentioned in this because, oh amazing, I think it's just showcasing the place in a really positive light. So we are based in Penrith. We just moved clinics from somewhere. We were very lucky with the space that we were at, but now it's massive. It takes a while for me to walk to the other end of the hall, which is a great problem to have. It's a good privilege.
Speaker 1:It's such a privilege.
Speaker 2:Everything's new and, yeah, we're very lucky with where we are.
Speaker 1:Incredible and correct me if I'm wrong, but you are in a senior OT position, which is incredible. Yes, how did that come about? How did you get there? Congratulations, thank you, it's no big feat. How did that come about?
Speaker 2:It was a natural progression. We did work very hard for it, but it was, yeah, the next step in terms of what I wanted to achieve at the business, and one of my friends also became a senior OT at the same time. So, yeah, we were doing clinical mentoring before, which I feel is a nice way to step into the role, and I don't think it happened too early as well, which I really appreciate and value. There's nothing wrong with being promoted earlier on in your career, but for me, I think it was really important just to have that chance to, you know, be a new grad, understand OT a little bit better, and then do the supervising side of things where we had students, and then, you know, start to take a more active role in onboarding new grads and supporting them, and then it's like, okay, I feel like I can be a senior now.
Speaker 1:I can do it. Yes, amazing. So you quite enjoy the clinical supervision side of things.
Speaker 2:And I think you need a change in your day to day. Like I obviously still love the face to face work with clients and the clinical side of things, I'm not ready at all to get that up. I feel like I just started. But it's also so nice to have that variation in my day to day where I can also like support new grads and support students and it helps you feel like you know what you're talking about. If you can explain it to someone else.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I do really love that part of my job. If there's anyone that might be listening and they're sort of in that limbo phase of like, oh, like I've been offered to start doing clinical supervision or I want to sort of like delve into that space, do you have any advice for anyone on sort of how to approach it? Obviously, everyone will be different in their and their style will be different, but any advice for that transition from just being a therapist to having a bit more responsibility.
Speaker 2:I feel like one thing that I've learned and I don't know if it applies to everyone, but I used to overcompensate in the role, where I felt like I had to tell mentors everything, and I think it was coming from a place of wanting to prove myself like I wanted to. I don't know if it's a negative thing. I just wanted to give all my knowledge so that I felt like I was doing my job as a senior or a clinical mentor, whatever I was at the time. If I could give myself, like anyone stepping into that role, a bit of advice, it would be to do some of that yes, like there's a time and place, but also to support your mentees and coming up with the answer themselves, because that's so much more empowering and also coaching them through finding their own clinical answer as well, because that way you can step back and feel like they're going to be okay.
Speaker 2:And it's really hard to know when to go into that more educating role and, you know, give them the answers versus when to coach them through something or when to seek out support and say, look, I don't know the answer, like you need to go to someone else as well. That's really hard to do, so I try and do a Mixer Ball 3 and I think it's okay to say, like, how is this going? Are you getting what you need to out of this? Like, am I dancing around the point too much because I'm trying to get you to come up with the answer and you're feeling frustrated Like Joey, just tell me, I've got one minute to my session. Or is it like no, I want to come to the answer myself because I feel like I'm going to learn so much more rather than, yeah, you just me, you telling me everything. So, yeah, I think asking your mentees and asking them for feedback and being okay with taking on that feedback as well, that would be my advice.
Speaker 1:It's the power of reflection, isn't it?
Speaker 1:And just knowing that you know you're going to have mentees that probably have different approaches and are going to want you to sort of address your like, address your sessions a different way, and it runs so different. It's just like all the little clients that we see you're always going to approach things just a little bit differently, based on their personality and their learning style. And I just I'm like you. I love doing Subhibition and I love sort of, you know, seeing other OTs expand their clinical skills. It's just good fun, I think.
Speaker 2:It's so fulfilling as well. And it does get hard in recommending this sort of stuff because I don't want to promote like doing you know, work outside of work. But I have gone a lot out of leadership books and things that I think they're just great life skills in general and it doesn't have to be like maybe you just read like a chapter a week where you take a book to the beach. But I'm trying to think of the names of some of the books I've read that are being really good. There's one on radical candor which I haven't started yet, so not 100% sure, but that's just an example of something that does help me in my work role, but I think it helps you in general as well and I take a lot of good concepts out of those types of books that I use in my clinical supervision.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and I think it's important to know that, like obviously, those leadership skills don't come naturally from just being an OT.
Speaker 1:Like you need to sort of dive into a new space of learning if you really want to sort of challenge your leadership style and sort of find what leadership style works best for you. And sometimes I feel like when we step into that space, we just sort of take the path that our supervisor might have had and it's all about finding what's going to work for us if we are wanting to do it long term. If you think of any good books, let me know and I'll pop them in the show notes, because I think it'll be a great resource.
Speaker 1:I'd actually love to know them too, because I need to sort of dive into that area a little bit more.
Speaker 2:I'll send them through to you, because there's some other ones that are the self help, like resilience books, which, yeah, I love it. Sometimes it does feel like you're doing extra work and you're like I just don't want to work on myself right now, like I want something a bit more light.
Speaker 2:I'm good with the self development so, yeah, you've got to be balanced in it. But I think I do take a lot of good out of those types of things and use it in my workflow as well. So I'll think of the ones that I've read and I'll flip them through to you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, that'd be great. I want to talk to you a little bit about sort of the new grad narrative and everything that's happening with new grads at the moment. Obviously, you work in a really great practice and I think you probably see a lot of really positive experiences and I think, given your social media work, you probably hear and see of the not so positive experiences. So I want to know sort of what you know being in that private practice space. You've been around for a little while, not too long, not saying you've been around too long yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Probably seeing a lot of people come through your workplace and you sort of probably sort of read a lot of stories. So what do you think is the biggest challenge for new grads at the moment, particularly in the private practice space?
Speaker 2:I think that new grads are so eager and they're so excited to work, which is a great thing, but unfortunately some can be taken advantage whether that's intentional or just the workplace not being set up the right way I'm not a hundred percent sure. I think it depends. But finding the right supervision, the good PD budget, a team culture, the work life balance, all those types of things, the balance between billables and time to do your paperwork and your reports it's so hard and you don't know to ask all those questions like I didn't. I just got really lucky. Now I would be a lot more intentional if I was a new grad again in asking those questions, and I think there's a lot more education now as well versus when I was straight out of uni.
Speaker 2:People are really scared to go into pediatrics as well. People want to go into new staff roles, help with that structure and that support and those roles seem amazing, but I do think PEADS is obviously a fantastic place to be in. So, yeah, I think the biggest challenge would be finding a place that has a good supervision structure and also supports you and all the other things that prevents you from burnout, like your PD budget and your paperwork, time and team bonding?
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, and I think it's also one of those things, like you said, you don't know until you're in that situation and, unfortunately, you can ask all these wonderful questions and they might answer them perfectly, and then you're two, three months in your role and then you find, oh, actually we're talking a little bit of crap and they weren't really honest and they just were trying to get me. And I think that's a big challenge that I've seen is it's an oversaturated job market at the moment. There are a million jobs out there and it's so hard to know who to trust and to know what is true and what is not. But it's. I guess it's all part of the journey and it's a shame that it is a part of the journey, but lucky there are more growing resources out there to sort of help people in that space and yes, if they haven't traveled, they know what to do.
Speaker 2:I think, yeah, and I think I mean it's really hard to say this because obviously we are attracted by the salary that places are offering and I think that you know people have situations where sometimes they are going to be inclined to take that job. But sometimes it can be a red flag if a new grad job is offering an amount that is a lot more than other places and you just really need to read into that. If you can, like I would take the paper over a job that is paying a lot and not offering you all the other things, because that is going to result in burnout, which means that you won't be able to have that longevity in that role and natural progression of salary, and then you know, one day, beyond what you want even more than the other place. So yeah, I know that's a hard thing to recommend and not everyone can take a pay cut in order to have all those benefits, but that would be my advice.
Speaker 1:I think just the longevity in Korea, like it's so important. Yes, it's so easy to be attracted by the big, like you said, by the flashing number. Like we're all human, we all like money. It's great, but it's, yeah, I think, listening to people who have had that experience of being in that high salary position and seeing how quickly they've burnt out, hopefully that'll start sort of, yeah, letting people think about that a little bit more. I think Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a really tricky thing to do, but I feel like the more that we had these conversations, the more likely new grads are to find a place that support seven of them. More likely clinics are to realise what they need to offer as well.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I agree. New grad time, Joey. New grads are starting, yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't know if you've had many new grads at your workplace.
Speaker 1:I'm sure you guys have had a few, but new grads all over in different positions are kickstarting probably a couple of weeks into their positions now, but I guess everyone is a little bit different. Do you have any advice for the new grads, Joey, Any any sort of words of wisdom?
Speaker 2:I just feel like and it's so easy to say this in retrospect but just enjoy that time and immerse yourself in the culture as much as possible and know what you have to offer as a new grad.
Speaker 2:Like when I was a new grad, I was always comparing myself to oh I wish I had this experience, so I wish I had this confidence, so I wish I had this, wish I had that. And I think imposter syndrome can come from that place of thinking that someone else has something that you don't and therefore you're not going to be valued in that role. But what you have as a new grad is something that I don't have that fresh knowledge from uni that you have, I don't. Well, I do have the enthusiasm, but the new grads they're passionate and they're enthusiastic and they eager to start in their roles. So just to enjoy that time as much as possible.
Speaker 2:I feel like when you get into the mindset of, yeah, I just can't wait until I have more experience, I can't wait until I'm a senior or I can't wait until this year to get, to look back at your journey and think well, like they were great times, I was just naturally inclined for the next best thing. And by immersing yourself in the culture. You're doing everything you're meant to do as a new grad. You're going to be asking questions, You're going to be making mistakes, but you're going to have support around you, hopefully, to guide you through those processes and come out so much stronger.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I love that and it's just, it's been present and just, you know, being in the moment enjoying it. You will look back in like three, four years time. You're like, oh my God, like look how far I've come. But it's so easy to sort of get stuck in that like comparison and even if there's other new grads at your workplace being like, oh, but they're doing this quicker than I am and everyone's journey is so different, Just run your own race and and, yeah, just enjoy the process. I love that advice, that's exactly.
Speaker 2:And then, a lot of the time, clients and parents and families are so excited to have a new grad because they're like, yes, they're so enthusiastic, they're so eager. You could have this great relationship with a child where another therapist might not have that rapport, we don't know. And you comparing yourself to someone else, they could be looking at you, thinking, wow, I wish I had whatever strength you have got you have going for you. So, yeah, just enjoy the process.
Speaker 1:Joey, at the start of the year I put up a question box on my um, on my stories, and it was the ins and outs for 2024. You chopped a few inns for me and one of them was put. So many in, I love them. One of them was dance breaks between sessions. How often does that happen in in your clinic? And I know that there are probably people from your workplace listening, so I want to know. On this dance so often Like it's?
Speaker 2:hilarious, and within sessions too. Yeah, then movement breaks for the kids and us. Um, I don't think I would be able to get through life without dance breaks and music. And when I say, like music's a passion of mine, I'm like don't sing or dance professionally or anything. I spend so much of my time doing it. We try to practice what we preach and incorporate movement breaks within our day, and it's not uncommon to find me sitting on a wobble cushion or doing deep breaths or, yeah, just trying to do what I can to keep myself regulated. You learn a lot about yourself.
Speaker 1:And another one that you popped in my story to you in the arts is I don't know if it was in the end of the arts, I can't remember, but it was co-regulation and it was sort of using your energy and matching matching your energy with the child and I know that's something I've struggled with. I'm a I'm a fellow big energy person and I'm a, I'm enthusiastic and I have always got that energy and that was a. It used to be one of my strengths. It still is a strength. But that was a reflection and a learning curve of like you don't always need to have a lot of energy, you don't always need to come in organs blazing, and I'm wondering sort of how that's been for you, because you popped it in in in the story how, how did you get to that realization of knowing that? You know you've got to taper your energy sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I really struggle with this because I think in pediatrics you feel like you have to be big and energetic all the time and, if I'm being honest, like I had those days where I'm just not and then I feel guilty that I'm not showing up for liking in the way that I feel like I should.
Speaker 2:And then when I take the pressure off myself and come in just my normal natural self, it's not that I come in negative and upset about life and telling them about all my issues, but you come in your normal natural self and you find that you can relate to families a lot better because you're all just trying to support each other in whatever it is that you're going through, but you're also allowing the child to. You're trying to meet the child where they are as well. I guess it's nothing I'm trying to say. So sometimes a kid will come in really low affect and it's better for you to meet that child where they are, because high affect doesn't always do like a child justice or this session justice as well, and yeah, and then you can kind of increase your affect and go up from there if you need to get them higher up as well.
Speaker 1:I hope that made sense, yeah no, absolutely, and I think it's for any like new grad that's listening. It's like oh my God, I don't know how to change my energy, I don't know when to change it. It's a learning curve and you will find different ways with different clients on how you can taper your energy and taper just your feeling, just based off them. I think it's yeah, it doesn't come naturally. Definitely it has been a journey for myself. I'm sure you've been saying but yeah, it's learning curve, absolutely, absolutely. Joey, ot with Joey run me through Instagram page and tick tock and I. There's a video that you posted on tick tock. It's the Coke bottle video. How you might have posted it on Instagram as well, I don't know, but it's pinned at the top of your page. Can I just say I have shown that to so many kids in sessions and they love it. They absolutely love it. I am going to link your tick tock so people can go and see, because it is at the top. Again, you probably posted it on Instagram. I love that.
Speaker 1:It's just so creative, so energetic and it just explains sensory processing so well. It is the Coke bottle effect. For anyone that doesn't know it, it's the idea that different things happen throughout your day. To shake your Coke bottle and then you have these big meltdowns that look like it's just been one thing. Anyway, we all know that the idea behind it. I'm getting sidetracked, but how did you first start OT with Joey?
Speaker 2:I started it. It's almost been a year. I had the idea for the therapist's plan at first and I thought it would be good if I had a platform to kind of get a bit of an OT following and hopefully sell some planners. So I came up with this self care challenge and only my friends did it, which is really sweet, I think back on it, because they just got roped into this idea and had to do all these self care challenges every week. But they did it to support me it's really sweet and all the girls that worked it out as well.
Speaker 2:So I would post a self care challenge Sunday night and like they're like exercise or like go out in nature or spend time with family and friends, and then I would get the girls to send me the photos of them doing it or videos. And then I said they were in a giveaway to win a therapist's planner and I just made them. I brought them into work. I think I ordered 30 copies and there were around like 20 girls I was working with and they all bought ones and then my friends bought one as well. So I had, I think, five copies and I got the sales from Etsy and I was so excited.
Speaker 2:The next time I came out with the therapist's planners I sold a hundred of them and like, yes, the work girls bought them, but that was like 80 other sales from people in Etsy, which is crazy. Yeah, I find it like surreal when I think about it, like there's clinics all over Australia that have my therapist's planner on their desk and when they send through photos and things it's really cool. So, yeah, the idea came about from the therapist's planner idea and I also thought that there need to be more coverage about OT in general. There's a lot about teachers and other health professionals, which I think is awesome, but not so much about.
Speaker 1:OT Absolutely, and you share a wide variety of things. You know. You share therapy ideas, you share tips and tricks for new grads. You obviously share stuff about your planner, you share days in the life. I think it's a really good mix and it's a very it's a breath of fresh air. Like I said in the intro, it's just, it's a fun, it's an energetic page and I think a lot of people listening probably will already follow you. But if you guys aren't following Joey, definitely go and check out her page. You have some wonderful, wonderful things that you are posting. I'm sure very, very exciting things to come. Talk to me about the therapist's planner and sort of what that process was like creating that and whether it was an easy process, whether you've always been creative or it was just something that you had to execute and obviously you did a wonderful job. It's been so popular, thank you. And so that was that process.
Speaker 2:I probably made it because it's something that I wanted to improve in myself. Like I've kind of always struggled with organization, I thought, well, it's a big part of being a therapist and it kind of contributes to burnout in a way as well. So that was the idea behind it and it was really tricky. Like I used Canva and the first ones were like they were good, but they were also like that minimalistic design where I just didn't know how to use all the features like I do now. So it was also really scary putting in the order for them, because I was liaising with manufacturers and that's something I've never done before and when they first came in the mail, like I was so nervous I thought can I be printed with like 13 months, like, is everything going?
Speaker 2:to be wrong yeah because you can't print one, you have to commit to the whole order. So even when I printed the other ones, I was like my roommate like played a prank on me where she said, oh my gosh, like the margins are all out and then like half the pages missing. Pashit was home when the order came through and then I looked at them I was like, well, yeah, I was very nervous for both of them, so it wasn't an easy process.
Speaker 1:I do think it was worth it though, and you recently released another product which is so incredible and so creative, the Bunny Ear Buddy and you said the idea came to you in a session. I think it's the purest example of like being functional, being compensatory and sort of supporting our kids, meeting them where they're at, but also having a product that sort of evolves with them as well. Please tell me where the idea came from, the thought process, how did you get it? Tell me all about it. I'm excited.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I was like five minutes before a session and I knew that this kid was struggling to hold the Bunny Ears but he could tie a knot, so we needed something to keep the Bunny Ears standing so that he could focus on the time and up. And then I thought of it and I ran around in a mad kind of frenzy. I printed out just like a picture of blue on lemonade paper and cut it out and I punctured four holes in it and I tried to show the girls what I was thinking. And now like, oh my gosh, like I think that could work, like try and make it into a product. And I didn't really know the first place to start Took me ages to find a manufacturer and someone that would laser cut onto the plastic that I'm using and all these things. So I actually I was really excited.
Speaker 2:So I brought that lemonade piece of paper into session and I said to the mum her and I have a very close relationship. I said to her like this is what I was thinking for him. It's not perfect, but I feel like it could help with his lasers and she was like, oh my God, you should make this like you should use like a thin plastic and actually do it. And then she started me excited. Yeah, so I did it and they're yeah, they do. We know it's really exciting to see their first purchase thing, them and I'm hoping that'll help kids with their laces as well. It's, yeah, really fun seeing a product come to life.
Speaker 1:And there's no handbook to making a product, Is there? There's no? Like I'm going down that route with a few other things and like contacting manufacturers. There is no handbook on how to do it. There's no handbook on who to contact, who's ethical, who's not. You're literally just going in blind and I like can imagine there probably would have been times that you would have been like it's too hard, I'm not going to do it.
Speaker 2:It's too much.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you've, you've made an epic product. So has it been popular? Is it going well? Is it decided to be in trickling through?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like I can talk about it because they've posted it. I had a retailer purchase them and is selling them on their website as well. So, yeah, that happened this week. That's really exciting. That is so exciting. Congratulations. Yeah it's cool to see your products on a website, so that in itself has been massive and I'm hoping that through that it will continue to help kids that are purchasing products on that website Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Any plans for future products? What's what where next? I feel like you've just got probably so many ideas. You've done one. You've just got to keep going now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I want to keep going with the resources. I don't know exactly what, like I think the plan is, I'll continue to do because they're very popular. I would love there to be more products for therapists where they could go to a store, online store and have things like the therapist plan are that are aesthetic or yeah, things that they. They look pretty, but they also serve that functional purpose, which is to support therapists to be the best version of themselves, and with that, I also like making products for kids as well. So that's my plan to get into that a little bit more. It's very overwhelming. I feel like I'm out of my depth all the time, but I think just one step at a time and, yeah, just not to get too stressed out with it, because it's meant to be fun and I want to keep it fun, absolutely and, and, like I know, imposter syndrome is a huge thing in social media isn't everything, but I promise you you're doing a wonderful job.
Speaker 1:Thank you, you're everything you're doing, the ideas you come out with are just epic, and it's so exciting to see what you're going to do next. And to sort of persevere and get a product like that that's so unique, so simple but so unique is just incredible. So congratulations.
Speaker 2:I really appreciate it. It's so nice from an outside perspective because then you're like right, like yeah, doing something right.
Speaker 1:Like you said before, that negative self-talk like it creeps in so easily. But yeah, it's, it's so exciting. Every time you post I'm like, oh, what's Joey doing now? What's she doing? It's so cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, thank you, it means the absolute well, especially because your podcast is something that I listened to as well. I think, well, yeah, that's really exciting to hear that from you, so thank you.
Speaker 1:You're welcome. You're very, very welcome. And I think that sort of leads nicely into our next question of what does the next five years look like for you? Are you wanting to expand your clinical skills? What are the trainings you want to do? What do you sort of see, yeah, ot with Joey wise and clinically wise.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like clinically, I've been loving learning more about the physical disability side of things. I think that's the physio or the wannabe physio me trying to find that place in OT as well. I love feeding as well. I did the SOS feeding course and that was awesome. It's more of a niche area but I kind of like the structure within that too. I think that's really cool that there's this actual program that you can follow with kids to support them in their feeding challenges. So that's what I've been liking clinically and loving stepping into that senior role as well. I saw OT with Joey. I have, yeah, no idea. I think you know this week in particular has brought up a lot of opportunities with the bunny buddy. So I kind of want to keep going with that and see where that takes me.
Speaker 1:And, yeah, you can see how it goes. It's exciting, isn't it? It's a bit of a weird question, that one, because, like, so much can happen in five years, but it's also. I love seeing where people's heads are at and where that, you know, some people have a really clear like yeah, five years, I'm going to be here. Other people are like, nah, we'll see what happens. Yeah, yeah, it's like nice, like in the middle, sort of mix.
Speaker 2:Oh, I try, but sometimes I can get a little bit stuck in that goal setting Like, yeah, I think you can. It's so healthy to have goals and I think that it really keeps you driving towards something. But then it's also nice to take a step back and say, oh, let's just see what happens, because that provides more room for opportunities that you didn't necessarily think were going to happen. And I kind of always overestimate what I can achieve in the short term. But when someone asked me a question about the long term, I'm like gosh 30 in five years which is an old it's just something to wrap my head around, isn't it?
Speaker 1:And please, anyone who is 30, who is listening to this, please take no offense by this time. Twenty six, so four years. I'll be 30. My partner turned 30 this year and I was like oh, my God you know what.
Speaker 2:They probably went through the same thing at 25 and then we'll go through the same thing at 30. I think you just feel that at any age, absolutely, it's the cycle of life. It's the cycle of life.
Speaker 1:You'll always be not afraid, but but weary of what's to come. And yeah, but then you'll get there and love it, Like how good's being 25?. But when I was 21, I was like I don't want to be 25. Like I like no, no.
Speaker 2:And then your 20 is like, yeah, so much fun, but also everyone's at different stages and lots of comparison. That happens as well. So I think it would be nice to go through that next stage of life where you're like, ok, I'm just happy doing what I'm doing and not comparing myself as much to everyone else in my 20s.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and easier said than done. Of course it is a nice thing to sort of keep in the back of your mind. You know that comparative race again, just like as a new grad, we don't need to be doing it without personal lives. Yes, yes, let's go back in time. Could you give your university self any advice? What do you think you might say?
Speaker 2:I wish I I wish I just immerse myself in the culture a little bit more, and I think it's hard because socially we had a different experience to what we would have had if it wasn't for covid. But yeah, I would give this advice to anyone in universities just to surround yourself by lots of people so that you can get that support in terms of assignments and things coming up and debriefing. I did have great friends in uni. I just wish I leaned on that social life just a little bit more, because those people are going to potentially become your colleagues or other people that you're referring to as well. So, yeah, that would be my advice and just again, I kind of re-curring theme in this is just to really trust that process and everything's going to be okay.
Speaker 2:I think you posted something where we're surviving and in the job of our dreams, despite failing, or almost failing, that neuro course, and I couldn't relate to that more. That was the end of my career and that's just ridiculous because there were going to be so many more hurdles and so many more positives along that journey. If we stopped there, we would have stopped everything else that was going to come.
Speaker 2:So just to keep persevering through it all.
Speaker 1:I love that, and there's so much more to be a UOT than what score you got in anatomy and I will take that message to my grave, because I'll tell you what in the moment I was made to feel like it was just. There was nothing more important than that mark that you got and I think that message can ripple across that marks and your achievements during uni and not going to impact your clinical skills as an OT. I think that's such an important message. I love that you shared that same thought.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we all had different learning styles. I was, like you know, not talking down about the course, because I think a lot of people do learn in that more open way. I don't know if you remember those at Prax or Lab experiences where you were just kind of left to learn about the body yourself, like I personally didn't learn like that and I was very out of my comfort zone, whereas other people might have. And, yeah, you just kind of learn a lot more about your own learning styles. Try not to say learn too much, but I guess it's what? Yeah, the theme of what I'm trying to say. You learn how you best take in information and that will follow you throughout your career.
Speaker 1:I think, yeah, I think those skills that you learn in uni is how you're going to sort of engage as a new grad and how you're going to sort of repeat. Feedback as a new grad and stuff. So yeah, so relevant. I love that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Joey, before we wrap this up, I have a new way that I'm ending all my episodes and it is with some rapid fire questions. I have five random questions I'm going to ask you and you are going to give me your rapid answers, and then we're just going to see how it goes. Okay, absolutely, I'm ready. So hit me with tomato sauce. Do you have it in the fridge or in the cupboard Cover? But when you open that fridge, why is that Not what you do?
Speaker 1:You're the third person I've asked this today and every time I've had like a visceral reaction and I need to stop being so. I'm a cupboard person. But then it's kind of room temperature and but then if you're having like a hot meal and you put cold sauce on it, then you've just got a mixed texture. Oh, you know, I do get that. Look, it is one of those things. Everyone will take that to their grave, what they, what they think of it. But 100%.
Speaker 2:that's hilarious, and I'm barbecue sauce as well.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I'm barbecue sauce with you there, not a tomato sauce. Girlie, what is your favorite OT resource, joey?
Speaker 2:Shaving cream, but there's also another one. I know it's just rapid fire, but there's yeah nothing quick about my answers. But there's another one. It's a ninja game. It's so cool I forget the name of it, but you can actually string to different parts in the house or the clinic. You have to like go over under it and there's a timer. Yeah, that one as well. Fun.
Speaker 1:That is fun, that is good. Or spring or autumn, summer, definitely summer. Beautiful, favorite and least favorite unit at uni, the favorite.
Speaker 2:I like the child and adolescent one. I didn't do well in it, though, but I did like the pediatric side of things. Obviously, and least favorite would be the neuro. Has anyone said neuro as their favorite, yet no Okay.
Speaker 1:And what is your favorite superdip flavor? I like the blue one or the pink one. Beautiful, incredible. Anyone is listening to this podcast and they don't already follow you over on Instagram? Give yourself a little plug. Where can they find you? How can they see all the epic things you're doing?
Speaker 2:Yeah, instagram and TikTok it's OT with Joey, the place is around the most active. Yeah, that's pretty much. I have an Etsy store as well, so the link to my why are my Instagram for my Etsy store and that's where the therapist planner is. I sold out of the hard copies but the digital one is still available and it's currently on sale and I have some worksheets and the bunny your buddy as well.
Speaker 1:Amazing and definitely go and check them out. Even your your visual resources look incredible as well. So, definitely everyone. Go and have a look and I'll put the links to those in my show notes. Joey, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. It's been an absolute pleasure. It's been so great to learn who you are behind the social media and hearing about all the incredible things that you're doing. So thank you so very much for coming on.
Speaker 2:Oh, thanks, it's been awesome. I've had, yeah, an absolute blast talking to you and I feel like it's a very big deal for me to be on here, so I'm just excited to be on the pod.
Speaker 1:That makes me so happy that you're excited to be on the pod so thank you for your enthusiasm Incredible. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1:Another huge thank you to Joey for coming on the pod and sharing so many incredible things. Check out Joey's Etsy store, check out her Instagram, her TikTok, and just get around all the wonderful things she's doing. She's an absolute asset to the OT community and, yeah, I just feel so honored to have had her on the pod. That's all we have time for for today's episode. Thank you for tuning in. To all my new listeners, thank you for being here. I hope you stick around for a couple more episodes. I've got some great ones. Go for a little yonder back through the list too.
Speaker 1:I think there's something for everyone, no matter what part of their OT journey they are on. I have a fun fact, of course, before we wrap this up, and that is did you know that tarantulas can swim? So next time you're waterlin' away in the water, just know you could be swimming with a tarantula next to you and I'll leave you with that. Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting me and everything I do. Thank you everyone who is going to purchase a daily otinary. That's me preempting it out into the world. But yeah, I appreciate you guys. I just love what I do, so thank you so much for being here.