Mental health is one of occupational therapy’s smallest practice areas.

Because relatively few OTs work in traditional mental health settings, it can feel like an enigma:

• What does mental health OT actually look like day to day?
• Where do we fit on interdisciplinary teams?
• And how does occupation truly show up in mental health care?

At the same time, there may be no better home for occupational therapy’s core values than mental health practice.

In this course, Intro to Mental Health OT, we zoom out to ground you in the big picture—while also getting practical about what mental health OT looks like in real clinical contexts.

We’ll be joined by a practicing occupational therapist and champion of the profession, Michelle Burlyga, OTR/L.

Together, we’ll walk through:

• Common assessments used in mental health OT
• Core treatment approaches and intervention strategies
• Key considerations for mental health practice that differ from other OT settings
• Why mental health competencies are increasingly essential—no matter where you practice

You’ll leave with a clearer mental model of mental health occupational therapy—and a stronger sense of how OT’s distinct focus on occupation can play a powerful role in supporting mental health and recovery.

See full course details here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/intro-to-mental-health-ot

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

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

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Through OT Potential, we’ve released more than 124 podcast episodes exploring the research, ideas, and conversations shaping occupational therapy. Each year, we pause to step back and ask a foundational question:

What is occupational therapy—and how is it evolving?

In this special episode to kick off 2026, we expand the conversation beyond research alone to include advocacy, technology, and the forces shaping OT practice and public perception.

Joining us for this milestone conversation are two of the profession’s most influential leaders:

• Katie Jordan, CEO of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• Angela Macauley, PMP, CEO of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Together, we explore:

• How occupational therapy practitioners can collaborate on advocacy efforts, particularly around reimbursement and sustainability of practice
• How the profession can more effectively communicate and market the value of OT to the public, referral partners, and policymakers
  How emerging technologies—especially AI—are impacting the profession.

This episode is an invitation to zoom out, reconnect with OT’s core identity, and consider how we collectively shape the future of the profession.

See full course details here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/what-is-ot-in-2026

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

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

Research suggests that anywhere from 46% to 84% of autistic children experience selective eating.

And the downstream risks are substantial: selective eating is linked with nutritional deficiencies, psychosocial impairment, and increased risk of developmental and psychiatric comorbidities, with severity tied to how persistent and restrictive the eating patterns become.

In this OT Potential course, Britt St. John, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, joins us to break down what occupational therapy professionals need to understand—and do—when supporting autistic children with selective eating. We’ll begin with Britt’s story and key terminology (picky eating vs. selective eating vs. feeding disorders), then move into practical, evidence-based guidance for clinicians.

Together, we’ll focus on three core areas:

• Assessment: How to identify the nature and severity of selective eating, including available OT assessments and red flags that should guide clinical decision making.
• Caregiver collaboration: How to partner with families in ways that reduce stress, build shared understanding, and promote sustainable change at home.
• Evidence-backed treatment options: What the research supports, how OT interventions fit within interprofessional care, and when to refer on.

This course is designed for OTs and OTAs looking for clarity in a complex practice area—and for practical tools you can use immediately to support families navigating selective eating.

See full course details here:
https://otpotential.com/ceu-podcast-courses/selective-eating-and-autism

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

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