Show Notes
In this episode of the Irish Occupational Therapy Podcast, we are honoured to welcome internationally renowned occupational therapist, teacher, speaker, and author Kim Barthel. With over 40 years of experience, Kim is celebrated worldwide for her pioneering work in blending neuroscience, trauma-informed practice, and occupational therapy. Her mission is to support the healing of people and communities by deepening our understanding of the brain, behaviour, and the power of human connection. In our conversation, Kim shares her journey from clinician to international educator and business owner, a path marked not by rigid planning but by courage, intuition, and trust in her calling. We discuss the evolution of private practice, the challenges and the learning that come with stepping outside traditional models, and the importance of cultural sensitivity when working across countries and contexts. Kim reflects on the role of resilience, fierce love, and relational approaches in Irish occupational therapy, offering encouragement for Occupational Therapists to embrace their values and approach their work with curiosity and compassion. This inspiring dialogue serves as a reminder of how our profession can evolve when we ground ourselves in being, doing, belonging, and becoming, both for our clients and for ourselves. https://www.kimbarthel.ca/ Kim's workshop in Cork Private Practitioner Networking Summit
More from The Irish Occupational Therapy Podcast
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In this episode, Sharon Leahy shares her extensive experience in neurorehabilitation, from her work in the National Rehabilitation Hospital to her current role with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland in the West of Ireland. We explore the lifelong impact of acquired brain injury in children and young people from the invisible cognitivechallenges and fatigue to the emotional adjustment experienced by families.Sharon speaks candidly about the need for community-based rehabilitation and the importance of supporting the whole family system following brain injury. A central theme of this conversation is assistive technology. Sharon demystifies what assistive technology really meanshighlighting simple, accessible tools like dictation, read-aloud features, calendar apps, and voice assistants, alongside higher-tech solutions such as environmental control systems and alternative access methods. She emphasises that technology doesn’t need to be futuristic or expensive to be powerful, sometimes the smallest adaptations can make the biggest difference. This episode is a practical and hopeful reminder that when we apply our OT lens creatively, assistive technology can enable participation, reduce cognitive fatigue, and support independence across school, work, and everyday life.
In this episode, we speak with Ciara Duffy, founder of Enable OT NI, about her journey from NHS neurorehabilitation toprivate practice. Ciara shares powerful insights into working with adults following stroke, brain injury, concussion, and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). We explore the real impact of occupational therapy in neurological rehabilitation from fatigue management and return to work, to graded goal-setting and positive risk-taking. Ciara reflects on supporting a public figure with FND and how occupational therapy helped restore confidence, independence, and identity. This episode highlights the depth of OT’s holistic approach asking not “What’s the matter?” but “What matters to you?” https://enableotni.com/
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