Shows
Clinicians Creating Impact113. Leading Care Without Carrying It All: The Day-to-Day of Team-Based PracticeMany clinicians think leadership is about doing more- more clients, more tasks. But in this episode, I show you how leadership is really about creating systems that work for everyone without overwhelming yourself. You'll learn how to lead sustainably by providing strong direction and clear roles, making leadership impactful and manageable without the burnout. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/113 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/
2026-02-1212 minClinicians Creating Impact112. The Art of Delegation: When to Involve a Rehabilitation Assistant and How to Do It ConfidentlyIt's common for clinicians to hesitate when considering delegation. After all, you want to make sure your clients receive the best care possible, and handing off tasks can feel risky. But when done correctly, delegation is a game-changer. Learn how to do it with my practical framework that's informed by real client experiences. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/112 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/
2026-01-0813 minClinicians Creating Impact111. The Backbone of Team-Based Care: How Clear Roles Turn a Team into a RhythmHow can clear roles transform your team and make client care more effective? In this second episode of our series on integration, we're diving into the backbone of team-based care: clear roles. I'll break down why having defined roles isn't just about structure, and we'll explore the three key questions that can help you identify where clearer roles can make your work lighter, more impactful, and more energizing. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/111 Let's stay connected! Follow me o...
2025-12-1116 minClinicians Creating Impact106. AI's Role in Future Clinical Practice with Kayla Williams, Heather Cathcart, and Savannah GraszaThe integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare sparks both excitement and apprehension among clinicians. Three soon-to-be occupational therapists from UBC discovered through their capstone research that while patients approach AI with inherent skepticism, they're surprisingly willing to explore its potential. Their findings reveal a fascinating paradox: patients feel more comfortable discussing sensitive topics like incontinence or finances with AI, yet deeply value the human connection only a clinician can provide. In this conversation with Kayla Williams, Heather Cathcart, and Savannah Grasza, we explore their groundbreaking research on AI assessment tools in occ...
2025-07-1026 minClinicians Creating Impact94. Thinking of Quitting? A Tool to Help You DecideAs clinicians, we face many challenges in our day-to-day work that can lead to frustration, whether it's issues with the system, work conditions, compensation, or workload. Even at the most amazing job, these challenges can arise. By having a plan in place to handle these frustrations, you can ensure that any decisions you make about your career are in your best long-term interest. I walk you through a three-step process to help you assess your frustration, ask for what you want, and ultimately decide if quitting your current position is the right move for you. B...
2024-10-2419 minClinicians Creating Impact93. The First Step to Holding a Boundary at WorkIn this episode, I share insights on upholding boundaries from a recent professional development training we held here at Abilities led by Kerry Neilson, a seasoned veteran in the helping professions. With 46 years of experience, including 22 years as a high school counselor, Kerry brings a wealth of wisdom on the topic of maintaining professional boundaries. I dive into some practical tips for tuning into your body's signals when faced with boundary challenges. You'll learn why self-awareness is crucial for making decisions that honor both your clients' needs and your own. Plus, I share the first a...
2024-10-1716 minClinicians Creating Impact92. Is It a Clinical Skill or Customer Service Issue? With Kathy CervoIn today's episode, I sit down with Kathy Cervo to discuss the importance of customer service skills in clinical practice. Kathy has a unique role where she helps clinicians balance their own experience with the client experience, building successful caseloads and schedules. Her insights from this vantage point are invaluable. We explore the common miscommunications and mismatched expectations that can arise between clinicians and clients. Kathy shares her strategies for resolving these issues and building strong therapeutic relationships. She also reveals what she wishes more clinicians knew about customer service. Get fu...
2024-10-1017 minClinicians Creating Impact91. Answering Your Questions about Clinical TransitionsHow do you take over a client from another clinician and ensure a smooth clinical transition? This is a question I received recently, and it's an important topic to explore. It can feel challenging to step into an established therapeutic relationship and maintain the same level of care, but as clinicians, we want to provide the best possible service to our clients, even during times of change. Tune in this week to discover four key steps for successfully transitioning care from one clinician to another. You'll also learn how to start feeling more co...
2024-10-0311 minClinicians Creating Impact90: The New Grad Guide to Your First Year as a Clinician with Leeza PertsevLeeza Pertsev joins us at the end of her first year as a new grad clinician and her reflections will be super useful for anyone out there looking to land their first clinical job, for clinicians moving roles, and for newer clinicians who want to know what kind of experience their peers are having. Tune in this week to discover Leeza's tips for new grads navigating the early days of their clinical careers. We discuss how to take the pressure off as you grow into your clinical work, how to embrace growth as a clinician, a...
2024-09-2629 minClinicians Creating Impact89: What to Expect as a New Grad Clinician with Leeza Pertsev (Part 2)In this episode, I sit down with one of our amazing clinicians here at Abilities, Leeza Pertsev, to discuss her experiences navigating the "messy middle" of her first year in practice. If you're currently in a phase of transition in your own career, this is the perfect episode to listen to as Leeza reminds you it's okay to not have all the answers and that embracing lifelong learning is key to success in our field. Leeza openly shares the challenges of shifting from the structured support of school to the autonomy of the workplace. She d...
2024-09-1925 minClinicians Creating Impact88. What to Expect as a New Grad Clinician with Leeza Pertsev (Part 1)New grads everywhere are looking for their first clinical roles. That's why, this week, I'm reintroducing you to one of our own amazing clinicians here at Abilities: Leeza Pertsev. At the time of recording, Leeza was navigating her first year as a newly graduated therapist, and she shares a wealth of valuable lessons for newly qualified clinicians searching for their first job, or even for experienced clinicians seeking a new challenge. Tune in this week to revisit the first part of my discussion with Leeza Pertsev about the challenges of being a new graduate and t...
2024-09-1224 minClinicians Creating Impact87. Use This to Help Clients Find Their GoalsAs clinicians, we're often so focused on making goals achievable that we forget the importance of first letting our clients dream big. Asking the right open-ended questions can reveal surprising insights into what they truly desire, even if it seems improbable at first. When we understand our clients' deepest aspirations, we can tailor our approach to be much more client-centered and engaging. Discover how using wildly improbable goals can spark your clients' imaginations and get them excited about the therapeutic process. With just a simple shift in your goal-setting conversations, you can build stronger rapport w...
2024-09-0510 minClinicians Creating Impact86. How to Create Your Ideal WorkdayBy taking the time to deeply imagine your perfect ordinary workday, you gain valuable insights into what truly matters to you. This goes beyond surface-level goals like compensation or specific skills. What I share today is about crafting a day-to-day experience that lights you up and maximizes your impact as a clinician. I walk you through the step-by-step process for creating your ideal workday. When you have a clear vision for how you want your workdays to look, you'll be surprised by what you discover about your priorities and how you can start aligning your r...
2024-08-2912 minClinicians Creating Impact85. How to Make Your To-Do List EasierDo you dread looking at your to-do list each day? You're definitely not alone. A difficult to-do list is a common source of stress for clinicians everywhere. But there is one powerful tool called the 3 Bs that has transformed my own to-do list, ultimately making it easier to handle. If you're a busy clinician who wants to magnify your impact without burning out, this episode is a must-listen. You'll walk away with an immediately applicable tool to make even your most stressful responsibilities feel lighter, which is what we all want as clinicians.
2024-08-2212 minClinicians Creating Impact84. Answering Your Questions About WorkAs clinicians, a big part of our work involves collaborating with others on a team. But what do you do when one of those team members isn't meeting your expectations or communicating in a way that works for you? Listen in for my perspective on how to approach this situation in an empowering way that starts with supporting yourself first. Learn three powerful questions to ask yourself when dealing with a challenging colleague. Gain insights on how to identify your ideal expectations, communicate them clearly, and ultimately improve your working relationships. If you've ever carried s...
2024-08-1514 minClinicians Creating Impact83. Working with Your Conative StyleLabels of any kind have limitations. However, there's a massive benefit to understanding how your brain naturally works and using that knowledge to set yourself up for success. So if you're ready to start getting the most out of your clinical work by learning to get the best out of your brain, this episode on conative styles is for you. Tune in this week to discover how to start working with your conative style. I discuss the four conative styles that indicate your brain's preference for taking action, share how the styles differ from one a...
2024-08-0820 minClinicians Creating Impact82. A New Way to Handle Negative FeedbackIf you're anything like me, getting negative feedback from a client about your performance as a clinician is truly crushing. However, when you use the techniques I share in today's episode, you are able to look at negative client feedback through a new, less painful lens. Discover a new way to deal with negative feedback in your work as a clinician. I discuss how to handle the thoughts and emotions that typically come up when you receive negative feedback, and you learn how to ensure your uncomfortable emotions, like hurt, embarrassment, or frustration, don't prevent y...
2024-08-0116 minClinicians Creating Impact81. Getting Paid What You're Worth (Part 2)Following on from last week's conversation about deciding what you're really worth as a clinician and discussing the challenges of getting paid what you're worth, we're taking things a step further in this episode. If you want some practical tips and strategies to help you get paid what you're worth, this episode is for you. Tune in this week to put everything together and discover how to get paid what you're worth as a clinician, and how to start feeling amazing about your compensation. I share some of the most unhelpful things you can do i...
2024-07-2526 minClinicians Creating Impact80. Getting Paid What You're Worth (Part 1)There was a time when conversations about money and compensation made me super uncomfortable. However, now that I'm a clinic owner, I love having conversations with interviewees about what they think they're worth and how they want to be compensated. If conversations about money make you cringe a little, this episode is exactly what you need. Discover how to stop underearning and get paid what you're worth as a clinician. I share why it makes perfect sense that we'd avoid talking about money in clinical settings, how my own thoughts about money discussions have changed o...
2024-07-1823 minClinicians Creating Impact79. Improving Relations with ColleaguesToday, I'm offering you a powerful insight into a conversation I had just this week with some of the clinicians I work with. I have a strategy that works for me in relating better with colleagues, even when it feels difficult, and I'm including some practical tips on how you can put all of this into practice. Discover everything you need to know about improving relations with colleagues in your work as a clinician. I share how to open a dialogue with your fellow clinicians around what you want from your colleagues, and you'll learn h...
2024-07-1116 minClinicians Creating Impact78. Try This at Work: Managing ChangeThere are forces we don't control that bring change impacting us in our work lives, like a change in government policy, employer policy, or personnel in the workplace. Whatever changes you're dealing with in your work as a clinician, this episode is here to help you manage change, particularly when it's unexpected. If you want to up-level your tolerance for change in your work, tune in this week for some practical tips for managing the constantly changing circumstances we face as clinicians. I show you how to get clear on your thoughts about change...
2024-07-0417 minClinicians Creating Impact77. Power For All with OT Alex ThompsonMy guest in this episode is Alex Thompson, the executive director and founder of Power For All. She has a background in education, outdoor recreation, adventure therapy, and occupational therapy. She has specialized in working from a holistic lens with children, youth, and families in the last 15 years offering nature-based occupational therapy. Tune in this week to discover how Alex Thompson makes an impact in her community through her work as an occupational therapist and in her role leading a non-profit adventure therapy society. Alex is sharing her story, how she collaborates with th...
2024-06-2732 minClinicians Creating Impact76. Working with Assistants as an SLP, OT, or PTIf you're a speech language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or a physical therapist, you've likely worked with rehabilitation assistants before. But have you made the best use of their help? And how can you utilize assistants more effectively in your work as a clinician? If you want to become more competent and confident in using assistants in your clinical work, this episode is for you. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/76
2024-06-2020 minClinicians Creating Impact75. Giving and Getting Negative FeedbackDo you struggle with giving negative feedback or receiving it yourself? When you need to deliver feedback to a colleague, a patient, or anyone else you encounter regularly, it's normal to feel very uncomfortable. As clinicians, we're naturally relationship-focused. In many ways, this is a superpower. However, being relationship-focused can be a liability, especially when it comes to giving and receiving negative feedback. Discover my simple, actionable tips on making giving and receiving negative feedback just a little easier in your day-to-day clinical life. I discuss practical ways to give feedback that helps others feel c...
2024-06-1318 minClinicians Creating Impact74. How to Find Work-Life Balance as a ClinicianA topic that always comes up in my chats with clinicians is work-life balance. It's such a personal concept, meaning different things to different people, and that's what we're diving into today. Explore how to achieve a work-life balance that's right for you. Learn about treating it like a science project, adjusting as circumstances change, and understanding how our work challenges often mirror personal ones. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/74
2024-06-0613 minClinicians Creating Impact73. Neurodivergence in the WorkplaceNeurodiversity is an important topic. As a society, we're becoming increasingly more aware of the differences in how we think and interact as individuals. As clinicians especially, we're trained to recognize neurodiversity when others may not see it, and we have a wonderful opportunity to help our neurodivergent colleagues show up exactly as they are. Discover some important considerations to make if you're working with a clinician who is neurodivergent, or if you yourself are neurodivergent. I'm discussing how to manage your expectations of yourself and others, and you'll learn how to adopt a mindset t...
2024-05-3017 minClinicians Creating Impact72. A Quick Tip to Disconnect from WorkThinking about your clients or your workload while you're away from work isn't necessarily a problem. However, when it crosses the line into overthinking and you need a little help taking your mind away from work so you can get the rest and relaxation you really need, this episode is for you. Tune in this week to discover a quick tip to disconnect from work. Learn exactly how disconnecting while you're away from work allows you to make a bigger impact as a clinician, and I share exactly how to disconnect at the end of e...
2024-05-2311 minClinicians Creating Impact71. How to Have More Fun at WorkI'm all about adding more fun into my life, as I'm sure you are too. But how do you add more fun into your days at work as a clinician? Not everybody sees having fun at work as important, but for me, having at least some fun at work is a necessity. Discover some concepts and practical strategies that will help you add more fun to your work days. I share how you can create the feeling of fun without drastically changing the way you work, and you'll learn how to decide on and implement m...
2024-05-1615 minClinicians Creating Impact70. Free Yourself from Drama at WorkDo you have any drama at work? A lot of people will probably say yes to this because a little drama can feel like a normal part of being in a workplace. But while it is common, it doesn't need to feel normal. If it feels like you have some kind of drama to navigate on any given day in your work as a clinician, this episode is for you. Tune in this week to free yourself from drama in your work as a clinician. I'm discussing Karpman's Drama Triangle, showing you how to use t...
2024-05-0917 minClinicians Creating Impact69. An Easy Way to Set a Boundary as a ClinicianAs clinicians, setting and keeping boundaries can feel difficult. This makes sense because we're people who have a real desire to help others, and sometimes it's challenging to put our own needs above other people's. However, having boundaries as a clinician actually makes everything about your work easier and more enjoyable. Tune in this week to discover how to set boundaries as a clinician. I discuss how a lack of boundaries results in burnout for well-intentioned clinicians, and I show you how you can meet your own needs while still having an impact in the l...
2024-05-0211 minClinicians Creating Impact68. The Best Way to Get FeedbackWhen you're looking for feedback, there's an amazing model encompassed in a useful statement that you can call upon whenever you need it. One problem clinicians have is that we rarely ask for feedback at the most critical time. But the ones who do are the most successful in the long term. Discover the best way to get feedback on your work as a clinician. I present you with a simple but powerful statement, and you'll learn how to get immediate feedback on what's going on in any given clinical work situation you're dealing with a...
2024-04-2511 minClinicians Creating Impact67. 3 Ways to Deal with Challenging Co-workersAs clinicians, we're adept at meeting the needs of others. However, when we're working with a colleague who is unwilling to follow our direction or doesn't meet the standards we set for ourselves, it can make our work feel challenging, and you may even dread collaborating with this person. Discover what to do when you find working with a specific colleague challenging. I provide three practical tips to empower yourself in any challenging situation with a co-worker, and you'll learn how to take responsibility for what you can control when collaborating with someone else feels m...
2024-04-1814 minClinicians Creating Impact66. Why and How to Network with Clinicians as an IntrovertNetworking is a valuable tool for clinicians, but even for myself, it didn't feel natural or desirable early on in my career. However, I was able to get over that initial discomfort and experience the benefit of networking as an introverted clinician, and I share all the tips that helped me in today's episode. I discuss why networking helps you make a bigger impact through your work as a clinician, and I give you practical advice to help you get out there and network more effectively, even as an introvert. Get fu...
2024-04-1120 minClinicians Creating Impact65. Why It's Normal to Struggle as a New ClinicianWhether you're a seasoned clinician moving to a new role or work environment, or you're a fresh graduate taking up their first clinical position, it's normal to struggle in a new clinical setting. Whenever we start something new, anxiety, pressure, discouragement, and imposter syndrome are generally along for the ride. Bring a little more ease to your new role as a clinician. I discuss why this struggle isn't unique to you, the biological reasons you feel like you're struggling, and you'll get a deep insight into the transformation you go through when you grow through d...
2024-04-0415 minClinicians Creating Impact64. How to Find the Best Job for YouHow do you find the best job for you as a clinician? New clinicians are entering a job market where finding a job isn't an issue. But sometimes, that luxury of choice can feel overwhelming. When jobs are scarce, we take what we can get. But when they're abundant, we're left with the task of deciding which one suits us best. Discover the vital considerations you need to make before accepting your next clinical post. I'm showing you how to get clear on what you really want from your role as a clinician, and you'll l...
2024-03-2813 minClinicians Creating Impact63. The Power of ListeningIf you are interested in expanding your listening skillset, there are three things that will help you become a better listener. These three tips are helping me develop the way I use listening in my own work as a clinician, and once you understand your role as a listener on a deeper level, you'll be able to show up as the clinician your clients really need. Learn why listening is a vital part of your skillset as a clinician, what's currently stopping you from listening and being truly present, and how to meet the needs o...
2024-03-2111 minClinicians Creating Impact62. It Really Is Okay Not to Feel Okay at WorkI'm here with a simple message today: it's okay not to feel okay. We obviously want to provide a supportive environment for our clients, but it's time to extend that support to ourselves in our work as clinicians. All you need are a couple of tools to help you be more effective in this area, so stick around for some useful tips you can apply when you aren't feeling your best. Discover why it's really okay to not feel okay in your work as a clinician. Learn how to have compassion for yourself when you d...
2024-03-1418 minClinicians Creating Impact61. What Makes a Great Clinician? An Interview with Kathy CervoWhat makes a great clinician? Of course, clinical skills are important, but there are also aspects of being a truly great clinician that we can't learn in our formal education. Kathy Cervo has been working with Abilities for almost 11 years, spending the past six years as the Director of Client Experience, and she knows a thing or two about what makes a great clinician. Kathy joins me this week to discuss how she helps both the clients and the clinicians have a smooth experience here at Abilities Rehabilitation, and she's sharing what, in her experience, h...
2024-03-0738 minClinicians Creating Impact60. Coaching and Mentoring for Clinical Professional DevelopmentI have experienced both mentoring and coaching in my clinical career, and while there are big differences between the two, they're both super powerful. Understanding the differences between coaching and mentoring will help you decide what you need to move your career forward and make your experience of work even more amazing. Discover how coaching and mentoring can supplement your professional development as a clinician. Learn how to decide whether you need a coach or a mentor in pursuit of your career goals as a clinician, and exactly how this person will help you get r...
2024-02-2912 minClinicians Creating Impact59. Do This Before You Decide to QuitWhile your reasons for being frustrated at work as a clinician are valid, before you quit and move on, you have the opportunity to decide what is actually the best decision for you. Whether you decide to quit or you end up staying in your role, I'm here to help you make the decision that is best for you in the long term. Try something new when you encounter challenges at work and feel like quitting. I'm helping you understand what's going on in your brain when your knee-jerk reaction is to quit when things g...
2024-02-2220 minClinicians Creating Impact58. A Quick Hack to Easily Get Your Work Done at WorkAs clinicians, the work we do can change on a dime. No matter how much we plan, our schedule shifts in an instant. We can't plan everything about our day-to-day, but we can set an intention for how we want to adjust on the fly where necessary, and I'm showing you how on today's show. Discover a quick hack to easily get your work done during clinical hours. I'm sharing a genius cheat sheet to help you decide easily, in advance, what you need to to do so you can maximize the time you have a...
2024-02-1510 minClinicians Creating Impact57. Stepping into Success: Leeza Pertsev's Guide for New Graduates (Part 2)I'm so grateful to have Leeza Pertsev back on the podcast to continue our discussion about navigating her first year as a new grad therapist and to get her advice for other people stepping into a professional clinical setting. This week, we're discussing Leeza's past experiences and how having to make decisions shaped her as an Occupational Therapist (OT). Uncover how Leeza's experience in a self-reliant environment helped her overcome overthinking and imposter syndrome. Discover how accepting that she doesn't know everything allows her to show up for her clients and the people she works w...
2024-02-0825 minClinicians Creating Impact56. Stepping into Success: Leeza Pertsev's Guide for New Graduates (Part 1)Leeza Pertsev completed her Undergraduate Degree in Kinesiology at The University of British Columbia and soon after, she graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. As a new graduate, she remains open and curious to build on her knowledge and experiences in every way she possibly can, and she's an amazing example of what's possible in our industry. Hear part one of my conversation with Leeza Pertsev about the realities of being a new graduate and why this is a journey of continual improvement and education. We're discussing why she became an OT, the highs a...
2024-02-0124 minClinicians Creating Impact55. Successful Negotiation: A Quick Guide for CliniciansWhether we like it or not, negotiations are part of our work as clinicians. However, whether it's for a salary or creating a treatment plan, I often see clinicians struggle when it comes to negotiating. We're reluctant to negotiate, and when we do, we sometimes come across as unintentionally aggressive in our pursuit of getting what we want. If you want some quick, actionable tips you can use to improve your negotiation skills, this is the episode for you. Tune in this week as I give you a quick guide to successful negotiation for clinicians. I...
2024-01-2517 minClinicians Creating Impact54. When You're Frustrated at WorkWhat do you do when you're frustrated at work? Most of us see frustration as inherently negative. It took me 26 years of practice to develop a strategy for dealing with frustration at work, but I don't want you to have to wait this long for yourself, so I'm sharing everything on today's show. Discover what to do when you're frustrated at work. I'm discussing the patterns I see around frustration that aren't serving clinicians, and you'll learn a totally new way of dealing with your frustration that will yield incredible results in your career.
2024-01-1815 minClinicians Creating Impact53. How to Fail as a Clinician and Not DieFor many clinicians, and even myself at one point, failure makes you feel like you're dying. This makes total sense because of how we've come into our positions as working clinicians. Failure is actually a thought, and if you want to magnify your impact as a clinician, you need to move past this perception that failure is a matter of life or death. Discover a new perspective when it comes to failure as a clinician. I'm sharing a story from one of my amazing colleagues that reframes failure in an incredibly helpful way, showing us h...
2024-01-1115 minClinicians Creating Impact52. Your Best Year YetThis is the first episode of the New Year, a season that feels like the peak of new possibilities. I have massive goals for myself this year, and if you need some advice or motivation around your own goals for 2024, I'm here for you. You might currently set goals by thinking about what you want to prove to others, but the real beauty in setting goals for the next 12 months is in who you get to become in the process. Tune in this week to discover how to make 2024 your best year yet. I'm giving y...
2024-01-0414 minClinicians Creating Impact51. How to Set Goals from AbundanceAs we enter a New Year with big goals and ambitions in our careers, abundance is key. Whatever you're going after in 2024, it's time to start setting and going after your goals from a place of abundance. The first step is all about why you became a therapist in the first place, and the rest will flow from there. Tune in this week to learn why abundance changes everything as you go after your goals. I'm discussing how to set goals from a place of believing you're already enough, and showing you how to bring s...
2023-12-2813 minClinicians Creating Impact50. Revisiting What We Believe as Therapists and Why It's a ProblemAs a therapist, is there something you're believing that's stopping you from creating the impact you really want to have? We're often completely unaware of the thoughts we're thinking and the beliefs we create as a result. Now is the time to become the watcher of your thoughts, so you can recognize where your brain is unintentionally making your life as a clinician harder than it needs to be. Tune in this week to discover how our thoughts become beliefs, and why your beliefs as a therapist really do matter. Learn how to identify the p...
2023-12-2115 minClinicians Creating Impact49. Revisiting How to Truly Enjoy Your Time Away from WorkSometimes, taking time off from work actually feels stressful. You might feel pressure to overwork to get all of your projects done, you could be anxious about what will happen while you're away, and you may even feel guilty about taking time off. But none of this will help you come back recharged and ready to work. Discover how to truly enjoy your time away from work. Learn how you can prepare for your time off in a way that allows you to fully benefit from your time off, and I'm showing you how to d...
2023-12-1415 minClinicians Creating Impact48. When Work Feels Like a StruggleAs a global society, we're going through a challenging time. Worldwide and local events affect people in different ways, but I'm also noticing many of my clinical friends having a hard time, and for some of them, work feels like a real struggle right now. Tune in this week to see why feeling the struggle is the most effective way to problem-solve in the long term. I'm showing you how to see your struggle from all sides, so you can begin diving deeper into the best way to have a better experience in your work as...
2023-12-0711 minClinicians Creating Impact47. The Root Cause of Bad BehaviorAs a clinician, bad behavior is something you'll come across at some point. But as a human being, it's something you may be engaging in yourself. What is the root cause of bad behavior, and how do we address it in our clients and in ourselves? This week, I'm discussing why clinicians, our clients, and even our colleagues can sometimes show up in a way that we don't expect, and I'm showing you how to get curious about how this could be the result of a lack of skill in a given moment, rather than a...
2023-11-3015 minClinicians Creating Impact46. How My Clients Taught Me to Dream Big and Do LessAs a physiotherapist, my clients often want to increase their energy and stamina. It's generally easy to go to the gym and do the hard work when they're feeling good. However, they find it difficult to sustain this level of physical activity. I'm sure you can relate to this in your own life, striving for more but struggling to achieve. I've found that the answer here is to dream big and do less. Tune in this week to discover what it means to dream big and do less. I'm sharing why having big dreams is i...
2023-11-2310 minClinicians Creating Impact45. My Top 3 Secrets for Success as a ClinicianWhile your career might be successful overall, you will face challenges every day as a clinician. However, by leveraging not only your successes but also those of the clinicians you work with, everybody benefits, especially your clients. Hear my top three secrets for success as a clinician. I'm sharing the value of leaning on your strengths in your career, why you can't become a successful clinician without asking for help, and I'm sharing some valuable advice and a new perspective for setting and achieving your goals in your clinical work. Get fu...
2023-11-1616 minClinicians Creating Impact44. Why Befriend Your Nervous System at Work? With Leah Davidson (Part 2)Last week, Leah Davidson shared her framework for befriending your nervous system at work. This week, we're diving deeper into this topic, discussing how to implement this framework in your work as a clinician so you can be there for yourself and your clients, even in the face of challenges. Discover the practical side of how to befriend your nervous system in your work as a clinician. Leah is sharing exactly what you're signing up for when you start befriending your nervous system and how to widen your zone of resilience through intentional self-care practices.
2023-11-0919 minClinicians Creating Impact43. Why Befriend Your Nervous System at Work? With Leah Davidson (Part 1)Leah Davidson is a speech pathologist in private practice in Toronto, as well as a professional resilience coach and consultant through the Forward-Facing Institute. She's spent over two decades working in the area of traumatic brain injuries and she's also certified in pain reprocessing therapy, emotional freedom technique, and breathwork. Tune in this week to discover how to befriend your nervous system as a clinician. Leah Davidson is here to show you how your nervous system can impact your clinical reasoning, and learn her wonderful nervous system framework, so you can be there for yourself wh...
2023-11-0218 minClinicians Creating Impact42. Using ChatGPT in the Clinical WorkplaceHow can you easily leverage the power of AI in your work as a clinician? Technology has the ability to make our work as clinicians easier and more efficient. This week, I'm showing you how to start using ChatGPT to your advantage in your clinical workplace. Tune in this week to discover how to start using ChatGPT in your clinical workplace. I'm sharing three specific ways to use AI in your practice and how doing so boosts efficiency of your work, allowing you to make a bigger impact in your work as a clinician.
2023-10-2614 minClinicians Creating Impact41. Candid Client Communication: The Art of the Hard ConversationThere are some topics that most clinicians seem to agree are difficult to candidly communicate to clients, like hygiene, attendance, contradicting another clinician's advice, and collecting payment. Whatever your own definition of a hard conversation that comes up regularly in your work as a clinician is, substitute that for the topics I'm discussing today. Tune in this week to discover the art of hard conversations. I'm sharing how to get clear on your own thoughts about broaching difficult conversations and showing you how to start engaging with your clients more candidly where necessary. ...
2023-10-1925 minClinicians Creating Impact40. Empathy Unleashed: The Power of Therapeutic IntuitionTherapeutic intuition is an important clinical skill. The ability to perceive and understand the subtle, non-verbal cues our clients give us helps us make informed and empathetic decisions in the assessment, treatment, and care of our patients. We develop this intuition through our work as clinicians, but that isn't the full story. Discover what using your therapeutic intuition looks like in practice. I'm sharing specific examples from my own career to illustrate the power of therapeutic intuition, the science behind how your clinical intuition works, and I'm helping you see how you can start serving y...
2023-10-1216 minClinicians Creating Impact39. Empowering Recovery: The Role of Clinician Happiness in RehabilitationOur mission as clinicians is to create an outstanding experience for our clients, empowering their recovery. As a clinician owner, I've directly seen the positive client impact of having happy clinicians. One of the ways we do this at Abilities is by giving our clinicians some control over how they deliver results to our clients. This autonomy has made a huge difference. Discover the secret to keeping clinicians in a good mental state in the workplace. I'm discussing how I empower my clinicians to do their job at the highest level by giving them choice a...
2023-10-0510 minClinicians Creating Impact38. Time Well Spent: Designing Your Clinical Schedule for SuccessHow can you intentionally design your schedule for success so that you don't have to take your work home or sacrifice your personal time as the days get shorter? Designing a clinical schedule that really works doesn't have to be difficult. What currently seems like it takes hours of preparation can take 30 minutes or less, and will save you hours throughout the week as a result. Discover how to design a clinical schedule that sets you up for success. I'm giving you a plan for scheduling your weeks, taking all variables, breaks, and free time i...
2023-09-2814 minClinicians Creating Impact37. Healing the Healers: Eliminating Suffering for CliniciansMany of us, as clinicians, have gotten into this work because we want to relieve the suffering experienced by others. But what about the suffering you experience as a clinician? How can we heal the healers and eliminate suffering for clinicians? I witnessed a talk recently positing the idea that suffering is the avoidance or resistance of a feeling. So this week, I'm showing you how to identify the feelings that are contributing to your suffering, and I'm showing you the value of deeply feeling those uncomfortable feelings so you can begin to heal from t...
2023-09-2116 minClinicians Creating Impact36. 5 Secret Things I Learned That You Could Use at Work TodayYou may think it's unusual to go down the path of coaching when I'm already running a successful practice. However, the art of coaching has allowed me to be a better leader here at Abilities. This week, I'm sharing how coaching has made me a more effective clinician and business owner. Discover five lessons I've learned from coaching. I'm sharing the truth about our human insecurities, the amazing power your brain has, how to use open-ended questions to expand your understanding of yourself and others, and how to make decisions that work best for everybody c...
2023-09-1416 minClinicians Creating Impact35. Operating Your Own Business as a Clinician (Part 2)Gabriel Wong is back to share his advice for potential clinic owners, telling us why you don't need to be the best clinician to start a successful practice and sharing some aspects of owning a clinic that you may never have considered before. He is a physiotherapist, and the knowledge he has to share as the founder and operator of Westcoast SCI Physiotherapy will be incredibly useful for any clinicians out there operating their own business or considering starting their own practice. Tune in this week as Gabriel Wong shares his tips for operating your o...
2023-09-0722 minClinicians Creating Impact34. Operating Your Own Business as a Clinician (Part 1)I'm joined by my very first podcast guest, Gabriel Wong. He is a physiotherapist and the founder and operator of Westcoast SCI Physiotherapy. If you're operating your own business as a clinician or you're looking at your options for starting your own clinical business, this episode is for you. Discover the reality of operating your own business as a clinician. Gabriel Wong is sharing his experience all the way from school to running his own clinics, the burnout and disillusionment he went through as an employee, and how he's turned things around in his own c...
2023-08-3121 minClinicians Creating Impact33. How to Create the Best ResultsWe all want to create the best results possible, both in our work as clinicians and in our lives in general. To help you get the results you're looking for as fast and easily as possible, for yourself and the people you're serving, I've created this episode for you. Tune in this week to start creating the results you want to see, whether it's a goal you have for yourself or for one of your patients. I'm sharing why overly relying on external measures alone isn't enough, and how you can look toward your own i...
2023-08-2413 minClinicians Creating Impact32. The Pros and Cons of People PleasingPeople pleasing has a bad reputation, but as clinicians, we desire to be of service to others. It is important to remember that it is not inherently good or bad, but it is essential to assess our thoughts and habits. This allows us to avoid burnout and ensure that we are working within our personal boundaries. Discover the definition of people pleasing and how it may be impacting your practice. Identify the roots of your people pleasing tendencies in order to know when to make changes and when to take pride in your methods.
2023-08-1712 minClinicians Creating Impact31. When You Feel Stuck at WorkHow do you feel about your work? Are you motivated to push a bit harder, try new things, and see what works? Or do you feel a bit stuck? If you're feeling stuck or have ever gone through a period of stagnation in your career as a clinician, this episode is for you. Discover what to do when you feel stuck at work. I'm discussing why, as clinicians, we sometimes feel stuck, what changes when you decide what's most important to you as a clinician, and how to start thinking about getting yourself unstuck so y...
2023-08-1014 minClinicians Creating Impact30. When You or Your Client Lacks MotivationAs a clinician, you may encounter times when you lack motivation. There will also be occasions when your client isn't feeling motivated while you work with them in a clinical setting. What can you do when either you or your client lacks motivation? Discover the secret to overcoming a lack of motivation. I'm discussing what's really going on when you or your client is lacking motivation in forming new habits, and what you can do as a clinician to help your client develop new habits. Get full show notes and more in...
2023-08-0311 minClinicians Creating Impact29. When Life Outside of Work Makes Work HarderAs professionals, some people think we shouldn't bring our outside lives to work. Of course, that sounds ideal, but there are times when outside circumstances in your life really will make your work as a clinician more difficult than it would normally be. Discover what's going on for you when a circumstance outside of your work is making your job as a clinician harder. I'm discussing my own experiences of dealing with this, the advice I'd give my past self, and how to find support when you need it. Get full sho...
2023-07-2711 minClinicians Creating Impact28. Why People Pleasing as a Clinician is LyingWe're clinicians, and this is a service-based industry, so it's no surprise if you have a people pleasing tendency at heart. You want to help people, and this can be a natural gift. But if it's leading to difficulty in advocating for yourself, self-sacrifice, and self-neglect, then we need to take another look. Discover why people pleasing as a clinician is lying, or at least has you thinking thoughts that aren't necessarily true. I'm discussing my own experience of people pleasing as a clinician, how to identify and address the root cause of your people p...
2023-07-2015 minClinicians Creating Impact27. What I Would Tell My Past Self as a New GradHiring and talking to new grads have got me thinking about who I was at the beginning of my clinical career and what advice I would give myself now that I'm in my third decade as a clinician. Hear what I would tell my past self as a new graduate looking for my first clinical role. I'm discussing all the things I was worried about when I first started out, what I've learned over 26 years of clinical practice, and delving into all the aspects that make being a clinician as challenging as it is rewarding.
2023-07-1311 minClinicians Creating Impact26. How to Get Paid What You're Worth as a Clinician (Part 2)I'm providing practical tips and strategies to help you feel amazing about your compensation as a clinician. I'm using Abilities as a template and giving you examples of how to apply today's concepts in any environment you're working in. Discover how to get paid what you actually want as a clinician. I'm sharing some of the unhelpful ways you might be thinking in your compensation negotiations and outlining strategic practical approaches to getting paid what you're worth as a clinician. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/26
2023-07-0626 minClinicians Creating Impact25. How to Get Paid What You're Worth as a Clinician (Part 1)How do you get paid what you're worth as a clinician? Clinicians tend to avoid conversations about compensation, so if this sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Discover how to get paid what you're worth as a clinician. I'm sharing why it makes sense that we'd avoid talking about money in this way, how my own thoughts about compensation conversations have changed over the years, and how you can begin to address your own mindset about asking for what you're worth as a clinician and see what's really possible for you. ...
2023-06-2923 minClinicians Creating Impact24. When You or Someone You Work with Is NeurodiverseWe're seeing more neurodiversity in the workplace these days. As a society, we're more aware of the differences that brains can have. And as clinicians, we're specifically trained to recognize neurodiversity when others may not see it. Discover everything you need to know about being (or working with) a clinician who is neurodivergent. I'm discussing how to manage your expectations of yourself and others, as well as how to adopt a mindset that will enable you or any neurodivergent clinicians you work with to achieve the results you truly desire in your practice. ...
2023-06-2216 minClinicians Creating Impact23. The Difference Between Success and HappinessMost of your time, energy, and resources have been wrapped up in the goal of becoming a clinician. With time, being a good clinician isn't enough to make us truly happy. We tend to think of happiness and success as an either/or situation. However, it's time to start expanding your definitions of success so you can create happiness simultaneously, instead of choosing between the two. Discover the difference between success and happiness, and why you don't have to choose between the two. I'm showing you how to decide on what you value most in y...
2023-06-1514 minClinicians Creating Impact22. When Your Client Doesn't Like YouGetting negative feedback always hurts, but especially so when it's from our clients. We went to school as clinicians because we want to help people, but when our client tells us we aren't actually helping them, it can feel awful. What do you do when your client doesn't like you? Discover what to do when your client doesn't like you. I'm discussing how to deal with the thoughts and emotions that come up when you get negative feedback about your work as a clinician, and how to make sure your hurt, embarrassment, or frustration doesn't p...
2023-06-0816 minClinicians Creating Impact21. How to Truly Enjoy Your Time Away from WorkSummer is just around the corner and vacation season is here. How do you truly enjoy your time away from work? Sometimes, taking time off from work actually feels stressful. We feel pressure to get all our projects done before we go, we're anxious about what will happen while we're away, and we may even feel guilty about taking time away. I'm showing you how to prepare before you leave so you can leave your stress behind, and how to decide intentionally on the feelings you want to experience throughout your vacation so you can m...
2023-06-0114 minClinicians Creating Impact20. 3 Things to Keep You Happy at WorkIt's okay to not feel okay at work. However, no matter where you work, you have far more influence over your happiness than you might expect. In this episode, I'm exploring the difference it makes to be happy at work, and I'm giving you three things you can start doing to keep yourself happy at work. Discover three things that can keep you happy at work. These are things I've seen as a clinician owner and strategies that have helped me throughout my career. I'm showing you how to see the difference you make for y...
2023-05-2514 minClinicians Creating Impact19. How to Speed Up Your DocumentationFor myself, and probably many others, documentation is the least favorite thing about being a clinician. Even now that I have stopped doing so much direct clinical work, documentation is still necessary. Imagine the impact you could create at work if you were more efficient with your documentation. How could speeding up your documentation benefit both you and your clients? Discover how to get your documentation done faster. I'm sharing simple mindset switches that will change the way you consider your documentation, as well as the practical strategies that will save you time and effort, s...
2023-05-1814 minClinicians Creating Impact18. Why Failing Is AmazingWhen you think about failure as a clinician, whether it's on a micro or macro level, how do you feel? Failure often feels awful, as if it limits our growth, and we often try to avoid it at all costs. I introduce the idea that there is another way to think about failing. Discover why failure is amazing. I'm offering you some perspective shifts when it comes to failure, and showing you how to adopt more useful thoughts about failure that will help you see that even if you fail, you are not a failure, a...
2023-05-1120 minClinicians Creating Impact17. How You Know It's Time to QuitThings may have been different in past generations, but these days, nobody trains in their chosen clinical career with the intention of working in one place for the rest of their working life. There is nothing wrong with spending your career in one place. However, if you're ready for a change, how do you know when it's time to quit? Discover how to know when it's time to quit. I'm sharing what's worked for me on my journey as a clinician, how to decide on your core values as a clinician and how they match u...
2023-05-0422 minClinicians Creating Impact16. 3 Reasons Why You Feel Broke as a ClinicianI've noticed that there seem to be some common trends around how we, as clinicians, tend to think about money. My intention today is to start a clinician-focused conversation about money and begin normalizing those conversations. Discover three reasons you may currently feel broke as a clinician. If any of these things resonate with you, I'm showing you how to decide what you want to do about it so you can start having the experience of money that you actually want. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.co...
2023-04-2720 minClinicians Creating Impact15. When You Get Injured by a ClientWhat is the right thing to do when you get injured by a client? Unfortunately, it happens. Physical injuries are more obvious and hopefully easily managed, but emotional injuries can be inflicted during an incident like this. You might feel unsafe, angry, guilty, or shame, so we need to talk about it. Discover why seeing your emotional injuries is just as important as taking care of your physical injuries. I'm sharing how the brain reacts in the event that we get injured by a client, how to get clear on your support system in this s...
2023-04-2020 minClinicians Creating Impact14. When Your Clients Want Something Different than What You WantAs a clinician, especially in public practice, it can be difficult to deliver a service that is client-directed or client-centered when what the client wants is different from what you want as the therapist. Discover how to deal with challenges in delivering a client-centered experience. I'm giving you a framework for balancing your wants and needs as a clinician with the demands of your client so you can find alignment with your client and give the people you serve what they really need. Get full show notes and more information here: ht...
2023-04-1319 minClinicians Creating Impact13. 5 Questions to Supercharge Your CareerA common problem for clinicians is most of us don't have an actual plan for what we want our clinical career to look like. If we do have a plan, it's normally what the next steps are, but not looking at what we can accomplish over the span of our careers. Whatever stage of your clinical career you're in, I'm giving you five questions you can use to think consciously and deliberately about what your career could look like. I'm showing you how to gain awareness of what you really want from your career, and d...
2023-04-0611 minClinicians Creating Impact12. When Your Client Wants to Be FixedHave you ever had a client come to you, and either they or a member of their family are telling you some version of how they want to be fixed? This could be them saying they want to gain or regain a certain skill they've lost; this has happened to me countless times throughout my career as a physiotherapist. Discover how to handle the heavy feelings that come up when a client comes to you wanting to be fixed. It makes sense if you feel pressure, nervousness, or frustration in these situations, but I'm sharing h...
2023-03-3015 minClinicians Creating Impact11. When Working with a Co-Worker Is HardWhen people don't do what we want them to do, especially co-workers, it can make our work feel harder, and accomplishing everything we intend to becomes more difficult. Discover what to do when working with a colleague is particularly difficult. I'm giving you three tips to find your own empowerment in any challenging situation you might be facing regarding a co-worker, so you can take responsibility for what you can control when working with someone else feels harder than it needs to be. Get full show notes and more information here: ht...
2023-03-2314 minClinicians Creating Impact10. Do This When You Don't Feel Good Enough as a ClinicianHave you ever felt like you weren't good enough as a clinician? This is a super-common problem for clinicians. Outside of our profession it's called imposter syndrome, feeling like you don't know enough, you're not doing enough, or you're not getting your clients results fast enough. I'm sharing a step-by-step process to avoid buying into the notion that you aren't good enough, ultimately showing yourself that you are the clinician your clients need. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/10
2023-03-1612 minClinicians Creating Impact9. How to Get Your Charting and Planning Done at WorkPrioritizing work is something that, as clinicians, we've done throughout our careers. However, I've noticed that we don't always think the most helpful thoughts when it comes to everything we need to get done in our day. I'm giving you a simple planning tool you can implement right now to make sure you finish everything during your normal work time. I'm sharing my own experiences of neglecting to properly plan and showing you how to plan your days, even accounting for the unexpected emergencies that will inevitably show up. Get full sh...
2023-03-0914 minClinicians Creating Impact8. How to Actually Get to Your GoalGoals are an amazing way to decide how you want to use your time in your career. Some goals feel unbelievably hard to reach, but there is one concept that has made a huge difference and served me incredibly well, and I'm sharing it with you in this week's episode. Tune in this week to discover the one concept that has changed everything in my career as a clinician. I'm sharing some concrete tools that will help supercharge your goal-getting, so you can start to see your ability to achieve anything you want to.
2023-03-0213 minClinicians Creating Impact7. Is It Okay to Not Feel Okay at Work?Do you ever feel overwhelmed, uncomfortable, unsure, or anxious when you're at work? As a clinician, I sure have - as recently as last week. When we don't feel okay, we generally tend to decide something is wrong and blame either other people or ourselves. Tune in this week to discover why it's okay to not be okay. I'm showing you how to have compassion for yourself when you don't feel your best, why believing you should always feel happy is never going to create a feeling of happiness, and how to accept that sometimes, you need...
2023-02-2315 minClinicians Creating Impact6. How to Change Your BeliefsTune in this week to discover where your thoughts and beliefs are helping you in creating your own intentional experience as a clinician, or where they may currently be hurting you. I'm sharing some specific thoughts my clients struggle with, how to identify where you're encountering challenges with them, and some simple steps you can take to help you change your belief, even when you don't think it's possible. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/6
2023-02-1620 minClinicians Creating Impact5. Why Action Isn't Enough and What to Do About ItDiscover the difference between passive action versus massive action, and when it's the right time to focus on one or the other. I'm showing you how to see where you're being passive in your actions and helping you bring some awareness to what balance might look like in this area, so you can keep serving your clients and yourself at the highest level. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/5
2023-02-0916 minClinicians Creating Impact4. What We Believe as Therapists and Why It's a ProblemTune in this week to discover how we develop beliefs, why we confuse them as facts, and why this is an issue. I'm sharing how to identify the passive beliefs you've developed, and I'm giving you some useful prompts to help you become the watcher of your thoughts, so you can decide whether your thoughts are helping or hindering you as a therapist. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/4
2023-02-0214 minClinicians Creating Impact3. Why Create a Bigger Impact?Discover a new way to set and achieve goals. I'm discussing how to set goals from abundance and believing you're already enough and showing you how moving beyond scarcity-based goals feels more fun, engaging, and expansive while having a bigger impact in your work as a clinician. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/3
2023-01-2612 minClinicians Creating Impact2. The Model and Why it Matters as a TherapistToday, I'm giving you an assessment, or as I like to call it, an awareness tool. I'm introducing you to The Model. The Model is a way to understand how your brain is working in any given situation, and it has the power to change everything you do as a therapist. It's super simple, and this week, I'm walking you through it and helping you apply it to any challenge you're currently facing. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/2
2023-01-2615 minClinicians Creating Impact1. How to Create a Bigger Impact as a TherapistWhatever you're struggling with in your day-to-day as a therapist, this brand-new podcast will be sure to help, so tune in this week to discover why you ultimately have the power to create the career you've always wanted. I'm sharing an exercise you can start today to develop the awareness required to make more empowered decisions for yourself and showing you why can come back to it any time you encounter challenges in your professional or personal life. Get full show notes and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/1
2023-01-2613 minClinicians Creating ImpactStart Here: Introducing the Clinicians Creating Impact Podcast!I'm Heather Branscombe, a therapist, and certified life coach, as well as the Clinical Director and Owner of Abilities Neurological Rehabilitation. I'm on a mission to help therapists create their dream career by making a bigger impact for themselves and the people they serve. If you're a physiotherapist, speech-language pathologist, or occupational therapist, this show will equip you with the coaching and mindset tips you need to help you create your dream job and start making a real difference for the people you want to serve. After more than 25 years of experience in the public a...
2023-01-1801 min
The Elite Entrepreneurs PodcastGrowing And Aligning To Your Values With Heather BranscombeHeather Branscombe is a physical therapist with over 20 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors. Heather’s professional passion continues to be the integration of rehabilitation technology into practice. She has consulted as a clinical specialist to a rehabilitation technology company and has taught therapists, orthotists, and physicians across Canada. Not afraid to be an innovator and pioneer, she has brought many emerging technologies and therapy practices to Canada through Abilities.Heather and Abilities are now seen within the industry as a community partner in emerging therapies. Often asked to collaborate on resear...
2020-08-0537 min