Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT)

11/12/2025

📚NSSOT Book Club Launch📚

You’re Invited: Decolonizing Therapy by Dr. Jennifer Mullan

🗓️ Date: November 20, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM AST
📍 Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87509305118?pwd=5YT0nTabYrYBkYk5G5v7qR0JpKJDrK.1

❕Book will act as a guide to discussion, completion of the book is not necessary to participate!!

Join us for NSSOT’s first-ever Book Club event as we dive into Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice by Dr. Jennifer Mullan. This powerful book challenges us to reflect on the roots of colonialism in our practices and systems, and how we can work toward justice-informed care.
💬 This session is more than a book discussion – it’s a call to action.

📖 We’ll explore questions like:
🔹 How can we politicize our practice in ethical, client-centered ways?
🔹 What does decolonizing therapy look like in occupational therapy?
🔹 How can we move from reflection to meaningful action in our work?

👉 Let’s come together as a profession to learn, unlearn, and grow. Let’s respond to the TRC’s Calls to Action — not with silence, but with commitment.

11/12/2025

Say hi to Katie Scott (she/her)! 👋

She's one of our incredible advocacy committee members and works in Primary Care 🩺

Katie’s all about empowering OTs with the info they need — from union bargaining to tackling service inequities across the province and beyond. She’s passionate about making sure our voices are heard where it matters most 💬💥

When she’s not advocating for the profession, you’ll likely find her reading a good book or enjoying the outdoors 🌿📖

10/30/2025

✨ Behind the Badge ✨
We’re back with another look at the amazing OTs doing meaningful work across the province - in all kinds of roles you might not expect 👀💬

Meet Vanessa Donovan, an OT working as a Care Coordinator with the Disability Support Program at the Department of Opportunities and Social Development 🧠🗂️

Here’s what Vanessa shared about how her role reflects OT values:

“I think DSP registers with, and is a good fit for, me as an OT because I am meant to support people to break down an activity into pieces that are doable, that they can achieve and in this program, in an indirect way, we do that - we provide them with the tools, the funding, the support [in the form of a service provider or some sort of connection] that allows them to achieve something, or work towards achieving it. Working towards something meaningful often gives clients’ back their confidence and reaffirms that they are an active participant in their life, which is one of the main goals we OTs hope to achieve when we work alongside our clients.”

Even behind the scenes, OT is about enabling independence, access, and real progress 💡🙌

10/29/2025

Our amazing past president! 👏

In October we celebrate occupational therapists, who do important work in helping people living in Nova Scotia overcome physical, mental and cognitive barriers. With the help of OTs, people can participate fully in the activities that mean the most to them.

Chris McWilliam, an OT out of the Mental Health and Addictions clinic in Dartmouth, shares how a personal crisis shaped how he approaches his own clinical practice and what OTs can do to help people living with a mental health concern achieve their goals: https://www.nshealth.ca/news-and-notices/personal-crisis-drives-occupational-therapists-new-approach-care



📸 Photo of Chris McWilliam.

[ Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions Program ]

10/28/2025

🌟 OT Month Student Spotlight: Megan🌟

Megan is a second-year OT student with a strong interest in neurorehabilitation 🧠

What she loves most about OT? “Helping people participate in life more fully.”

Her passion for supporting meaningful engagement is exactly what OT is all about!

10/27/2025

🌟 Behind the Badge: Meet Allie MacEachern, OT! 🌟

Allie has been an Occupational Therapist at CBI Health for over 5 years, and what she loves most about her work is that no two days ever look the same! 💙

Allie works within the Traumatic Psychological Injury program, supporting individuals who have experienced trauma in their workplace. She uses therapeutic approaches such as in-vivo exposure therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and behavioural activation to help clients rebuild confidence and return to meaningful activities.

Her days can include anything from exposure therapy sessions in real-world settings and workplace visits to virtual education sessions or nature walks with clients 🌿

✨ For Allie, the most rewarding part of her job is seeing clients return to their favourite activities and re-enter the workforce in a healthy, sustainable way.

10/23/2025

✨OT Month Student Spotlight: Viviane✨

Viviane is in her second year of OT studies and hopes to work in mental health with children and adolescents 💚
Her favourite part of OT? “Empowering clients to engage in activities that matter to them and guiding them toward accomplishing their personal goals.”
Viviane’s commitment to client-centred care truly shines!

10/22/2025

✨ Introducing: Beyond the Badge ✨
We’re so excited to launch our new feature series that takes you beyond the badge: highlighting the incredible OT teams across the province who are making a difference, one client at a time 💪🌍

First up: The Connections Halifax Team!
👋 Meet Tia Wormell, Melissa Baker, Claire Gaddas, Kait Sullivan, and Kelsey Hunter - a powerhouse crew working as OTs in Community Mental Health, Recovery & Integration 🧠💼

Their work?
It’s all about meeting clients where they’re at - supporting skill development for independent living, employment, and relationships. They facilitate groups, provide 1:1 assessment and intervention planning, advocate for their clients, collaborate with community partners, and monitor mental health status daily. It’s complex, dynamic, and deeply human work.

💬 Why do they love being OTs?
“The variety - and seeing people achieve their goals.” 🙌💙

Stay tuned for more teams doing amazing work Beyond the Badge!!

10/20/2025

💫 OT Month Student Spotlight: Alexus💫

Alexus is a first-year OT student who’s keeping an open mind about her future, but she’s especially drawn to acquired brain injury 🧠
She shares: “My favourite part of OT is contributing to someone’s journey in regaining independence.”
Alexus is excited to learn, grow, and connect with others who share her passion!

10/14/2025

Join us for an in-person OT Month Social to celebrate World OT Day – October 27, 2025!

📍 Le Bistro by Liz | 1333 South Park St, Halifax
🕔 5–7 PM | Drop-in style

Come celebrate our amazing profession with good food, great company, and meaningful connections. Hope to see you there!! 🧀💫💙

10/08/2025

We’re celebrating OT month with a special giveaway to recognize all the amazing work our profession does!💚💙

To Enter:
1️⃣ Make sure you’re following us
2️⃣ Tag a friend in the comments
3️⃣ Comment your OT practice area 🧠🖐️🧒👵

Bonus Entry:
🔁 Share this post to your story and tag us!

🏆 Winner will be randomly selected on October 31st - just in time for a treat 🎃

Good luck, and thank you for all you do in the world of OT! 💪✨

This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook or Meta.

10/01/2025

Happy OT Month!! 🤸‍♀️🧩🧠🧸🚽🪁

Occupational therapy promotes health, well-being, and quality of life by supporting access to, initiation of, and sustained participation in necessary and meaningful occupations🍴⏰
Occupational Therapists (OTs) ensure that people of all abilities and backgrounds can participate in the things that they need and want to do🪏🌻🎣

This month we’ll be celebrating all things OT with student spotlights, education opportunities and giveaways, so make sure you’re following us so you don’t miss out!!💫🤩