Helping Hands Occupational Therapy & Hippotherapy

21/04/2026

Helping Hands cannot be more proud of Willoughby for taking on this challenge of a life time: please consider supporting this incredible chap!

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01/04/2026

Huge congratulations to Rachel on co-publishing her FIRST research article!

This is such an incredible achievement and a real milestone, not just personally, but for the profession too!!

Rachel’s research explores something we all see in practice…

Are newly qualified occupational therapists truly “practice ready”?

Her findings highlight that graduation doesn’t mean finished, it marks the start of becoming an OT. Confidence, clinical reasoning and real-world skills develop over time, and the journey into practice can feel overwhelming without the right support.

The study brings together voices from across the profession and shines a light on some really important areas:

1)The huge impact of placements (and how variable they can be)

2) The gap between theory and real-world practice

3) The need for stronger support, better preparation, and clearer expectations for “Day-One OTs”

Most importantly, it reinforces something we deeply believe in…

Growth happens through experience, support, and reflection....not overnight.

Rachel as a team we are SO proud of you!

To contribute research that genuinely pushes the profession forward is no small thing.

We are also so greatful to all the families we work with who have been happy to support and educate the students we have been blessed to support throughout the years at Helping Hands️ 🙏

Please have a read; https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03080226261427207

Introduction: Around 3000 occupational therapists graduate annually in the United Kingdom, but evidence shows variability in their readiness for practice. This ...

30/03/2026

A big shoutout to Dan, our OT, who is currently completing his first practical module of the Equine Assisted Therapy course with Ulster University 🐴

And in true Dan fashion… he’s only gone and found his namesake on the yard; Dan the horse! We think that’s a sign he’s exactly where he’s meant to be 😊

It’s been brilliant to see him developing his skills and confidence in this space. We’re really proud of the work he’s putting in and can’t wait to bring even more equine-assisted skills into our clients sessions.

Watch this space! 🐎

21/03/2026

Love this!!!

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17/03/2026

Fantastic whole school training organised and delivered by our OT student Rue 👏 🙌 looking at the importance of grip strength and how that impacts on everyday life for students ...and most importantly how to support this .....

15/03/2026

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12/03/2026

Today our team came together for a really valuable CPD session focused on child-led goal setting in paediatric occupational therapy. We explored research around approaches such as MyGOALS and CO-OP, discussing how we can continue to support children to take an active role in identifying their own goals, problem-solving challenges, and building motivation within therapy.

A big thank you to our third-year OT student Rue, who organised the session as part of her placement learning. It was wonderful to see her confidence and leadership growing within the team.

And of course, no CPD afternoon would be complete without cake, beautifully baked by Dan, which was very much appreciated by everyone!

Its so important to make space as a team to reflect, learn, and keep developing our practice so that the children and families we work with remain at the heart of everything we do.

We’d love to hear from others in the OT and therapy community.

How do you incorporate child-led goals and involve children in evaluating their progress? What tools, strategies or approaches have you found helpful in practice?

And for parents, young people, or clients who have experienced occupational therapy, how did it feel to be involved in setting your own goals? What helped you feel heard and motivated?

Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments. Your perspectives really help shape how we continue to develop our practice.

05/03/2026

What more could you want, sunshine, ponies and amazing little people

05/03/2026

This image shows the psoas, a deep muscle that connects the spine to the legs. Because it links the trunk and hips, it plays an important role in posture, breathing mechanics and movement.

When we spend long periods stressed, sedentary, or in protective postures, muscles like the psoas can become overactive or stiff. This can contribute to a more forward-leaning posture, a compressed chest, and changes in breathing patterns. It’s a posture we see quite commonly when people first arrive for therapy.

That’s why posture isn’t simply about “standing up straight.” Posture reflects how our body moves, breathes, feels safe, and manages load over time. Stretching, strengthening, movement variety, and nervous system regulation all play a role in helping posture improve.

In therapeutic riding, we often see interesting changes over time. The astride position encourages the pelvis to open and move more freely, while the rhythmic movement of the horse provides gentle pelvic mobility and trunk activation. As riders adapt to this movement, we often see the chest open, the spine lengthen, and the body gradually find a more balanced upright posture.

It’s a great reminder that sometimes posture improves not from forcing the body into position, but from supporting mindful movement, balance and nervous system regulation.

25/02/2026

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The wonderful Natasha is away this week on the ASI network training, greatful for such passionate and experienced OT's leading a whole room full of OT's in their development and knowledge of the sensory system.

23/02/2026

Resharring from Blossom OT, this looks good!