7 Coaching in Early Intervention Occpational Therapy

Join Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz as she speaks with Dr. Katie Bogan, an early intervention occupational therapist. Katie share more about her life as an early intervention OT, and she discusses coaching techniques that she uses in practice. This episode is perfect for therapists who want to see practical examples of how coaching tools like motivational interviewing, the stages of change model, and permission-based coaching can transform client relationships and outcomes.

Guest Bio

Dr. Katie Bogan is an occupational therapist who found her calling in early intervention as a second career. She specializes in working with families of young children with developmental delays in their homes, daycares, and community settings. Katie is also founder of HelloJoyOT.com, a mentorship network for early intervention occupational therapists.

Key Topics Discussed

- Early Intervention Model

- How early intervention differs from traditional therapy approaches

- Family coaching model vs. direct service delivery

- Working in natural environments (homes, daycares, community)

- Embedding strategies within existing family routines

- Motivational interviewing in early intervention

- Assessing family readiness for change using the transtheoretical model

- Permission-based interventions that respect client autonomy

- Practical examples of coaching language and techniques during therapy visits

- Why coaching skills enhance rather than replace OT clinical expertise

Key Quotes

- "Instead of going in and working directly with a child, I am going in and working with a family while the family works with the child."

- "It's very much meeting the family where they are, seeing what tools they have available, what have they already tried, what's working, and then meeting them with strategies that they can use that are reasonable and practical for their family."

- "All the milestones, like you can work on milestones all day long, but at the end of the day, what really matters to human experience is relationships."

Resources Mentioned

Takeaways for OT Practitioners

- Expand Your Toolbox: Learn coaching skills alongside clinical expertise to better serve families

- Think Systems: Consider the whole family system, not just the child with delays

- Cultural Humility: Recognize that Western developmental norms aren't universal truths

- Flexibility is Key: Be prepared to adapt your approach based on family needs and circumstances

- Relationships Matter: Focus on connection and relationships as much as developmental milestones

Resources:

Child of Mine by Ellyn Satter - Recommended approach to feeding babies and toddlers

Zero to Three - https://www.zerotothree.org/

HelloJoyOT.com - https://hellojoyot.com/

Connect with Katie

Website: www.HelloJoyOT.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellojoyot/

Email: Katie@HelloJoyOT.com

Connect with Jaclyn

Website: www.HealthCoachOT.com

Email: jaclyn@healthcoachot.com