Kelly Mahler: Interoception in Neurodevelopment for occupational and phyical therapists

An image of Kelly Mahler with a background of headphones. Text on the image says Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L Occupational, Therapist and lists Behavior, Sensing and understanding body cues, Emotional Regulation and Mind Body Connection

Kelly Mahler OTD, OTR/L, earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. She has been an occupational therapist for 20 years, serving school-aged children and adults. Kelly is winner of multiple awards, including the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging and Innovative Practice Award & a Mom’s Choice Gold Medal. She is an adjunct faculty member at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA as well as at Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. Kelly is a co-principal investigator in several research projects pertaining to topics such as interoception, self-regulation, trauma & autism.

Interoception is a key sense that has been widely studied for decades but is only now making its way into clinical applications and Kelly Mahler is an amazing occupational therapists who is leading the way both clinically and academically in understanding the role of this key sense for occupational and physical therapists working in neurodevelopment.

Don't miss this practice changing conversation on how we should think about interoception in our clinical work.

It's jam packed with practical ideas and actions that we can take back to the clinic right now.

Enjoy!!

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For handy links to things we've discussed in this interview, scroll down to the Resources Section at the bottom of the page.

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Podcast Highlights

05.42 minutes Interoecpetive Questions
06.46 minutes Defining Interoception - The Neglected Sense
10:54 minutes Interoception and Homeostasis
11:58 minutes The two branches of Interoception
12:35 minutes The three parts of interoceptive awareness
14:40 minutes A case example
18:37 minutes Why you need to start here
20:57 minutes Behavior based strategies & Interoception
22:11 minutes Balancing sensory needs with safety and social acceptability
23:47 minutes Differentiating Interoception from other senses
29:27 minutes Interoceptive activities
35:58 minutes Measures of interoception
39:32 minutes Research
43:35 minutes Red flags
48:16 minutes Feeding and interoception
51:47 minutes The power of I wonder statements
53:47 minutes Mistakes to avoid
56:09 minutes Advice for new to pediatrics therapists