Show Notes
Episode 50. Senses & Regulation: Occupational Therapy w/ Caitlin Russ
Episode 50. Senses & Regulation: Occupational Therapy w/ Caitlin Russ
"It is not the soul alone that should be healthy; if the mind is healthy in a healthy body, all will be healthy and much better prepared to give God greater service."
~ St. Ignatius of Loyola
Why do I respond to things differently from others?
What can I do when I'm feeling overwhelmed?
How can I help my kids process & respond to the world around them?
Episode 50 brings an eminently relevant conversation between Kenna and guest Caitlin Russ, a trained occupational therapist. Together they bring out the importance of proactive strategies for managing sensory overload and daily stress, and the unique sensory responses of individuals in finding balance and well-being. Join Kenna and Caitlin as they explore the ways that God made our minds and bodies to receive sensory input, offering practical insights and strategies for navigating life's difficulties, transitions and various seasons.
Caitlin Russ is an Occupational Therapist who spent years working in a pediatric outpatient clinic and with older adults in transitional care. She is passionate about educating people about the benefits of occupational therapy especially as it relates to regulation and sensory processing, and she now utilizes her training in raising her children. Caitlin received her degrees in Psychology and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame and went on to St. Catherine University for her Masters in Occupational Therapy. She currently resides with her husband, Sam, and their four, soon to be five, children in Inver Grove Heights, MN. They love spending time outdoors either at the baseball park or hiking.
Show Notes
Three additional sensory systems:
Proprioception: The proprioceptive system senses the position, location, orientation, and movement of the body muscles and joints. Proprioception provides us with the sense of the relative position of neighboring parts of the body and effort used to move body parts.
Vestibular: The vestibular system contributes to balance and orientation in space. It is the leading system informing us about movement and position of head relative to gravity.
Interoception: Interoception refers to sensations related to the physiological/physical condition of the body. Interoceptors are internal sensors that provide a sense of what our internal organs are feeling. Hunger and thirst are examples of interoception.
How much sensory input can you tolerate? Do you have a sensory bucket? A cup? A thimble? A sensory colander that can never quite get enough input to be filled?
What signs do your loved ones give you when they’re feeling overwhelmed? How can you help each other be grounded and regulate?
Additional resources & information:
Books on sensory processing & brain development recommended by Caitlin Russ:
Challenge By Choice
Evaluate your sensory input over the past week
Over the past week, what are 3 things (types or amount of sensory input) were too much & pushed you over the edge?
Over the past week, what are 3 things that you did to regulate or feel grounded again?
Reflection Questions
For personal reflection or group discussion
What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
How do you know when you're feeling overwhelmed? What signs do your loved ones give you when they're feeling overwhelmed?
What kinds of sensory input are most likely to feel like "too much" for you and for those in your household?
How do you regulate your senses when you've taken in too much input?
How could your sensory capacity be stretched to tolerate more input? What parts of your sensory profile in need of being accepted as part of God's design for you?