Meet Amna Khan: Occupational Therapist 

Welcome Amna Khan to the OT Works! team

Amna completed her Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) at University of British Columbia. Her training included experiences in both public health and private practice. Prior to becoming an OT, Amna worked at UBC where she supported several clinical research studies in the areas of oncology, mental health, and rehabilitation. She worked as a behavioural interventionist to support children with ASD and worked as a volunteer to assist rehabilitation of residents in long-term care. Amna is passionate about providing evidence-based and client-centred care to help her clients achieve their functional goals and full potential. Her current areas of focus include: musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injuries, chronic pain, mental health (anxiety, depression), and concussion / traumatic brain injury.  

Amna serves clients in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Langley, Fort Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford and Mission.  
She works with WorkSafeBC, ICBC, and private paying clients, as well as those with extended health/disability insurance.  

Amna has also taken additional courses and certifications in suicide intervention, serious illness, chronic pain and cognitive rehabilitation.  

Like all our therapists at OT Works!, Amna is registered and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC). 

Get Started with an OT

If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!   

Email: referrals@ot-works.com  

Phone: 604.696.1066 ext. 1000. 

November is Fall Prevention Month

Everyone trips or loses their balance from time to time. While most falls do not cause severe injury, a simple fall from standing can cause significant injuries. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among Canadian older adults. 20-30% of older adults fall each year.  

The good news is that there is much you can do as most falls are predictable and preventable. Everyone has a role in preventing falls. You can take simple steps to reduce your risk of falling. 

11 Ways to Prevent a Fall 

1. Improve your mobility and balance 

  • Include balance exercises, such as Tai Chi, Yoga, and dancing, as part of your routine 
  • Take your time to get up from bed and to turn, allowing your body enough time to adapt 
  • Talk to an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist about mobility aids. 

2. Strengthen your muscles and increase your physical activity 

Exercise is good for your heart and circulation, as well as your bones, muscles, and balance. It also helps to maintain a healthy weight and mental well-being. 

  • If you are inactive, start by choosing an activity you like and plan for how to incorporate physical activity safely into your routine. 
  • Look for group activities or classes in your community or get your family or friends to be active with you.  
  • If you have a medical condition, discuss your plans for physical activity with a health professional before beginning an exercise program and seek a supervised program. 

3. Check your vision 

Regular eye exams are important to address vision problems, as poor vision can increase the risk of a fall.

  • Have your eyes tested each year by an optometrist.  
  • Reduce glare outdoors by wearing a hat or sunglasses and eliminate glare in your home by using light shades and curtains.  
  • Always keep glasses handy. 

4. Check your medication 

Taking multiple medications is linked to falls – the greater the number of medications a person takes, the greater the risk of any adverse reaction from medication, including falls. Some drugs, such as sedatives, are more likely to increase the risk of falling.  

  • Ask about a medication review of all your medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information and whether any of your medications will cause unsteadiness or other side effects.  
  • Speak to your doctor or pharmacist immediately if a medication is causing side effects, such as becoming unsteady, dizzy, confused, or drowsy, or if you have a fall. 
  • Avoid taking medication and alcohol together – alcohol can add to the risk of falling by affecting your alertness, judgement, physical coordination, and reaction time.  

5. Reduce your fear of falling 

Fear of falling or loss of confidence sometimes occurs after a fall. This can lead to a cycle of stopping activities, which in turn reduces muscle mass and strength.  

  • Become aware if you are afraid of falling and how it is affecting your everyday activities and mobility.  
  • Discuss your fear of falling with family members and health professionals to find ways to take appropriate steps toward fall prevention. 
  • Be prepared before a fall. If you live alone, a personal alarm or cordless telephone can give you greater confidence to stay active in and around the house.  

6. Use appropriate footwear 

Wearing footwear that does not fit properly or has worn soles may increase your risk for a fall. 
Foot problems such as ingrown toenails, fallen arches, misshapen toes, and decreased sensation with age and/or from diabetes can also contribute to falls.   

  • Wear walking shoes for daily activities.  
  • Make sure your shoes are firm and supportive around the heels and the instep of your feet. They should be flexible and have enough room around your toes.  
  • Choose footwear that offers good stability.  

7. Keep good nutrition habits 

As you get older, it is particularly important to maintain strong bones and muscles.  

  • Eat a variety of nutritious foods 
  • Tell your doctor if you experience reduced appetite or unexplained weight loss.  
  • If you are at risk for deficiency, seek advice from a dietician or your doctor about nutrition supplements.  

8. Manage your health 

Annual medical assessments are an important aspect of staying independent and ensuring ongoing evaluation and treatment of conditions that contribute to falls and fall-related injury.  

  • Have regular check-ups with your doctor to help prevent worsening of any condition you may have and to keep you as active as possible.  
  • Seek medical treatment if you feel unwell.  
  • Talk with a healthcare professional about incontinence. Loss of bladder or bowel control, frequency (going to the toilet often), and urgency (going in a rush) all increase the risk for a fall, especially at night.  

9. Do a Home Safety Checklist 

Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but also easy to fix. Making changes in your home to prevent falls is beneficial both for you and your family members. Most falls resulting in significant injury occur within the home, most within the living room or bedroom.  

10. Check for hazards in the community  

Paying attention to our surroundings helps everyone to be safe in our communities.  

  • Always try to use footpaths if possible. Avoid damaged footpaths or rough ground with loose or uneven surfaces.  
  • Be aware of curbs, changing levels, and slopes, especially at entrances to buildings.  
  • Always be aware of bicycles, toys, pets, or other objects which may be in the way, especially when using a walker that blocks the view of the area in front of you.  
  • Allow yourself time to cross roads safely and use pedestrian crossings if available.  
  • If you use public transport, take your time. Keep one hand free to hold a rail and always look at the step. Ask the bus driver to wait until you are seated before taking off. 
  • Check the weather. Be extra careful walking on snow and ice or going outside in extreme heat. 

11. Get appropriate equipment 

Specialized home modifications (e.g., grab bars, walk-in showers) and assistive devices (e.g., reachers, raised toilets) play a significant role in reducing the risk of falls and helping older adults maintain their independence within their home.  

  • Occupational therapists can provide information about personal and environmental assessments to help make life easier and safer, as well as guidance on proper installation and use of equipment. 

How OT Can Help Prevent Falls 

Occupational Therapists can help you prevent falls and put into practice the 11 steps listed above. An OT can help you with advice, ideas, and equipment. OTs manage your underlying fall risk factors and optimize your home design and environment.  

Contact us 

If you or someone you know is at risk for falls, contact us today.  

Email:  referrals@ot-works.com     

Phone:  604.696.1066 ext. 1000.   

Learn More: 

10 tips to deal with Driving Anxiety 

Many people avoid driving or being a passenger in a car because of Driving Anxiety. 

Driving anxiety is intense fear, phobia, or distress at the possibility of driving or being a passenger in a car. These feelings can also appear in specific situations, such as driving over a bridge, at night, during winter, or being a front-seat passenger. In many cases, people are afraid because they think that something bad can happen to them. 

Strategies to help 

The good news is that there are tips and strategies to help you manage your symptoms and fear of driving. Here are 10 tips to help you: 

1. Recognize signs of anxiety in yourself 

Signs of driving anxiety include:   

  • Stopping the activity (e.g., you’ve ceased driving)   
  • Physical reactions (e.g., sweating, headaches, chest pains, dry throat, etc.)   
  • Plan driving routes that are very elaborate and longer than necessary, to avoid certain roads  

2. Recognize what specifically triggers your anxiety (e.g., certain intersections, loud sirens, car screeching)  

3. Plan your trip in advance: 

  • Know what route you will take 
  • Anticipate what challenges might arise and be prepared to deal with them 

4. Avoid black and white, or absolutist, thinking.   

  • Being in a car does not mean you will be in an accident  
  • Accept that there are always risks with driving; cut those risks by driving responsibly (be alert, know your own limitations, don’t drink and drive, etc.)   

5. Realistic thinking  

It is important for your mind to stay focused on the task of driving and that your internal thoughts are positive and helpful for the goal of returning to driving. You can use Calming/Realistic Thinking anytime that you notice worry or doubt thoughts coming into your mind. When you recognize a worry or doubt thought, counter that thought. Here are some sample questions you can counter the thought with to help your thinking be more calm or realistic:  

  • Would most people agree with this thought? If not, what would most people think?  
  • What would I say to a friend if a friend was in a similar situation?  
  • What will happen if I continue to think this way?  
  • What is a more encouraging or useful way of thinking?  

6. Learn to reduce your tension when at the wheel.   

  • Relax before, during, and after you drive  
  • When you are aware of yourself becoming tense, engage in the stress reduction management strategies that work best for you, such as playing music and breathing techniques  

7. Return to driving in a graduated fashion 

  • Start small and slow   
  • Gradually increase the driving time (duration), frequency, and environmental stimulus (how busy the streets are)  

8. Use affirmations to confirm that you’re doing the right thing while driving.   

Reassure yourself that you are ok! Such as:   

  • I am driving carefully and within the speed limit. Careful driving is safe driving.  
  • Driving is a common, everyday activity. I am an alert driver participating in a common activity with care.  
  • I do not have to drive fast, I can drive in the right-hand lane if I want to travel slower than other cars.  
  • I have power and control over what happens to me. 

9. “Safety Sack” 

Prepare a bag or collection of objects that make you feel safe. This “sack” is something that you can then carry around with you when you travel in a vehicle to help you feel safe wherever you go. 

10. Seek professional help 

Seeing a counsellor, psychologist or Occupational Therapist might be helpful to manage your driving anxiety.  

An OT can help 

Together, you and your OT can identify triggers, develop calming techniques, create checklists and prompts, and develop a gradual plan to resume this important activity.  Your OT can also help you practice driving – they can ride as a passenger in your car while you practice your strategies and build up confidence as a driver. 

Occupational Therapists at OT Works! have experience with driving desensitization and can help you overcome your driving anxiety and get back to being a successful driver or passenger.  

Contact us  

If you or someone you know is looking for support with driving anxiety, contact us today.   

Email:  referrals@ot-works.com    

Phone:  604.696.1066 ext. 1000.   

Meet Jessica Irish: Occupational Therapist

Welcome Jessica Irish to the OT Works! team.    

Jessica has many years of experience helping clients who experience a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges in daily life.  

Jessica serves clients in the Metro Vancouver area, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, North & West Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, White Rock, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Langley, Fort Langley, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. She works with WorkSafeBC, ICBC, and private paying clients, as well as those with extended health/disability insurance.  

She earned her Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of British Columbia (UBC). Jessica brings meaningful and relevant clinical experience to her work as an Occupational Therapist and provides high quality and authentic care to clients. Jessica conducts her work using strong clinical reasoning, excellent communication skills, and a fundamental respect and care for both her clients and colleagues.  She loves being an OT because she can empower others to engage in activities that are meaningful and important to them and their communities. 

Jessica has taken courses and certifications in cognitive rehabilitation and concussion management.  

Like all our therapists at OT Works!, Jessica is registered and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).     

Get Started with an OT

If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!   

Email:  referrals@ot-works.com   

Phone:  604.696.1066 ext. 1000.   

How OTs can help clients with Sensory Processing Disorder 

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects how the brain processes sensory information. People with SPD have difficulties taking in, interpreting and responding to information from the environment. Things that may appear to be simple for neurotypical individuals, such as dealing with fluorescent lights at the grocery store or focussing on a conversation in a loud environment, may be overwhelming or intolerable for people with SPD. 


In most cases, people with SPD have one or more senses that experience either too much or too little stimulation.  
That’s because SPD disrupts how the brain receives, organizes, and uses the messages received through our body’s receptors. We take in sensory information through our eyes, ears, muscles, joints, skin, and inner ears, and we use those sensations – we integrate them, modulate them, analyze them and interpret them — for immediate and appropriate everyday functioning. 

As Occupational Therapist and Developmental Psychologist A. Jean Ayres says: “SPD is like a neurological traffic jam in which the senses don’t work properly.” 

Adults and SPD 

Although more common in children, adults can also have SPD.  

Adults with SPD may have difficulties at work, at home, in relationships, and their everyday life. Things like giving presentations at work or being in a crowded elevator with other people might be extremely difficult to deal with. 

SPD goes undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed in many adults. It’s common that SPD individuals will have other diagnoses as well, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, among others. 

An Occupational Therapist (OT) can help 

Occupational Therapists cannot provide a diagnosis to clients with SPD.  
 
However, our OTs can provide adults with SPD with a Sensory Diet, which are exercises, tools, and techniques to help regulate their sensory response so they can react in an adaptive way to everyday stimulation.  
 
Occupational Therapists at OT Works! have experience working with individuals with SPD and can help you live a fulfilling life, doing the activities that you love and that are important to you. 
 

If you or someone you know is looking for support with SPD, contact us today.  

Email:  referrals@ot-works.com   

Phone:  604.696.1066 ext. 1000.   

Learn more about SPD: 

SPD and Autism Specialist Moira Pena’s website 

The Neurotypical Guide to Adults with SPD 

Additude Mag’s SPD in Adults 

Tips to Manage Sensory Overload in Adults 

How to start Occupational Therapy after a car accident

A guide to Occupational Therapy services with an ICBC claim 

You have been injured in a car accident, and you have not fully recovered. You want to get back to your regular life, but you are not sure how or where to get started. 

Occupational therapy can help you putting together the pieces you need to get better. OTs provide individualized care that is specific to you, your injuries, and your life. They listen to you and focus their work on your goals and what is meaningful to you.  
We can help you to get back to the life you want after a car accident. 

How can an OT help? 

An Occupational Therapist can help you in many ways after a car accident.  
We focus on your function and help you perform a wide variety of activities. Whether you’re having physical, cognitive, and emotional difficulties, an OT can help. We see each person as unique and tailor our approach to you. 
An Occupational Therapist can help you with activities like: 

  • Preparing you and your home for your discharge from hospital 
  • Restoring basic activities, like bathing, dressing, grooming and personal hygiene 
  • Getting you back to activities like home making, finances, meal planning, community access 
  • Leisure and recreation 
  • Getting back to school or work 
  • Return to driving 

Click here to learn how an OT can assist you in different stages of your recovery. 

Is OT covered by ICBC? 

Occupational therapy is covered under ICBC’s Enhanced Care model. 

Unlike other health professions, OT does not have pre-approved treatments.  Your ICBC claims specialist must approve OT involvement.  To get approval, you will need a referral from your GP or a doctor’s note.

If ICBC has already approved funding for Occupational Therapy for you, simply email us the written authorization, and we will find an OT available to assist you. 

ICBC must approve OT services before you start working with an OT.

How to start? 

After reporting a claim to ICBC, you can contact our Referrals Team to discuss your needs. There are many ways that you can do that: 

You’ll need to provide a GP referral for OT services.

What documents are need to get started? 

You will need to provide some personal information, ICBC claim details, and a GP note. 

The GP note should state the reason for referral and that the OT referral is related to the MVA.

Our Referrals Team will then guide you through the process. 

If you are not sure if OT has been approved, our Referrals team will contact ICBC and/or your legal counsel on your behalf to secure funding. 

Will ICBC pay for everything? 

If you have an open claim with ICBC, and they approve OT services for you, you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket. ICBC will pay for services approved by them. ICBC won’t pay for services that are not approved. 

How long does it take to start working with an OT? 

It depends, but our goal is to make the whole process as fast and seamless as possible. 
Our Referrals team will keep you posted during the whole process and inform you of any longer wait times. 

Who will contact ICBC to get approval for Occupational Therapy? 


Our Referrals team will contact ICBC and/or your legal counsel on your behalf to secure funding.

Where are OT services delivered? 

Our OTs work in the community, and can see you in your home, workplace or in a community setting (park, community center).  
We can also offer telehealth if that’s appropriate for your situation. 

OT Works! has OTs available in the following areas: 

  • Lower Mainland: Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, North & West Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows 
  • Fraser Valley: Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack 
  • Sea-to-Sky: Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton 
  • Sunshine Coast: Gibsons, Sechelt 
  • Vancouver Island:  
    • South: Victoria, Esquimalt, Sooke, East Sooke, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin 
    • Central: Nanaimo, Parksville, Ladysmith, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni 
    • North: Campbell River, Courtney, Comox, Cumberland, Fanny Bay, Nanoose Bay, Union Bay 

Are your OTs approved by ICBC? 

All our OTs are university-educated professionals, registered by the College of Occupational Therapists of BC, and authorized by ICBC to provide OT services. 

Get started today 

If you are ready to start your rehabilitation after a car accident, contact us today. 
Our OTs will be happy to help you getting back to the life you love! 

Photo by Daniel Xavier from Pexels

woman wearing headset

Telehealth

When clients can access few other services, occupational therapy via telehealth is a vital link to wellness. 

About Telehealth 

Telehealth refers to using electronic communications to manage a client’s health and wellbeing. OT Works! is delivering telehealth services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Care by telehealth is therapy that is: 

  • Provided via phone, email, text messages or video 
  • Live, private and confidential 
  • Guided by the College of Occupational Therapists of BC (COTBC) and the Provincial Health Services Agency (PHSA)

How OT can help with Telehealth

Telehealth allows clients to safely receive the prompt care they need while social distancing is required. Through telehealth, our therapists help clients: 

  • Maintain or improve workplace tolerances  
  • Develop a daily structure that simulates their typical (work) day 
  • Create healthy routines 
  • Increase resiliency 
  • Deliver health education 
  • Promote connection with the workplace and decrease isolation 

OT Works! Telehealth Approach 

OT Works! therapists provide a creative healthcare service that develops client-centered solutions that are: 

  • Cost Effective 
  • Customized to optimize outcomes (including remote session length and frequency)  
  • Tailored towards cognitive and emotional gains 
  • Focused on the long-term goals, including Return to Work 
  • Provided with integrity and therapeutic value 

Services Considerations 

The following services are difficult to deliver remotely, yet we have solutions to help: 

  • Home environment – possible with video technology 
  • Objective assessments of range of motion and strength – possible with video technology 
  • Functional assessments (e.g. transfers, stairs, community access) – inferred from client reports, questionnaires, camera observations and medical documentation 
  • Wheelchair or home safety assessment – if urgent, in-person assessments can be considered after completing a client risk assessment and while using personal protective equipment.

Get Started 

All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and have additional training in areas such as mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, home safety and chronic pain. 

We’re here for you when you need us.  

E-mail: info@ot-works.com 

Phone: 604.696.1066 ext 1000 

OT Works! is OPEN

OT Works! continues to serve clients and customers during the COVID-19 outbreak. We believe occupational therapy is essential to maintaining the health and wellbeing of the public. OT Works! is adapting to better support everyone – our clients, customers, therapists, staff and our communities – in the most responsible manner possible.

Telehealth

OT Works! is enabled by telehealth. Our occupational therapists can provide telehealth services by phone, email, text messages and video. Telehealth can allow live, confidential and safe interactions with an occupational therapist during times social distancing. We have developed protocols and plans that follow guidelines by the College of Occupational Therapists of BC (COTBC) and the Provincial Health Services Agency (PHSA). Our goal is to provide care through telehealth that is meaningful and appropriate.

We will continue to provide in-person home visits on an urgent basis.

Benefits of Telehealth

Telehealth is a vital link to wellness when clients have limited or no access other in-person services. For many of our clients, telehealth is the only service available to them after other health providers and rehab team members have closed their doors. Through telehealth, our OTs can provide clients with prompt and personalized care while maintaining social distancing.

Telehealth can help clients by:

  • Maintain or improve workplace tolerances
  • Develop a daily structure that simulates their typical (work) day
  • Create healthy routines
  • Increase resiliency
  • Deliver health education
  • Promote connection with the workplace and decrease isolation

Occupational therapy is client-centered. Our clients’ telehealth treatment plans are specific to individual needs and goals. While some rehab goals may not be accessible during times of social isolation (eg. return-to-work), telehealth maintains clients’ readiness for rehab upon return to in-person sessions.

Occupational therapists are creative and adaptive. With telehealth, our therapists are able to adjust the frequency and duration of sessions to provide appropriate and effective care during our current situation.

Telehealth allows us all to socially distance ourselves and prevent the spread of disease while still connecting, progressing on goals and maintaining well-being.

Service Areas

OT Works! continues to serve the following areas :

  • Metro Vancouver
  • Fraser Valley
  • Sea-to-Sky (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton)
  • Vancouver Island

With telehealth, our occupational therapists can also assist clients outside of these geographic areas. Contact us to learn more.

Contact Us

All of our therapists at OT Works! are certified with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) and have additional training in areas such as mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, home safety and chronic pain.

We’re here for you when you need us.

E-mail: info@ot-works.com

Phone: 604.696.1066 ext 1000

Mathilde and Bronwyn

Meet Mathilde Bleuze & Bronwyn Cormack: Occupational Therapists

Welcome Mathilde Bleuze and Bronwyn Cormack to the OT Works! team.  They provide community OT services for individuals with musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injuries, chronic pain, mental health, concussion/traumatic brain injuries and mixed diagnoses.  They guide clients in managing their daily activities at home, work and in the community in order to foster increased independence.

Mathilde enjoys thinking outside of the box and supporting clients in their own environments.  Originally an OT in France, she has a wealth of experience particularly in return-to-work planning, home safety and seating and mobility.  Mathilde serves clients on Vancouver Island, particularly in the Comox Valley region.

Bronwyn finds that private practice allows for a dynamic work environment.  She enjoys learning about the different roles people have in their communities.  She provides workplace assessments, return-to-work planning and activation, among other services.  Bronwyn serves clients in the Sea-to-Sky region, primarily North Vancouver to Whistler.

Like all of our therapists, Mathilde and Bronwyn are full registrants and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).  

Get started with an OT

If you or someone you know could benefit from working with an occupational therapist, contact us today!

Email:  referrals@ot-works.com

Phone:  604.696.1066 ext. 1000.