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Ability Innovations Presents: Therapy Unmasked

Ability Innovations Presents: Therapy Unmasked

Written by: Therapy Unmasked
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To all the parents out there who are facing the challenges of parenting, embracing the highs and lows, but most importantly, who are determined to see their children thrive! We’re here to unmask the secrets of child development.

Join us as we dive deep into conversations that matter, featuring therapists, doctors, influencers, and some of the most brilliant mom brains out there.

Are you ready for an exclusive look into the world of therapy? Welcome to ”Therapy Unmasked” – where we decode the mysteries of child development, one episode at a time.

Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
Parenting Relationships
Episodes
  • Designing Sensory-Friendly and ADHD-Aware Homes with Rachel Jackson
    Dec 18 2025

    https://www.abilityinnovations.com/ 💡- Check Out Ability Innovations

    https://www.therapy-unmasked.com/ 🧠 - Check Out Therapy Unmasked

    Where To Find Rachel:

    https://racheljacksondesign.com/ 👩‍🎨- Check Out Rachel's Website

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f69EvcvCOq8 👩🏼‍🏫- Rachel's Free Introductory Workshop

    IG: https://www.instagram.com/racheljacksondesign/

    FB: https://www.facebook.com/rjdesignatx

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@racheljacksondesign

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-jackson-design/

    Upcoming Events: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/home-design-lab-by-rachel-jackson-design-93549020103

    LISTENER DEAL: Podcast listeners enjoy a special discount on my signature course: Interior Design For ADHD-Friendly Homes (Part 1) - a practical, eye-opening guide to designing spaces that support sensory needs. Use code PODCASTLOVE at checkout: Link: https://courses.racheljacksondesign.com/course/adhd-friendly-interior-design-pt1

    Hey Friends!

    Join us on Therapy Unmasked, brought to you by Ability Innovations, as we sit down with special guest Rachel Jackson, an experienced interior designer who specializes in creating sensory-friendly and ADHD-aware homes and spaces.

    Drawing from her own experience with ADHD and that of her son, Rachel shares how her design instincts naturally led her to a niche focused on making homes work for the people living in them. She explains her detailed intake process, which helps uncover a family's unique sensory blend and the common environmental frustrations she sees, typically related to:

    • 💡 Lighting

    • 🔊 Sound/Acoustics

    • 📚 Organization and Visual Clutter

    Rachel discusses her range of services—from DIY guides and self-paced courses to full-service design and professional development for therapists and designers—all aimed at spreading the powerful impact of neurodiversity-aware design.

    Key Takeaways You Won't Want to Miss:

    • Understanding Sensory Profiles: Learn why taking your child's sensory sensitivities seriously is the first step, and how to look at emotional reactions as a form of communication.

    • Flexible Living: Rachel provides a fascinating example of how simply repurposing rooms (like turning a seldom-used dining room into a quiet family room) can dramatically improve home life.

    • The Universal Win: Discover why designing for neurodiversity, as famously stated by architect Magda Mostafa, is truly "designing for everyone," leading to a calmer, more comfortable environment for the entire family.

    • Quick and Budget-Friendly Home Tips: Get actionable advice you can implement immediately to lower the "temperature" of your house, including:

      • Switching to warm lamp light in the evenings to aid melatonin production (aim for $2700-3000$ Kelvins).

      • Embracing sound machines and rugs to address acoustics and reduce echo.

      • Tackling visual overwhelm with her simple Four Piles Organization Method (Keep, Price/Resale, Donate/Recycle, Pitch).

    Tune in to learn how thoughtful design can reduce stress, improve organization, and bring a feeling of calm and stability to your home environment.

    Love,

    Your Friends At Ability Innovations 💡

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    20 mins
  • Why Your Child Should Be Bored
    Dec 8 2025

    Check Out Ability Innovations 💡

    https://www.abilityinnovations.com/

    Check OUt Our Courses 👩🏼‍🏫

    https://www.abilityinnovations.com/therapyunmaskedland

    Check Out Our Blogs 🗒️

    https://www.abilityinnovations.com/bloginfo

    Donate To The Giving Tree 🌲

    https://www.abilityinnovations.com/the-giving-tree

    Hi Friends, Welcome back to another episode of Therapy Unmasked! Today's episode isn't boring but it's about boredom. 😉 Here are some of the talking points:

    Technology vs. Imaginative Play: Nick addresses the question of whether technology is killing imaginative play, suggesting that while it can be a necessary tool for some, periods of pause are essential for creativity and development, especially as we face an uncertain future.

    Boredom and Executive Functioning: As an Occupational Therapist, Nick explains how boredom—or unstructured downtime—can actually be beneficial for children struggling with executive functioning challenges, such as ADHD and time blindness. Boredom acts as a necessary rest period for the brain, helping it recalibrate and process information.

    Sensory Regulation and Boredom: Discover how boredom intersects with sensory seeking and sensory avoidant behaviors. Nick provides tips for parents on how to reframe downtime, explaining that activities like sitting in a sensory swing or even doing seemingly unproductive tasks are, in fact, doing a lot to regulate a child's sensory system.

    Introducing Unstructured Time: Learn practical strategies for integrating "boredom time" into a child's day, even one with a strict structured routine. Nick suggests starting with short, scheduled intervals (like five minutes of alone time) and gradually building up. Fostering Creativity and Adaptability: Boredom is presented as a vital vehicle for teaching creativity and adaptability, skills that are increasingly necessary in a rapidly changing world.

    "Boredom Ticklers" and Open-Ended Play: Looking for gift ideas or simple activities? Nick recommends "boredom ticklers"—open-ended tools and simple materials (like blank paper or magnetic toys) that spark intrinsic motivation and allow kids to act on their environment rather than being acted upon by screens.

    Intrinsic Motivation in Teens and Young Adults: The conversation concludes by defining intrinsic motivation (choosing to do something because it comes from within) and discussing how providing space for boredom is crucial for teens to develop genuine interests, helping them move away from being constantly guided by external algorithms and social media.

    Thanks Listening! Love, Your Friends At Ability Innovations

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    37 mins
  • Education, Sensory Processing, & Children In Motion: What It Means To Be An Occupational Therapist
    Oct 9 2025

    https://www.abilityinnovations.com/

    https://www.weber.edu/athletic-training/occupational-therapy.html

    https://www.therapy-unmasked.com/

    ----more----

    Hi Everyone!

    On this episode of Therapy Unmasked, we welcome Occupational Therapist and educator Rhonda Roth to discuss her dynamic career and commitment to clinical excellence. Rhonda recounts her journey through acute care, schools, and skilled nursing, eventually finding her passion in pediatric Sensory Integration.

    The conversation centers on the core philosophy behind her former clinic, Children in Motion: maximizing parent involvement to ensure lasting progress and timely discharge. Rhonda explains the importance of training and educating caregivers so they can effectively become their child's primary therapist.

    We conclude with a look at her exciting new role spearheading the development of a four-year Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assisting program at Weber State University—a unique program designed to address the critical need for qualified practitioners and offer students multiple professional pathways.

    Love,

    Your Friends At Ability Innovations

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    27 mins
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