Deinstitutionalizing OT: Field Research, Folk Wisdom & Creating Your Own Path with Dr. Josie Jarvis
What does it mean to deinstitutionalize yourself as an occupational therapist? In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Josie Jarvis and I explore everything from the historical roots of healthcare systems to why OTs need to reclaim field research and folk wisdom. If you've ever felt stuck in traditional practice settings or wondered how to apply occupational science to your own life, this episode offers both validation and a path forward. We discuss burnout recovery for occupational therapists, the power of community-based folk arts, and why being brave sometimes means daring to ask the "dumb" question. This conversation is for OTs who are ready to experiment, create their own paths, and remember that innovation doesn't require permission.
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IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:
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- Why deinstitutionalization matters for practitioners, not just clients
- How occupational science can help OTs recover from moral injury and burnout
- The historical context of healthcare systems and women's contributions through folk wisdom
- Understanding twice-exceptionality (gifted + learning differences) and how it shows up in OT practice
- Why field research and observation are more valuable than we've been taught
- The problems with the traditional evidence-based practice pyramid and the Tomlin & Borgetto alternative
- How grades and academic metrics aren't real and why that matters
- Building community through folk arts and crafts as a vehicle for policy change
- The Being, Becoming, Belonging quilt project and its impact on systemic change
- What it means to be brave: daring to be vulnerable, asking questions, and showing up in your fullness
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ABOUT DR. JOSIE JARVIS
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Dr. Josie Jarvis is a twice-exceptional (ADHD/NVLD/Gifted) occupational therapist, critical implementation scientist, and host of the Evolved Living Podcast. She brings over a decade of clinical experience across home health, acute care, memory care, pediatrics, and K–12 education together with her neurodivergent lived experience to explore how systems shape human occupation, creativity, and identity.
After collaborating with Carlyn Neek in the ACTivate Vitality program, Josie deepened her commitment to reviving a contemporary folk arts/crafts and critical implementation science movement that supports collective occupational wellbeing and recovery from systemic harm across borders and practice settings. Her work blends OT/OS scholarship, accessible education, and creative praxis to help practitioners and communities reclaim meaningful occupation and systemic integrity.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED
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Josie's OT and OS Work can all be found at https://engage.evolvedlivingnetwork.com/ Including:
- OT/OS Substack & Evolved Living Podcast: https://josiejarvisot.substack.com
- Professional Website: https://josiejarvis.com
- OS 101 Course – Foundations of Occupational Science for U.S.-Based OT Practitioners
- OS 101 Guide
Josie's Creative & Intuitive Work can be found at https://josephinepatricia.substack.com including:
- Josephine Patricia Creative Substack
- Various products and courses related to rewilding, arts, circles and more
Books & Resources:
- Witches, Midwives & Nurses Book Club
- Article on Witches, Midwives & Nurses
- Beyond the Hierarchy (Tomlin & Borgetto Research Pyramid)
Previous Episodes of the BRAVE OT Podcast Referenced:
- Episode 13: With references to Dąbrowski's Theory of Positive Disintegration
- Episode 43: Overcoming Entrepreneurial Perfectionism with the Scientific Method
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WORK WITH CARLYN
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If today's conversation about deinstitutionalizing yourself and finding hope beyond burnout resonated with you, the ACTivate Vitality Program offers a community of OT practice owners who are navigating these same challenges.
We focus on building sustainable, values-aligned practices through group coaching, ACT-based frameworks, and genuine support not hustle culture.
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