It’s incredibly powerful when a survivor begins to see their true selves again and separate from the trauma they’ve experienced, and occupational therapy is an underrated lifeboat that brings calm and clarity to the tumultuous sea of domestic violence. Today, we are joined by two incredible women from Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support in Dallas – CEO Jan Langbein and Occupational Therapist Saidah Fletcher. Our guests begin with their journeys into the DV movement before detailing the inner workings of the remarkable Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support. We define occupational therapy and highlight its importance in DV, why Genesis was deliberate and urgent in hiring its own onsite occupational therapist, the benefits of occupation therapy for survivors, and some helpful advice for OTs who are active in the DV space. We end with a deeper exploration of the intersectionality between DV, OT, and improved family life, the pros and cons of having an onsite OT in DV centers, and helpful resources for OTs in DV that underline our guest’s hopes for how this episode will impact listeners.
This podcast explores topics of intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. Please listen with care and take breaks as you need to. Resources mentioned in this episode:
Genesis Women's Shelter & Support
Occupational Therapy at Genesis