Mind to Function
Mind to Function Blog dives into the world of mental health, cognition and functioning with a occupational therapy focused lens
- The Quiet Power of Camping with Children: An Occupational Therapy Perspective on School Holiday Time
- Emerging Leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand Healthcare: Standing Firm in Complexity, Leading with Purpose
- Between Windmills and Pōhutukawa: Culture, Migration, and My Occupational Being
- Seeking Occupational Balance: Inside My Pressure Cooker
- Behind that “Simple Task”: What Occupational Therapy Can Look Like in Mental Health
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Category: Occupational Therapy
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Written by Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT Therapist Healthcare leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand is evolving rapidly. It sits at the intersection of system reform, growing population needs, workforce pressures, and an increasing commitment to equity—particularly for Māori and underserved communities. Within this shifting landscape, emerging leaders are being asked not just to manage services,…
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Written by Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT Therapist For as long as I can remember, I have often found myself reflecting on the invisible threads that shape who we are—not just as people, but as occupational beings. As an occupational therapist, I understand that what we do, how we do it, and why it matters…
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Written by Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT Therapist Life, lately, feels like a pressure cooker. Not the nostalgic kind that whistles softly on a Sunday afternoon, but the kind that sits heavy on the stove — sealed tight, heat building, no obvious release valve. Every role I carry adds another degree: mother, partner, friend, professional,…
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By Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT Therapist Over the years, I’ve lost count of how many times colleagues have jokingly said, “you’re such an OT,” when I bring baking into the office, or cut flowers from my garden, or when I mention a current arts and crafts project I’m working on. It’s an understandable leap:…
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By Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist Each December, homes around the world welcome a small but mischievous visitor: the Elf on the Shelf. While often seen as a fun holiday tradition (or a creative challenge for adults!), Elf on the Shelf actually taps into many core occupational therapy (OT) principles that support children’s development, participation, and…
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By Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT Therapist Progress in mental health isn’t always loud, linear, or easy to measure—and that’s especially true when it comes to cognitive challenges that affect daily life. Occupational therapy offers a unique lens for understanding and supporting this kind of growth, blending practical skill-building with personalised cognitive interventions that help…
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Written by Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT therapist Functional cognition—how people use thinking skills to perform real-world tasks—is a critical but often overlooked part of mental health. Through an occupational therapy (OT) lens, functional cognition becomes more than a set of cognitive abilities; it is cognition “in action”, embedded in daily routines, environments, and meaningful…
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By Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist, CRT Therapist This year marks ten years since my Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) journey began in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2015. It started with a single question posed by Dr Katrina Wallis (Occupational Therapist) at one of our bimonthly Occupational Therapy meetings at the then Waitematā District Health Board: “Has…
Mind to Function 