Category: Uncategorized
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By Wieteke Idzerda, NZ based Occupational Therapist, Clinical Leader, CR Therapist Reflecting on 10 years of Cognitive Remediation in Aotearoa New Zealand and the 2026 ACORN Cognitive Remediation Conference Last week, I had the privilege of attending and presenting at the ACORN Cognitive Remediation Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. I had the opportunity to hear…
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The Quiet Power of Camping with Children: An Occupational Therapy Perspective on School Holiday Time
Written by Wieteke Idzerda, Occupational Therapist and CRT Therapist Having just been camping with our two children, a reflective piece on this topic feels timely. Especially at a time where recently I’ve been particularly reflecting heavily on my own occupational being and how to best find my occupational balance. In a world that often feels…
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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…
