Julia is an Occupational Therapist and the founder of In-Tuned®. Through trial-error and taking a nontraditional path, she discovered how to make her brain work better.
She learned that movement was her way out of the restrictions placed on her body, brain and spirit. Julia’s personal experience has motivated her to help other people. She will be sharing her powerful tips and methods with you!
Julia Grover-Barrey OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Founder of In-Tuned™
www.in-tunedchild.com
(520)400-0901
Julia is an Occupational Therapist and the founder of In-Tuned®. Through trial-error and taking a nontraditional path, she discovered how to make her brain work better.
She learned that movement was her way out of the restrictions placed on her body, brain and spirit. Julia’s personal experience has motivated her to help other people. She will be sharing her powerful tips and methods with you!
Julia Grover-Barrey OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Founder of In-Tuned™
www.in-tunedchild.com
(520)400-0901
Hey guys. Welcome to Heart to Talk the podcast. I am the host and creator Theresa Cesare my intention for this podcast is to deliver to you wisdom, inspiration, and consciousness. Through solo episodes and conversations amongst insightful people. It is my greatest honor to bring to you talks that come from the.
Theresa:I don't know if you know this, but April is occupational therapy month and I've got the perfect guest Julia Grover Barrey here today and I'm super excited and honored because you are actually, heart to Talk's, first occupational therapist. So welcome to the show.
Julia Grover:Thank you. I'm glad to be the first.
Theresa:I'm gonna have you go ahead and introduce this audience to who you are and what you do
Julia Grover:okay. So, My name is Julia Grover Barry, and I've been an occupational therapist for 33 years. And, currently I have a private practice and I am a student in the Masters of Applied Neuroscience at Kings College London. I'm almost through my advanced, modules and going into my research year. but I have a private practice called Intuned, where I work with students of all ages, although mostly I work with children. And I look at improving sensory processing challenges, movement efficiency difficulties, academic learning issues, and getting my students to express themselves and communicate better. the ultimate goal that I have when I'm working with my students is that they find joy in the roles that they are playing, whether that's at home or at school or in the community, but living the best life that people can and improving the skills that they need to be able to optimize their function is what I focus on with my students. There's just a lot of children that are very stressed at school with and with a lot of the. Pressures and expectations, and sometimes just being in tuned with your awareness and improving your skills, whether they be your motor coordination skills or your visual skills, your executive function skills, like how you focus and are able to initiate and make good, uh, reasoning and judgment decisions that can really. To improve their overall level of happiness at being unwillingness to go to school and, and participate. And certainly with a lot of, children that have mental health issues. And I know there's been more of a spotlight on that since the pandemic, but this has always been, you know, a significant issue.
Theresa:I'm curious what got you into this field?
Julia Grover:So, A lot of times parents bring their children for me to evaluate because they have sensory processing difficulties or challenges. and I totally relate to the parents and what they're going through because I was one of those children where I. Had the sensory, you know, the tactile hypersensitivity. I didn't like certain clothes touching my skin. I was a very picky eater, extremely moody, irritable child. in fact, even in first and second grade, I found excuses to leave school. And I would actually back in the day when you could just like say, oh, I have a dentist appointment or something, and leave the school. I would, I would actually leave. I was so stressed out. Sitting in a desk. That I, I, yeah. Many times I left school cuz I was, wow. I just could not handle it. So what got me into this is the fact that I was one of these children for which I specialize with because I can totally relate to what the parents are going through and I can relate to how the child feels. And it wasn't really until I was an adult that I, you know, found ways. Basically managing how I was able to cope with some of the sensory challenges that I had. so a lot of the things that were difficult for me were just focusing on something visually and. I would feel like my vision was like tunnel vision or like closing down where, you know, I really could only focus on what was in front of me and not like out in panoramic view. I was very, stuck in this very myopic world. Wow. And so it was mostly through different types of exercise and movement that really freed up my vision a lot. But, you know, as an occupational therapist working, with children and adults that do have sensory challenges and other different types of, mental health disorders that, that see things differently. I've been able to. Through exercises that I have come up with to improve visual focus and attention and being able to, you know, shift gaze from close to far away to be able to manage what's going on in the dynamic environment, which a lot of different types of mental health issues and neurodevelopmental difficulties. They do have some visual, processing issues. As part of that sensory processing challenge. So through what I did for myself and in being able to improve my, my vision, I was able to come up with things to help other people I use a lot of different movement activities and stuff to change brain circuits in terms of how they communicate and, what the connectivity of the brain is like so that we can, make better decisions.
Theresa:I like that you and I talked about this whole concept of we're not stuck with the brain we're born with. Exactly solutions to brain challenges. So no matter what, we can overcome and live these fulfilling lives, healthy relationships, very successful careers despite what we think because a lot of people, children, even adults right, feel limited, and embarrassed, maybe don't even say anything. They kind of. Do you see any of that?
Julia Grover:Yeah. I think that especially, Adults that have some anxiety and, depression and other mental ill health diagnoses. it's just we all have a different way of looking at things and people that have mental ill health have some dysfunction in how they're able to cope in the world and what they're able to do. And a lot of times we just kind of get in our own way. So with some behavioral tools of getting out of our way and getting ourselves unstuck. But a lot of, that takes doing something different. but you know, that's why I decided to take what I know as an occupational therapist and do some different things. Cuz sometimes we get stuck even with what we do professionally. Mm-hmm. Because I love that are the rules, these are the rules. As an occupational therapist, I do this, this, this, and this with my, with my clients or with my patients, and. I feel like I have, you know, really gone outside of those rules. You know, obviously there are certain things that I have to do to keep a, a license as an occupational therapist, but thinking outside of the box and, you know, seeing everybody as an individual and not just using some recipes, you know, what suits this individual? How am I going to get this person? Better, brain, health and function, based on what I'm seeing their skills are right now. And, and not just because, this is, you know, we do this and then we do this, and then we do that. that's just extremely generic and I really like just looking at everybody as an individual and what their needs are.
Theresa:That just is so inspiring. I love that you said. Because, that just makes you so powerful in what you do. And I think people need to hear that you can make your own rules essentially, like you said, obviously to stay in within the license. But I really love that you said that. I, that's just, wow, so what tips do you have?
Julia Grover:In terms of, what I would say, just generically, is that if. If an individual or their child is having difficulties with getting a good night's sleep, a lot of mental health issues and brain challenges are caused by not having, a full seven and a half to eight hours of good, solid sleep. When I'm evaluating somebody and working with somebody, that is typically the place that I start if that is an issue So, think about people that are, are very typical functioning, and how we feel when we. Sleep well While that exacerbates a lot of the negative symptoms of mental ill health is not having a good night's sleep, so that if that is an issue of you're not falling asleep quickly and staying asleep. Then that is always the number one place to start. And, I really value, using natural remedies for trying to have a better night's sleep. so that's tip number one. And then, number two, a lot of neurodevelopmental disorders and, people with mental health issues, their symptoms are worse if triggered by stress. Mm-hmm. So in terms of stress management, the best thing for managing stress is doing exercise and not just any type of exercise but exercise. Really provides full mobility of your hips. So a lot of really deep hip flexion, and repetitive or sustained. So it, it's not just about running, even with running great exercise, great for stress management and decreasing the stress hormone cortisol, but if you really wanna decrease cortisol and decrease stress, Really taking your hips to the limits of their mobility, is the best. And the reason why is that we have this thing in our brain, called the h p a axis or the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, and the hypothalamus is responsible for a lot of our, you know, base, Functions as humans, and one is movement of the hips, and that's usually meant for like sexual reproduction is what that is for. But when we don't get a lot of hip mobility, we have a lot more the Turning on of the switches for hormones that are generated from the hypothalamus to the pituitary to the adrenal glands to release more and more cortisol. So the more we can do activities that have hip mobility in it, then we decrease or we rebi that H P a axis and it decreases that corti cortisol. Released from the adrenal glands. So neuroscience hasn't caught up with that yet, but I'm sure one day you will be reading about it. Cuz there is a lot of research, and I've said this so many times over the years and it has. Not made a, a liar out of me yet. Because sometimes people will say, well, where's the research on this or that? And it's like, it's coming. It is coming. Yeah. So we have a lot of really good research about the H P A access and just exercise in general. I think we will see incoming years, what types of exercise are more likely to reduce cortisol, and that will be one of them. And this is based on, you know, working with many, many. Children and adults and seeing the results of the types of work that we're doing with movement.
Theresa:That's so incredible. I, I have to say, no wonder I love my Zumba class so dang much, and I feel so good yeah. So a lot of the dance stuff is great yoga, great lots of hip mobility in that, as well as things like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Julia Grover:And that which is, seems to be really popular right now. And then, a movement technique called Feldon Christ, which I am, which is not mainstream. Mm-hmm. But it is a, a movement method and there is a lot of, you get into a lot of very novel positions and a lot of these novel positions are hip, you know, based on maximum hip flexion. And then even just doing squats like sustained squats. Which is, IDO port. He's a movement culture guru. And this is what he, and it's not necessarily for stress management. He is, he does, he advocates doing sustained squats, for just having. No lower back pain, having no knee pain, having no hip pain. but another, side to that is stress management. Really great for stress management. So tip number two. Decreasing cortisol in your blood, by doing exercise that involves a lot of hip flexion. Just number three is that movement is medicine and just keep moving. So with a lot of the interventions that I do with, Students it's all action based. It's movement based and that there is value in talk type therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy. But in terms of doing challenging movements that cause a lot of errors really helps to, grow more. Brain circuitry and more brain communication for everything we do. There is neural networks that are communicating and movement is one of the best ways to get so many of those neural networks, you know, more strengthened and connected. So move, move, move.
Theresa:Those are such great tips and so simple and these are tools, right, that we have. That's right. I mean then too, I mean they're, they're behavioral tools and I feel like before people go towards the medication strain, cuz obviously,
Julia Grover:neuropharmacology therapeutics. they have their place, but there's so many things in terms of just natural tools that we need to use before especially with children, I think that we're doing them a disservice by just putting them on neuro stimulants for, attention, um, right off the bat without trying anything else.
Theresa:Thank you so much for those powerful tips. I'm just so inspired to keep moving. Keep moving. Is there any other, information, topics, messages that you want to say to this audience?
Julia Grover:I think that people need to find, like, to look a little bit deeper when they're looking for help, whether it's for their child, whether it's for themselves. And recently I've had, you know, parents of even, you know, at the child is an adult and they're still looking for answers and for help to support with, an adult child that. A mental health problem. And I think we have to, again, look outside the routine things that we look at or the behavioral health and I, I don't have any disrespect for a lot of these great organizations, but sometimes there's some limitations there. it doesn't work for everybody and I really feel. There needs to be, some more research. there are people out there that can help. But sometimes you have to go out of the mainstream to find the help that you need. I've been an occupational therapist for 33 years and how I practice, I mean, has evolved over time and. Again, doing things more on an individual basis as opposed to, oh, in this situation with this diagnosis, this is what we do. I really don't look at diagnosis all that much anymore, quite honestly. I look at what are the evaluation results? I wanna hear the history. And I wanna hear, what other things have been done. When I'm doing an evaluation, I wanna see what are those skills, what can we leverage as good function, and where do we need to bring things up? And, and then working on things that have meaning for the the person as opposed to, this is what we do, but we have to make it fun. It has to be meaningful for them and to fulfill. Goals and, and just doing a lot of education with the family because I just feel like in this busy world in healthcare, the education that is done for the most part is so like down and dirty and it's just not. Enough for people to absorb. And as much as I can, I just try to, educate on why, why you're seeing this with your child. Why is this an issue for them? And light bulbs go on. And then there's much more understanding and, ability to know how to support
Theresa:that's so amazing. I've learned so much in just this small amount of time of the impact that working with someone like you can, do for someone's life. And that being said, what would you say your mission?
Julia Grover:It's to be of service, so that I can provide a better foundation of functional skills for people, especially in the realm of, sensory processing and movement and having better mental health and being equipped, to. Function, at our very best and in ways that are natural and honor the natural rhythm of ourselves.
Theresa:You are just this wealth of knowledge and the tips that you've provided for this audience. I'm in full gratitude and just honored. I would love for you to share with us how we can get ahold of you.
Julia Grover:Sure. the best way to get in touch with me is through my website, which is www.in-tunedchild.com and on there's a link and you can find my email on there. And there's a lot of information about how I work with, people and the different resources that I have. So even just. Checking out my website, reading my blog. You may learn something. You may never need to see me. It may be just something that you can get off my website. That would be a good resource for you.
Theresa:I love that you mentioned the blog.
Julia Grover:I call this super sensory blog and it doesn't come out like every week or every two weeks. It's as I feel inspired with something and I wanna share something, and it, you know, goes out to, I think there's maybe 2,500 people or something that have signed up so far. That's amazing.
Theresa:Well, per tradition, I'm gonna close up the episode with the three ending questions. So the first one, what is your favorite?
Julia Grover:So actually my favorite book is A Collection of Poetry by Rumi. You may have heard of it. It's called The Essential Roomy by Coleman Barks. And why I like it is because, no matter how you're feeling or what mood you're in or what frame of mind, you can actually open that book and you can find something related to your state at that time. And it just makes you feel that I'm not the first one to feel like this. I'm not the last. It just gives me, some momentum about, you know, I can get over this or this is, nothing, this I, this will pass. And Rumi's been around since the 13th century. He was a 13th century Islamic scholar and if they felt like that back then, and I'm feeling like this now, I will get over it. I will, you know, overcome.
Theresa:I love it. Thank you for that recommendation. And the next one, what's your favorite?
Julia Grover:My favorite quote is, a quote by Moche Felden Christ, and it's actually on my signature line on my website, and it's been there forever, but it's, nothing is permanent about our behavior patterns except our belief that they are so, so, basically, Things can change even if you don't think so. And it's like, get out of your own way, you know? And, and so many of us get in our own way in terms of making changes or, people may give us some really good tips. But if you've never applied those tips, If you never do it, how is anything ever gonna change? So we just need to get out of our own way and have the belief that we do have the power to change our behavior.
Theresa:I love that. Oh my goodness. And the last question, what inspires you?
Julia Grover:Right now I'm very inspired by people who don't act with. Ego that they can put their ego aside to learn freely from other people and to teach freely other people without any expectations of something in return. And just that they are so giving of themselves, to help elevate other people.. So I that's what inspires me
Theresa Cesare:Thank you so much for tuning into this episode. Please download, rate, subscribe, and share this podcast. Also, be sure to visit my theresacesare.com to check out my inspirational merch, connect to my social accounts, and much more may you continue to be filled with wisdom, inspiration, and consciousness. Otherwise, friends, I will be back in two weeks for another episode of Heart to.