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07/17/2025 - SIS Virtual Event - OTPs in Mental Health Community of Practice
Thursday, July 17, 2025, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT
Category: Events

7/17/2025 - SIS Virtual Event - OTPs in Mental Health Community of Practice 

Members - FREE
Non-Members - $20

REGISTER HERE

Date & Time: July 17, 2025, 7:00pm-8:00pm EST

Location: Virtual Meeting via Zoom

Number of Contact Hours: 1.0

Summary of Event: 

Title: Parts in Practice: An OT perspective Applying Internal Family Systems and Dialectical Behavioral Therapies in Mental Health

Occupational therapists working in mental health settings bring a unique functional perspective to client care, offering a blend of practical interventions and deep emotional support. This talk explores how Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) serve as highly effective frameworks for OTs aiming to enhance their practice, particularly when working with clients facing emotional regulation challenges, trauma, or identity/ role struggles.

This session will address the need for OT’s to maintain their scope of practice by presenting real-world case applications. By bridging the gap between traditional OT frameworks and more psychologically driven approaches, practitioners can deepen their impact and provide clients with transformative tools rooted in function that promote long-term well-being.

 

Presenter: 

Vanessa Cahn Gorelkin, MA, OTR/L

 

Bio/Background of the Speaker:  

Vanessa Gorelkin is a Licensed Occupational therapist in Arizona. She has a private online OT and Executive coaching practice, is the host of “Real Over Ideal” podcast (which features OT, Mental health, and real life solutions for big feelings.) Vanessa has been a frequent podcast guest expert since 2020. She works with people globally to help them live their lives to the fullest, and specializes in emotional regulation, anxiety, and neurodivergence.  Vanessa has a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University.  

Her post professional training focus includes certification in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Anxiety and Exposure and Response prevention strategies, Motivational Interviewing and Internal Family Systems therapy. 

Vanessa’s professional career spans over 30 years, and includes direct client contact, adjunct teaching, guest expert speaking for a variety of academic and public audiences, and executive management, providing her with a unique blend of experience that helps her provide individualized care to her clients. She is passionate about helping people manage anxiety, emotional regulation, and mood issues to allow for their ability to enjoy life and all of its varied experiences.

 

Learning Objectives: 

1) Describe how Internal Family Systems and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy are practice approaches ideal for OT’s, especially those with mental health focus

2) Explain at least 2 ways to explore one’s own experiences with IFS and apply the same to clients

3) Describe at least 2 common DBT tools that OT’s can use in practice