Sasha Wray Occupational Therapist

18/02/2026

📚 Atiya and I delved into some of my favorite women's health books to get inspiration (and prepare) for our International Women's Day Afternoon tea on Sat 7th Match 🍵

Being a panel discussion the conversation could go in any direction.

Some of my recent interests are about
~ menopause
~ metabolic flexibility
~ matrescence and motherhood
~ chronic pelvic pain

Atiya interests are with neurodivergence and hormonal health.

One book that I was delighted to rediscover was "The Complete Buddhism for Mother's"
This book was a savior for me when my children were babies & toddlers.

Apart from giving me something tangible and interesting to work -
it opened my awareness of mindfulness in action; practiced in the moment (as opposed to something done at a set time).

This aligns so closely with the occupational lens of a person's participation and satisfaction in life.

If you are coming to our event feel free to ask me a question on any topic ⁉️

Within my skill set of:
* Occupational therapy (mental health+ complex pain + chronic fatigue)
* Naturopathy (herbs + nutrition)
* Acupressure Energy Medicine

Message or comment below 👇🏻 so I can swat up on any finer details 😅

17/02/2026

10/02/2026

Personally crafted therapy is essential to us.

Not only because it's backed by science as the only way we can truly meet all of a person's needs, it just makes sense!

When you are truly seen and heard; you feel supported.

This validation creates space for healing to emerge.

At a deeper level our humanity is affirmed.

So no matter what you're compliant,.. whether you're struggling with persistent pain or injury,.. wanting to return to fitness or build strength, ..challenged by stress and fatigue

... we always begin by getting to know you.

From there we can co-design a treatment plan with you.



❤️❤️

07/02/2026

I'm going to the APS conference this year and can't wait with workshops like this on the agenda.
I am also presenting a poster case study.

05/02/2026

I gave an in-service to the team yesterday on the NDIS - understanding & navigating the scheme.

First up was a big recognition of the "machine that is NDIS" (left side of the brain picture) it's a huge national insurance scheme that has rules and regulations to follow but equally can deliver different outcomes for different people.

As therapist's we try to help people navigate this system while also validating them as a person and the unique things that contribute to their strengths and challenges in life. (represented by the garden on right side of picture).

The most fundamental principle that we follow is "helping people to live ordinary lives" with choice and control.

In doing this we need to work within complexity and be trauma informed.
We recognize that participants need life long care.
And that is why at Next Wave value building meaningful relationships.

Finally our focus is "Building Capacity" across all life domains for people with

Neurological Disorders
Chronic Fatigue Disorders
Connective Tissue Disorders
Psychosocial Disability

25/01/2026

[Metaphor in the Pain Space]

The "Sky and Weather" metaphor is one my favorites for making sense of pain management.

Your noticing self is like the sky, day and night it never changes.

Pain (Thoughts, feelings and body sensations) is like the weather, continually changing.

The sky always has room for the weather, no matter how bad it gets.

Sometimes we forget about the sky because we're so caught up with the weather.

But we have a choice.

We can remain focused on the weather.

Or

We can:
~ rise above thick clouds
~ catch glimmers of sky
~ cloud awe (tune in to the weather rather than fight it)
~ focus on something else (like the earth you are standing on)

This metaphor, found in Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism, has also become part of western mindfulness psychological approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).




occupationaltherapy

23/01/2026

[Stability & Neuroplasticity]

My visit this morning to Emprise Mobility to trial mobility aids reminded me of how important stability and safety is in building the foundations for neuroplastic changes.

What happens if you can't move easily due to pain ?

You'll take longer to do daily activities or Rely on others due to not being able to do them easily and without pain.

Unfortunately this leads to ↩️
Increased pain
Fatigue
Low motivation
Reduced activity levels
Declining functional fitness
Sensing hopelessness
Worry, frustration and fear..add your own!

All these things feed neuroplastic changes that CAN sensitize the nervous system which increases prediction of pain with movement!

Whoa..
The good news is that all of that could be mitigated with an appropriate aid or equipment.

For example;
A 4 wheeled walker instead of a walking stick gives stability on both sides of the body. This also reduces hyper vigilance and fear of falling.

A portable electric wheelchair can reduce effort needed to walk a longer distance.

A kettle tipper reduces effort to lift a kettle to pour a cuppa.

Reducing physical effort, no matter how small, reduces the associated negative thoughts and feelings and *PINE experiences which feed the dark side of Neuroplasticity.

*Psychological - Immunological- Neurological - Endocrine (hormonal) responses

To manage pain we find ways for you to move, think and feel safe, stable, confident and motivated in life.

30/12/2025

A timely arrival today of this incredible book by Dr Hannah Slootjes.

As a mental health occupational therapist, I had a very tiny contribution in the chapter on "Illuminating the dark side of matrescence".

Every chapter is rich with knowledge translated from weaving women's stories and experiences.

I've been waiting all year for this book. So it seems incredibly apt for it to arrive at this time when one of our most influential stories of matrescence is being celebrated, that of Holy Mother Mary.

The next chapter I will read is titled Matrescence is a spiritual occupation and transformative life event.

It certainly is!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Sasha ❣️

21/12/2025

Amazing 😍 "countries agreed the WHO should adopt a new global traditional medicines strategy for the next decade that “seeks to harness the potential contribution of TCIM [traditional, complementary and integrative medicine] to health and wellbeing based on evidence”.

Considering 🧘‍♀️ the "wellness industry" is worth trillions in sales of supplements - it desperately needs regulation and more investment in research.

People spend money on promises of cures, sometimes taking supplements for years with no results but the belief that they may be worse off if they didn't.

👋The problems with Non-practitioner products are:
- often sold with herbs or nutrients not at therapeutic dose.
- often packed with fillers.

👋🏻The problem with not being assessed by a *qualified health practitioner:
- you don't have a treatment protocol specific to all your needs .
- it's dangerous as co-prescriptions haven't been considered
- it's a waste of time, money and health as people often don't get all the treatment you need.

💆‍♂️ Considering so many countries "mainstream medicine" already includes alternative medicine (yoga, acupuncture, herbal medicine)
- it's incredible WHO hasn't already recognized it.

UN body to study possibility of integrating centuries-old practices into mainstream healthcare

15/12/2025

Find peace amidst complexity.
Summer is here.