Innovative OT NC

I'm an occupational therapist with over 20 years or experience.

I'm blessed to be working in a profession that allows me to use my talents and gifts to empower people to see past their circumstances and LIVE!

03/06/2026

Mild cognitive changes get missed in rehab for a few big reasons—and it’s not because clinicians don’t care.

It’s often because:
• we prioritize what’s easiest to see and measure
• mild changes are inconsistent (fatigue + stress matter!)
• we don’t have a shared language for functional cognition

If you’ve ever thought,
“I’m noticing something, but I’m not sure how to say it,”
you’re not alone.

Join me **March 12 at 7pm** and I’ll walk you through a clear, practical approach.

Register:
https://karen-johnson-3869.mykajabi.com/think-function-webinar-2-26

03/05/2026

Here’s something I see all the time:

People do “fine” in a quiet eval, but struggle in real life.

Mild cognitive changes often show up when life gets more complex—multi-step routines, distractions, fatigue, time pressure… real-world function.

That’s why these changes get missed.

OTs are built for this. We see function in context, and we can lead with confidence.

If this resonates, join me **March 12 at 7pm** for my webinar:

**Why Mild Cognitive Changes are Being Missed in Rehab—And How OT’s Can Lead with Confidence**

Register:
https://karen-johnson-3869.mykajabi.com/think-function-webinar-2-26

What’s the first place you notice subtle changes—
meds, scheduling, conversations, work tasks, driving, something else?

02/10/2026

Today I had the opportunity to present to a wonderful group affiliated with Johns Hopkins, focusing on ataxia and cognition.

What stood out most?
Many attendees shared they had never received a cognitive evaluation before—and the realization was eye-opening.

This is exactly why cognition must be addressed across all healthcare roles, not just within one discipline.

Subtle cognitive changes impact daily function, safety, communication, and quality of life.
When we recognize them earlier, we can:
• make appropriate referrals
• support treatment and compensatory strategies
• advocate more effectively
• help people stay engaged in life

My Foundations Course was created with this in mind—for healthcare professionals, survivors, and care partners—so we can all speak the same language and feel more confident identifying, addressing, and supporting cognitive changes and functional participation.

Because thriving requires more than surviving—it requires awareness, action, and support.

01/20/2026

Foundations is here — and this is one of the biggest reasons I created it.

When life feels harder after cancer treatment, it’s easy to blame motivation.

But often? It’s not motivation. It’s cognitive load.

3 signs cognitive load is the real problem:
• You can start… but the steps pile up and you stall.
• Switching tasks drains you faster than the task itself.
• You push through—then fatigue and brain fog spike later.

This isn’t laziness. It’s your brain managing a heavy load.
(And as an OT focused on cognitive changes after cancer, I see this all the time.)

If you want support and practical tools, comment FOUNDATIONS and I’ll send the details — or DM me if you’d rather.

01/19/2026

“Life is beautiful” — and it’s even more beautiful when you have the right support and strategies. 💛

Enrollment is now OPEN for Think Function Thrive Function Foundations!

✨ Check out the sneak peek or sign up now and let’s start building awareness, bridging understanding, and creating consistency—together.

Comment “INFO” and I’ll send details.

01/08/2026

As we settle into the new year, I want to be clear about what’s guiding my work right now.

I continue to see people—healthcare professionals, survivors, and families—wrestling with the same uncertainty:
-Is this a cognitive change or just part of aging?
-Is this something that will get better on its own?
-When should we intervene, and how?

These aren’t small questions. They affect confidence, daily function, and quality of life.

My focus this year is on earlier awareness, clearer understanding, and more confident next steps when it comes to cognitive changes and function.

That focus is what led me to create the
Think Function | Thrive Function Foundations Course—and why I’ll be sharing more about it very soon.

This is the work I’ll be sharing more about in the coming days.

I’m looking forward to bringing you along.

12/31/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to say thank you.

Thank you for connecting, following, engaging, and being part of conversations this year around cognition, function, survivorship, and care. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, survivor, care partner, family member, or friend—your presence here truly matters.

This year reinforced something I deeply believe:
👉 People want to understand what’s happening and know what to do next—sooner, not later.

As we move into 2026, I’m excited to share that a sneak preview of the Think Function | Thrive Function Foundations Course is now available.
Foundations is the starting point for learning how to recognize subtle cognitive changes, understand how they impact daily function, and feel more confident navigating next steps.

✨ Full registration and course access will open in January 2026, so be sure to keep an eye out.

If you’d like the sneak preview link, comment FOUNDATIONS below or send me a message, and I’ll be happy to share it.

Wishing you a meaningful close to 2025 and a hopeful, healthy start to the new year.
I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with you in 2026.

12/28/2025

Wishing you a happy, safe, and peaceful holiday 💛

Wherever you are and however this season feels for you—please know it’s okay if it’s not perfect.

As we look ahead to the new year, I’ll be opening Think Function Foundations in early January—a course designed to support earlier awareness of cognitive changes and more confident next steps.

If you’ve ever thought: • “I didn’t realize cognition played such a big role.” • “I thought this would just get better.” • “I’m not sure where to start.”

You’re not alone—and you’re exactly who this work is for.

✨ Comment FOUNDATIONS or follow along if you’d like updates and previews as we head into January.

12/23/2025

The holidays can look joyful on the outside…
but for many people, there’s a lot happening beneath the surface.

Brain fog.
Fatigue.
Subtle cognitive changes.
Feeling overwhelmed or “not quite like myself.”

These things don’t always show up clearly—especially during busy seasons when we’re expected to keep up and smile through it.

As a clinician (and as a human), I’m always reminded this time of year how important awareness really is. Not jumping to conclusions. Not brushing things off. Just noticing—with compassion.

As we move toward the new year, I’ll be sharing more about Think Function Foundations, opening in early January—focused on helping people recognize cognitive changes earlier and understand how they impact daily life.

For now, I hope you’re able to pause, rest, and give yourself (and others) a little extra grace this week 💛

12/20/2025

Yesterday I shared some of the questions I hear every week:

“I didn’t even know OT could do this.”
“I thought it would get better.”
“How do you know it’s cognitive changes and not just aging or part of the cancer process?”

What all of these questions have in common is this:

People are looking for clarity before things fall apart.

That’s exactly what the Think Function | Thrive Function Foundations Course is designed to provide.

Foundations is the starting point—whether you’re a healthcare professional, survivor, or care partner—to understand subtle cognitive changes, how they impact daily function, and what to do next.

I’ll be opening early access soon, with the full course available December 29.

If you want to be among the first to learn more, comment FOUNDATIONS or follow along for updates.

12/19/2025

“I didn’t even know OT could do this.”

“I thought it would get better.”

“How do you know it’s cognitive changes and not just getting older or part of the cancer process?”

⏸️ Pause for a moment.

These are the questions I hear every week.

And underneath all of them is one bigger question:
Where do I even start when it comes to cognitive changes?

That question is exactly why I created the
Think Function | Thrive Function Foundations Course.

Foundations is about building awareness, understanding how cognition impacts daily function, and knowing what to do next—before people feel stuck, dismissed, or left waiting.

✨ More details and a sneak peek coming soon.

12/16/2025

If everyday tasks feel harder after cancer treatment, illness, or neurological change—you are not alone.

Struggling with focus, energy, organization, or follow-through does not mean you’re lazy, weak, or failing.

Often, it means your brain is working harder just to keep up.

Understanding why this happens can be incredibly empowering—and it’s the first step toward getting the right support sooner.

I’m creating new resources to help survivors and care partners make sense of these changes. More details coming soon.

Address

644 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC
27540

Telephone

+19844642737

Website

http://innovativeotnc.com/

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