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Category: Occupational Therapy

  • Did You Know Your Body Has an Inner Sense? Interoception

    One of our eight senses is interoception — the awareness of signals from inside your body, like hunger, thirst, breath, heartbeats, and fullness. This sense helps you care for yourself, regulate emotions, and respond to your body’s needs.

    Here in the Northland, June arrives with longer days and warmer sun. Flowers bloom, the grass is green, rivers run freely, and the air carries new scents and sounds. Our bodies notice the change: the warmth of the sun’s rays on our skin, the pull of daylight, the rhythm of our heartbeat during movement. When we intentionally check in with these inner signals — pausing to feel our breath, noticing when we feel tired or energized — we give our nervous system guidance and balance after months of winter stillness.

    This June, discover your interoception by turning inward. Your nervous system is adapting to growth and expansion — and mindful attention to your body’s signals can help you move with ease and vitality through the month

  • Sara’s Sensory Corner – Proprioception

    Did you know your brain can feel your body’s position?

    Continuing my theme of our sensory experience, another of our eight senses is a sense called Proprioception.  This is the sense that tells us where our body is in space, how our muscles are working, helps us with our posture and assists in how we move through the world.  It helps us feel grounded to the earth, coordinated and connected to ourselves.

    Sensing Spring

    Here in the Northland, May brings the promise of newness. Green grass pushes up through the ground. Birds have returned and we wait for the bees to wake. The world is alive with subtle movement and our bodies are waking with it. When we intentionally notice our body position- bending, stretching, reaching and carrying-we connect more to ourselves after winter’s stillness.  Even simple actions like balancing on uneven ground, or lifting your face to the sun tune your proprioceptive sense and invite steadiness.

    This month, position yourself with intention.  Your nervous system in learning to trust expansion and growth-and mindful awareness of your body’s positions can help you step into the season fully.

    But what do I know?

    My passion as an occupational therapist in Duluth is helping people to understand how they sense their environment, their body, and their emotions and how they process those signals. When we are either having difficulty sensing any of those things or having difficulty processing what we are going through, it can be uncomfortable (as we all know). I’m here to help educate and work with you towards better well-being!

    More about Sara
  • Did you know your body has a balance system?

    Did you know your body has a balance system?

    What is our balance system?

    One of our eight senses is the vestibular system — our inner sense of balance and movement. It helps us know where we are in space, keeps us upright, and supports coordination, focus, and emotional regulation.

    Here in the Northland, April is all about the thaw, the gentle ending of our winter reset. Ice loosens, snow melts, and the ground shifts beneath our feet. Wind moves through bare trees. The weather is unsteady and unpredictable — and sometimes we feel that way too. When we intentionally notice gentle movement — slow walks on uneven ground, swaying branches, rocking, stretching, or simply lifting your face to the sunshine and feeling the ground beneath your feet, we give our balance system a chance to recalibrate and reconnect after winter’s stillness.

    This month, move with awareness. Your nervous system is waking up with the season — and steady, intentional movement can help you find your footing again.

    More Occupational Therapy Posts
  • Welcome Sara Sheppard

    Welcome Sara Sheppard

    Welcoming Sara Sheppard: Holistic Occupational Therapy at Halcyon House

    We are thrilled to welcome a fantastic new addition to our team! After collaborating with Robin for their popular Tea Talk – Nervous System Regulation for the Holidays and the Art of Wintering Well classes, Sara Sheppard is officially bringing her deep experience and clinical knowledge in-house.

    Sara has been serving clients as a dedicated Occupational Therapist since 2008. In 2010, she expanded her practice to become a certified Craniosacral Therapist. She brings a wealth of specialized knowledge to our community, focusing heavily on somatic healing and long-term wellness.

    Holistic Therapy Services Offered

    Sara provides targeted care for both children and adults. You can book the following specialized sessions with her:

    • Pediatric Therapy: A 45-minute focused session tailored for children.
    • Individual Therapy: A 60-minute comprehensive session for adults.
    • Nervous System Education: An intensive 8-session series built for deep healing.

    An Individualized and Compassionate Therapy Style

    Sara utilizes a deeply individualized, holistic occupational therapy approach. Her treatment philosophy seamlessly blends nervous system regulation, sensory processing, and gentle manual therapies. By incorporating craniosacral and fascial techniques, she helps clients foster true balance and ease in everyday life. Her gentle methods are perfect for anyone looking to reduce chronic stress or recover from physical tension.

    What is Holistic Occupational Therapy?

    The primary goal of occupational therapy is to support meaningful daily living. Sara provides the essential education you need to understand your own nervous system and unique sensory processing traits.

    Every single session is rooted in a client-centered approach. Sara combines somatic awareness, nervous system education, and practical home programming to fully support both body and mind. Her gentle, somatic-based manual therapy includes myofascial techniques and craniosacral therapy. These practical strategies help you move toward your personal health goals with clarity and confidence. Partner with Sara today to build lasting resilience, sustainable well-being, and physical balance.

    Update

    For Pediatric Occupational Therapy sessions, reach Sara at the Masonic Children’s Clinic.

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