Clinicians Creating Impact

Hosted by Heather Branscombe

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119

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Clinicians Creating Impact is a show for physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and speech-language pathologists who want to find the next right answer and create more impact. Each week, Clinical Director and Owner of Abilities Neurological Rehabilitation, Heather Branscombe, shares valuable tips, tools, information, and learnings to help therapists find clients, stop overworking, make more money, and make hard conversations easier, so that they can create a bigger impact without feeling awful. Interested in working with Heather Branscombe and Abilities Neurological Rehabilitation? Visit https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com to learn more. This podcast is for you if you find yourself asking questions like: How do I make more money as a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist? How do I have a hard conversation with my boss/a client/a patient/ a family/ a parent? How to get more work done as an occupational therapist. How do I create a bigger impact without feeling horrible? How do I get all my charting/documentation/work done as a physiotherapist? How to get more clients as a physical therapist.

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60 recent

June 11, 202620 min

117. You Already Measure: Turning Objective Findings into Growth

Have you ever had a client tell you that therapy is not working, only to pull out an assessment and discover just how much progress they have actually made? Those moments remind us why objective findings matter. They help us see what feelings alone can sometimes miss. In this episode, I explore why many clinicians trust numbers when working with clients but feel uncomfortable when those same numbers are applied to their own work. Using a framework familiar to every clinician, I walk through how the SOAP model can help us understand metrics in a more meaningful way. We will look at the role of subjective experience, objective findings, thoughtful assessment, and intentional planning, and how these same principles can be applied to rehabilitation assistant integration, team development, and sustainable practice growth. Book a free demo of the Jane App at jane.app/demo. And, for your first month free, use code ABILITIES1MO Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/117 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

May 14, 202620 min

116. From Orientation to Ownership: Starting with a Rehab Assistant, The Abilities Way

Many therapists approach working with rehabilitation assistants as simply teaching tasks and routines. But in this episode, I show you why true rehab assistant integration is really about building relationships that expand your impact, strengthen your leadership, and create sustainable clinical growth. At Abilities, we have learned that moving from orientation to ownership requires much more than quick training. It means building clarity, trust, and shared understanding from the start. You will hear how focusing on context, guided participation, and gradual ownership development can transform a rehabilitation assistant from extra help into a true extension of your care. Book a free demo of the Jane App at jane.app/demo. And, for your first month free, use code ABILITIES1MO Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/116 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

April 9, 202614 min

115. The Missing Link Between Documentation and Team Trust

Documentation can often feel like the least rewarding part of clinical work, like a checkbox or something you do at the end of the day to meet requirements rather than something that actually supports your practice. In this episode, I share a shift that changed how I think about documentation and why it can play a much bigger role in your work than you might expect. I walk through three layers of trust that documentation can support: self trust, team trust, and execution trust. You will hear how separating your clinical thinking from how you communicate that thinking can reduce confusion, strengthen collaboration, and make it easier for others to support your clients with clarity and confidence. Book a free demo of the Jane App at jane.app/demo. And, for your first month free, use code ABILITIES1MO Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/115 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

March 12, 202616 min

114. What Therapists Often Get Wrong About Rehab Assistant Integration

Therapists are often curious about working with rehabilitation assistants, but many are also skeptical. After years of building clinical expertise, it is natural to wonder whether involving someone else in the care of complex clients could lower the quality of therapy. In this episode, I explore why that concern is so common and why the reality of effective rehab assistant integration often looks very different. Listen in this week to learn how rehabilitation assistants can expand the impact of therapy through increased practice, stronger carryover into daily life, and greater consistency between therapist visits. When therapists protect the clinical reasoning and progression of care, rehabilitation assistants can help bring that plan to life in ways that support better outcomes for clients. Book a free demo of the Jane App at jane.app/demo. And, for your first month free, use code ABILITIES1MO Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/114 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

February 26, 202617 min

Bonus: Building Confidence Through Team-Based Care: Katie van Baarsen's RA Certification Journey

In this bonus episode, I am joined by Katie van Baarsen, a speech language pathologist at Abilities, to talk about her experience completing our rehabilitation assistant certification program and what it taught her about team based care. Katie shares what surprised her about the depth and rigor of the program, the moments that challenged her clinical thinking, and how supervising rehabilitation assistants helped her move forward even when she felt uncertain. You will hear how her confidence grew, how her decision making sharpened, and how collaboration with rehabilitation assistants became a meaningful part of her practice. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/bonus Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

February 12, 202612 min

113. Leading Care Without Carrying It All: The Day-to-Day of Team-Based Practice

Many clinicians think leadership is about doing more- more clients, more tasks. But in this episode, I show you how leadership is really about creating systems that work for everyone without overwhelming yourself. You'll learn how to lead sustainably by providing strong direction and clear roles, making leadership impactful and manageable without the burnout. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/113 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

January 8, 202613 min

112. The Art of Delegation: When to Involve a Rehabilitation Assistant and How to Do It Confidently

It's common for clinicians to hesitate when considering delegation. After all, you want to make sure your clients receive the best care possible, and handing off tasks can feel risky. But when done correctly, delegation is a game-changer. Learn how to do it with my practical framework that's informed by real client experiences. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/112 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

December 11, 202516 min

111. The Backbone of Team-Based Care: How Clear Roles Turn a Team into a Rhythm

How can clear roles transform your team and make client care more effective? In this second episode of our series on integration, we're diving into the backbone of team-based care: clear roles. I'll break down why having defined roles isn't just about structure, and we'll explore the three key questions that can help you identify where clearer roles can make your work lighter, more impactful, and more energizing. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/111 Let's stay connected! Follow me on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/heather-branscombe/

November 13, 20259 min

110. The Heart of Integration: Why Rehab Assistants Change Everything

What if the key to better client outcomes isn't doing more, but integrating better? This episode launches a new ongoing series on integration and how we work alongside rehab assistants at Abilities. In this first conversation, I'm sharing how our rehabilitation assistant model began and the core belief behind it: that great care is a team sport. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/110

October 2, 20258 min

109. Designing a Sustainable Caseload: What Thriving Clinicians Do Differently

What does it take to build a sustainable caseload that supports your clients' growth without draining your own energy? As the busy season ramps up, many clinicians find themselves caught between serving more families and wondering how long they can maintain the pace. Designing a sustainable clinical practice isn't about pushing harder or finding better self-care hacks. Through working with clinicians at Abilities, I've noticed three specific things that thriving clinicians do differently. Whether you're brand new to the field or have been practicing for years, these approaches can help you shape a caseload that supports both excellent client outcomes and your own professional longevity. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://abilitiesrehabilitation.com/109