Meet Our Therapists: Dr. Jody Parker
We are so excited to be expanding our Occupational Therapy services with the addition of Dr. Jody Parker, OTD, OTR/L! Jody earned her Doctorate for Occupational Therapy from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. We are so excited to have you, Jody!
Tell us about your family.
Family is a big part of my life as I am the oldest of 4 children and have an amazing mother and father who have supported and encouraged me throughout my entire journey of becoming an occupational therapist. My siblings are my best friends and I often answer the question: "If you were stranded on an island and could only have 3 items, what would you choose?" with: "Trey, Lauren and Zach.". My sister, Lauren, and I get to share Birmingham as she is a sophomore at Samford University and my brothers, Trey and Zach, are in high school and college back home in Mobile, AL.
Do you have any hobbies or interests?
One of my favorite hobbies is working-out and continuing to learn about how to take care of our bodies holistically. I have been in the health and fitness world for 5 years now growing and learning daily on how to resolve the root of health issues and regulate our nervous system. I am a part-time fitness instructor at a local gym which allows me to participate in both my passions of helping others reach their full potential in their health and wellness goals as well as helping pediatric clients reach their full potential working towards their goals during our sessions!
Favorite Birmingham restaurant?
My favorite Birmingham restaurant is Real & Rosemary. It was my first restaurant I ever tried coming to Birmingham as an incoming freshman in college and it has continued to be a favorite for me throughout the years.
Where did you go to school?
I attended Samford University for undergraduate school and had an incredible 4 years with an amazing community and incredible opportunities and experiences that grew and molded me into who I am today. After graduating, I quickly transitioned into graduate school at UAB where I was there for 2.5 years being a part of their second doctoral cohort for occupational therapy.
What made you want to be an OT?
My youngest brother, Zach, received occupational therapy services as a child. I was always intrigued on his OT journey and had the unique perspective of a sibling getting to witness his growth and progress through carry over at home. I then got the opportunity to volunteer with children with intellectual disabilities in high school and learned more about occupational therapists in various settings. The more exposure and experience I got with occupational therapy, the more I grew confident knowing this is the career I wanted to pursue to serve and help others.
What's your favorite aspect of being an OT?
My favorite aspect of being an OT is seeing progress in small victories and watching the way it empowers the child and their families. I also enjoy getting to be creative, turning therapy into playful, meaningful moments.
What are your favorite resources for learning more about occupational therapy?
My go-to resources for learning more about occupational therapy are American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the OT toolbox, and Spirited OT. These are a variety of resources on different systematic levels that I enjoy continuing to learn from.
What's the one thing you wish parents knew about occupational therapy?
Something I wish that parents knew about occupational therapy is how wide our scope of practice is. While we work with ADLs, fine and gross motor skills, and sensory regulation, we also work with emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, coping mechanisms, etc. to provide a holistic approach to therapy physically, mentally and emotionally.
You can reach Jody at jody.parker@steelcityspeech.com