EPISODE 25: LIFE AND WORK AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WITH MARINA DIAs
Six photographs, framed by bright pink border and title across the bottom: “Episode 24: Life And Work as an Occupational Therapist with Marina Diaz.”
Two out of the six images are in black and white while the others are in colour. All the images show our guest Marina Diaz doing various poses on an aerial hoop. She has dark hair, heavy bangs and is wearing a black dress with lacey long sleeves and black tights. In the main larger image she is holding a pair of ballet shoes and looking below her with her arms extended pointing to the floor.
On this weeks episode, Rina and Lauren chatted with South African native Marina Dias on her life as a SEND parent and her work as an Occupational Therapist. The trio discuss the initial difficulties when you’re first thrust into the parent/carer space, Marina’s difficult experience bringing her son Tommy into the world and how her work as an OT has played a role in how she helps not only the children she sees, but their families too.
It’s a joyous and very frank conversation about the difficulties of being a parent, the impact this has on our mental health and how often you face judgement and the expectation to be ‘better’— just because you have experience with SEND.
Content Warnings:
Fertility
Strong language
Diagnosis
Difficult labour and premature birth
Mental health struggles and depression
Guest Biography:
Marina Dias is South African and works as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist in schools and independent practices across the UK. She is mum to Tommy who was born prematurely at 24 weeks and spent 97 days in hospital before being discharged. In 2020 he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and is currently thriving at school. Marina says her greatest gift is her family who fill her with the upmost happiness and joy. Away from work and motherhood, Marina enjoys baking, painting and aerial hooping.
