Q: Is Soetkin an Occupational Therapist / OT?

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A: Soetkin has attained a University Degree of "Bachelor of Applied Sciences - Occupational Therapy" at the PHL - in Belgium in the year 2000. She also attained a specialisation Post-Graduate Degree in "Methodical Treatment Concepts for Learning and Developmental Disorders" at the PHL in Belgium in the year 2007. 

Throughout her professional career as a qualified and registered Occupational Therapist, Soetkin has accumulated almost 25 years of working experience. This includes continued professional development (with an average of 30 hours of accredited OT-related training per year, in the past 12 years) & mentoring/training experience in the field of Occupational Therapy. Soetkin specialised in working in the areas of Mental Health and Paediatrics, has worked – across 2 countries –  with people of all ages and abilities. She was a registered OT in both Australia (with an additional endorsement as a Mental Health OT with OTA, Medicare and AHPRA up until November 2022) and is a registered OT in Belgium (currently still in place). 

At present - Soetkin continues to engage in OT-specific professional development opportunities with an almost 30 hours of professional training completed in the past calendar year only.

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All that professional experience and those lifelong skills are now embedded in her professional endeavours as a "Connection & Rewilding Coach", since she consciously chose to move towards a more holistic approach to Health & Wellness and she opted to no longer sustain her registration with AHPRA.

In Australia, AHPRA reserves the right for professionals to be able to use their professional title - which they - as individual professionals - earned through their studies and their professional experience.

​Soetkin consciously decided after long and careful consideration, that from 01/12/2022, she no longer wished to be registered and associated with AHPRA in Australia.

Seeing that Soetkin is no longer registered with AHPRA, she can no longer claim or use the title "Occupational Therapist" in her professional endeavours.

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This means that Soetkin now no longer is allowed to use the protected (by AHPRA) title of OT/Occupational Therapist in Australia.

In Belgium, Soetkin remains registered as an OT/Occupational Therapist and able to work as an OT.

 

From 01/12/2022 onwards, Soetkin no longer has referred to herself, nor will she refer to herself in a current professional capacity as an "Occupational Therapist".

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From 01/12/2022 onwards, Soetkin's professional title - for general use - is and has been "Connection and Rewilding Coach" and she will be and has been using ONLY this title for ALL the current services she offers to clients.​

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You can find an overview of the services she currently offers here.

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Q: Which Professional Membership Organisations is Soetkin currently registered with?

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A: Soetkin is a current member of the following professional membership associations:

 

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HCANZA (Health Coaches Australia & New Zealand Association)

www.hcanza.org - membership number 2023382

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IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists)

www.iict.com - membership number AU6844099855

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AABAT (Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy Inc)

www.aabat.org.au

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OHA (Outdoor Health Australia)

www.outdoorhealth.org.au

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GMA (Global Health Alliance – Relationship Matters)

www.relationshipmatters.thinkific.com

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Soetkin is currently exploring an additional registration option under "Horticultural Therapy" as she is using her young growth Food Forest as a therapeutic partner in her interventions with her clients, while also studying a double certificate degree as a Permaculture Designer and Educator.

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Is Soetkin a "Wellness Coach" and/or a "Life Coach"?

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A: Soetkin has recently completed an additional Certificate Degree in "Health and Wellness Coaching for Allied Health Professionals" through the accredited training provider "Wellness Coaching Australia".

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This degree allows Soetkin to be registered for professional purposes as a certified "Health and Wellness Coach". alongside her recognition and experience as a trained and experienced Allied Health Professional. 

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This means that NO, Soetkin is NOT a Wellness Coach and she NOT a LIFE COACH and she has never used those professional titles nor is she intending to use them in the future.

 

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Q: Does Soetkin offer "Wilderness Therapy"?

 

A: Soetkin's is a "Connection and Rewilding Coach".

 

Soetkin offers her clients from all ages a range of pragmatic approaches towards optimizing their health and wellness, which are embedded in "Connective" and "Rewilding" principles.

At times, Soetkin uses various elements of Nature as a Therapeutic Partner and/or as Therapeutic Tools in the application of her pragmatic approaches where needed, recommended or deemed beneficial.

These "Connective" and "Rewilding" principles and pragmatic approaches are completely different from what is generally referred to as "Wilderness Therapy".

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In summary: NO Soetkin does NOT offer "Wilderness Therapy" and she does not use this terminology to refer to the work that she does with her clients.

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For the purpose of being completely open and transparent I have written extensively about the purpose and content of my current professional title, the deeper meaning behind concepts such as "Connection" and "Rewilding" and my range of offerings here. 

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Soetkin DOES hold a current and valid "WILDERNESS FIRST AID CERTIFICATE", which enables her to provide First Aid in what can be classified as "Wild Natural Environments", which at times Soetkin and her clients can find themselves in, when doing their sessions together.

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Q: Does Soetkin offer "Gaming Therapy"?

 

A: Soetkin uses a wide range of pragmatic and "evidence-based" approaches in her daily practice with clients. She generally DOES NOT USE technology in her sessions and prefers to use "people skills" and "hands-on-learning activities".

"Gaming Therapy" is often referred to when thinking of working around specific goals while doing online games. Soetkin does not play online games with her clients.

At times, Soetkin offers opportunities to engage in doing board games and other hands-on games during her sessions for clients of all ages.

The resources and/or approaches that Soetkin uses in her sessions are not referred to as "Gaming" and the interventions Soetkin offers are also not referred to as "Gaming Therapy".

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In summary: NO Soetkin does NOT offer "Gaming Therapy" and she does not use this terminology to refer to the work that she does with her clients.

 

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Q:​ Can Soetkin work with clients with a NDIS plan?

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A: As described above and further on this website, Soetkin is a trained, skilled and experienced professional with almost 25 years of experience in the field, Soetkin continues to carry her prior knowledge, skills and ability for application of evidence-based approaches with her in her current work as a "Connection and Rewilding Coach".

Soetkin can be considered an "Other Professional" (refer to NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2024-25 version 1.3 (published 01/10/2024) page 55 of p97.

Furthermore - this is the description of "Other Professional as per the most recent NDIS guidelines referenced above:

"Other Professional - A person who is not one of the types of professionals listed above but who the provider considers to be an appropriate professional to deliver Disability-Related Health Supports in line with the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Commission's requirements for the Therapeutic Supports Registration Group."

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​​Soetkin is NOT a registered NDIS provider and therefore CANNOT work with clients who are NDIA managed.

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Soetkin CAN work with clients with a NDIS plan who are Self-Managed or Plan-managed, if the individual clients' NDIS plan allows for Soetkin to work with them under a suitable funding category.

If the client chooses to engage with Soetkin as a "an appropriate professional to deliver Disability-Related Supports for them, in the form of therapy, training or assessments", NDIS funds can be used to pay for Soetkin's services.

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Generally, Soetkin can invoice (for NDIS purposes) for her offerings under the item number 01_740_0118_1_3 for clients under the age of 7 and the item number 01_741_0128_1_3 for clients over the age of 7, These item numbers both fall under the category "Core - Assistance with daily life" and will be invoiced at the recommended most current NDIS rate for those specific categories. Refer to NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2024-25 version 1.3 (published 01/10/2024) page 56 of p97.

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Q: Can Soetkin still offer Medicare Rebates for clients?

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A: Seeing that Soetkin is no longer registered with AHPRA and therefore is no longer considered to be a "Registered Health Professional", she is no longer able to offer Medicare Rebates for clients.

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Q: Some people continue to refer to Soetkin as an OT / Occupational Therapist - how about that?

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A: Referring to this information which outlines reasoning of the journey behind the change in Soetkin's professional title and registration status, and referring to this information which explains how Soetkin offers Occupational Interventions, some people choose (!) to still refer to Soetkin as an OT / Occupational Therapist. This is likely linked to the fact that this is the title she earned via her Uni degree and this is the area of her almost 25 years of professional work and study experience. Soetkin however consciously only uses the title of "Connection & Rewilding Coach" when working with clients since 1st of December 2022. This is also the professional title that she uses on this website in reference to the work that she does, the title she uses on her professional social media outlets and in all official documents relating to her client relationships and service agreements.

If people or service providers continue to refer to Soetkin as an Occupational Therapist, Soetkin has in no way shape or form control over the terminology that third parties use in relation to how they refer to her as a professional and has taken all measures possible to explain to them what her current professional title and content of her work is.

Soetkin hereby waives and releases all liability that may come as a result of third parties continuing to use the AHPRA protected title of "Occupational Therapist" in reference to her as a professional and to the work that she does.

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