Speak Up! Jill Martin on mental health, advocacy and changing the conversation

About this episode

Jill Martin discusses her journey in occupational therapy, mental health advocacy, and the establishment of her private practice.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jill Martin , a UK-based occupational therapist with a career spanning over three decades in mental health. From her early days in NHS psychiatry to delivering a powerful TEDx talk on the hidden magic of OT , Jill has been a passionate advocate for the profession and its unique role in supporting recovery. After experiencing burnout within the NHS, Jill retrained in coaching and psychology but soon returned to her OT roots, realising the depth, regulation, and holistic impact of occupational therapy was what people really needed. In 2020, alongside her business partner Nikki Green, she co-founded Purpose People, a thriving independent practice now home to a 30-strong team of OTs and OT assistants, supporting adults with mental health needs across London. In this conversation, Jill shares her journey of stepping outside the traditional boundaries of OT, the challenges and rewards of building a private practice, and the importance of standing tall as occupational therapists in a world that often overlooks our value. Her passion for community, creativity, and clinical integrity shines through, offering both inspiration and practical insights for OTs…

People in this episode

Guest: Jill Martin

Topics covered

• mental health
• occupational therapy
• advocacy
• private practice
• burnout
• coaching
• community

Keywords

• occupational therapy
• mental health
• advocacy
• private practice
• burnout
• coaching
• TEDx talk

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NHS, Purpose People

Books & works: TEDx talk, The hidden magic of OT

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