At Hope Academy, we are committed to the evolving needs of our students. Several years ago, we began incorporating occupational therapy into our work, and last year, we were able to bring on Occupational Therapist Johnna Belkiewitz, OTD, MAT, OTR—thanks to a generous grant from Mental Health America of Indiana.
Occupational therapy (OT) provides our students the essential support to students in recovery by helping them develop life skills, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. These skills and abilities empower them to be the best students they can be and also to prioritize their recovery. And Belkiewitz helped to reflect on the progress our students have made this last year with occupational support.
Understanding the Connection: Substance Use and Body Awareness
Many students enter Hope Academy with a disconnect between their mind, body, and emotions, according to Belkiewitz. This lack of awareness can lead to difficulty with classroom regulation, emotional coping, and impulse control. With this in mind, the occupational work with the students emphasized interoception, which is the ability to understand internal body states and is foundational to emotional regulation.
“Interoception can be a difficult skill to build because it requires vulnerability and self-reflection,” Belkiewitz said. “So I am very proud of the thoughtfulness and introspection that I have witnessed blossom within students this spring.”
She shared how one student recently reflected that weekly experiments in interoception have helped her feel more comfortable experiencing negative emotions instead of immediately seeking escape.This has been a breakthrough moment in her recovery, reinforcing the importance of feeling and processing emotions. Hope Academy students are developing emotional resilience, self-reflection, and healthy coping strategies through OT.
Extending Support to Staff and Classroom Learning
Not only has Belkiewitz worked with students, but she also has provided training to recovery and academic staff. Through monthly workshops the professional groups have covered sensory processing, emotional regulation, trauma, and identity.
In one of these workshops, one teacher shared a powerful realization about how deeply substance use impacts adolescent identity formation. It was a deeper understanding of how substance use isn’t just about the physical effects—it’s about connection, motivation, and coping.
With a strong foundation of student and staff engagement, Hope Academy is expanding OT services to focus on executive functioning skills for academic and developmental success. The goal is to continue integrating OT into both recovery and education, creating long-term tools for student success.
Strengthening Recovery Through Holistic Support
The impact of incorporating OT into both recovery and academics, our students are building the self-awareness, emotional regulation, and coping strategies they need to thrive. Through hands-on support and collaboration with staff, Belkiewitz has helped shape a learning environment where students feel empowered to navigate challenges and embrace personal growth.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to providing comprehensive, student-centered support that addresses the whole person—mind and body. With continued investment in innovative recovery services like OT, we can help more students develop the skills they need to succeed in school, in recovery, and in life.
Learn more about how you can help Hope Academy continue to transform education and recovery for teens: https://www.hopeacademyrhs.org/donate/