The Distinct Value of Occupational Therapy
Joe Harbor
“As an inclusive profession, Occupational therapy maximizes health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living.” AOTA vision 2025
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a rapidly growing field of client-centered therapy which focuses on improving the quality of life and health of individuals by helping them return to the meaningful activities that gives them a sense of identity.
What do Occupational Therapists do?
Occupational Therapist work with clients to find the problem, understand why it is important for the client, and, then, create a plan to improve occupational performance in order to return the client to the activities they enjoy.
Who do Occupational Therapist work with?
The simplest answer is everyone! Occupational Therapist work with people whose ages range from a newly born baby to the elderly.
What settings do Occupational Therapist work in?
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Schools
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individual homes
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nursing home
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acute care
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Hospitals
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Outpatient rehab clinics
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Burn units
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and even more unique settings
What does it take to be an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational Therapists all have a few of the same characteristics:
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They take a holistic look at health;
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They possess altruism, or the unselfish concern for others;
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They believe in humanism, or that clients should be treated as a person and not a disorder.
What type of conditions do Occupational therapist work with?
Occupation Therapists' scope of practice is vast. A few of those are:
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Individuals with down syndrome
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Children with autism
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Adults who have had stroke
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Adults who suffer from dementia
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And many more!
What settings do Occupational Therapist work in?
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Schools
-
Individual Homes
-
Nursing Home
-
Acute Care
-
Hospitals
-
Outpatient Rehab Clinics
-
Burn Units
-
And Even More Unique Settings!
References:
(n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://www.aota.org/AboutAOTA/vision-2025.aspx
Lancaster, S. (2020). OT425: Foundations of Occupational-Centered Practice, session 4 lecture [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.uthsc.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp? course_id=_14521_1&content_id=_752189_1
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Lancaster, S. (2020). OT425: Foundations of Occupational-Centered Practice, session 2 lecture [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from https://blackboard.uthsc.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp? course_id=_14521_1&content_id=_752189_1
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