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What is Occupational Therapy

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Published: Dec 12, 2018

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What is occupational therapy, occupational therapy activities for children, works cited, role of occupational therapist.

self-esteem
self-confidence
independence
social interaction.
Fine Motor Skills Development of small muscles needed for fingers to pick up small items. For example, picking up colourful beads from bowl using fingers.
Visual Motor Integration Hand eye coordination, such as picking up small pieces of food from the plate and getting it to the mouth.
Gross Motor CoordinationWalking, standing, running, jumping
Cognition and perception Thinking and problem solving. For example, trying to figure out how to get a book off a shelf
Sensory Processing Integration of information coming in from the different senses, such as adjusting your walk from the boardwalk to the sand and into the water on a summer day at the beach)
Environmental modifications/adaptive equipment Changing the environment so a child can “do” the “work” such as sliding a special pencil grip onto the pencil so it can be held securely for writing.

For Toddlers and Infants:

Sensory integration activities, coordination activities, visual perception activities, activities for fine and gross motor skills, research behind intervention, focus of research.

Is Handwriting interventions effective to improve the legibility of school aged children?
Are Cognitive and Performance based measures used effective for the prevention and wellness among older adults in fall prevention?
How cognitive interventions to promote neuroplasticity and improve verbal memory and attention
Research on school based interventions for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in inclusive classrooms
Are school based yoga programs on adaptive behaviour in children and adolescents with disabilities efficient
Exploration of strength based practices to improve outcomes for children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum DisorderReliability and validity of assessment tools used by occupational therapists
Validity of computerized visual perceptual motor measures for school aged children
Outcome measure for children’s occupational repertoire development

Who conducted the Research?

Yu-Lun Chen is a PhD student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at NYU. She has clinical experience which includes home-based intervention for children and families with neurological and developmental disorders. Yu-Lun’s research focuses on participation of children and adolescents withdisabilities in schools, home activities and in their communities. Her main objectives are to identify the determinants of participation outcomes and to improve current services and interventions.
Ellen Modlin is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at NYU. She has worked in the NYC public schools, Early Intervention, and the Nassau County school district. She is currently serving on the school district’s assistive tech committee for the development of screenings and interventions with technology to support students in the classroom. Ellen’s focus of interest is using assistive tech to assist students with visual-perceptual deficits.
Researches that was involved in the research are experienced (Based on their work experience in the field)
Research does not only focus on young children but it also focuses on adolescents and adults (not age biased as it has a wide age range)
Research was conducted in various settings such as classrooms, homes and communities
It focuses how Occupational Therapist can serve better to help people with disorders Areas of improvement:
Duration of the research – It should be done over a longer period of time
Although it focuses on how to improve Occupational Therapist, it would be better if they focus more on how the OTs can help the people with disorders function better in their everyday lives
Getting parents, guardians or family members of people with disorders to be part of this research Future Directions for Occupational TherapyIt is important for everyone (parents, teachers, therapist, healthcare personnel etc) to begin focusing on the long-term health and education needs for people of all ages and how Occupational Therapy can benefit people with disabilities achieve these needs. On a greater scale, more and more people are accepting the view that disability results from the daily interaction between the individual and his environment, rather than coming from within the person himself. This perspective stresses how the ability to carry out activities and participate in life situations is an essential component of a person’s daily living. Participation is described as involvement in a person’s daily life and represents the highest level in the hierarchy of functioning. Participation is the ultimate long-term objective of occupational therapy and more focus should be placed on it. More research should be conducted on how to help people with these disabilities to integrate themselves into society. The individualized treatment approach implemented by occupational therapists enables people with disabilities to meet the demands of their occupations, promotes well-being, prevents disability and helps people of all ages maintain optimum health.
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (3rd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Suppl. 1), S1-S48.
Chen, Y. L. (2019). Participation outcomes of children and adolescents with disabilities in schools, home activities, and community: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(3), 1-10.
Chen, Y. L., & Modlin, E. (2020). Assistive technology interventions for students with visual-perceptual deficits: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4), 1-10.
College of Occupational Therapists. (2017). Sensory integration therapy and sensory processing disorder. Retrieved from https://www.rcot.co.uk/children-and-young-people/sensory-integration-therapy-and-sensory-processing-disorder
Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Occupational therapy in early intervention. Retrieved from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/occupational-therapy-in-early-intervention
New York University Steinhardt Department of Occupational Therapy. (n.d.). Research.
Occupational Therapy Australia. (2015). Occupational therapy and sensory processing.
Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa. (2020). Occupational therapy in schools. Retrieved from https://www.otasa.org.za/page/occupationaltherapyinschools
World Federation of Occupational Therapists. (2018). Occupational therapy in school settings. Retrieved from https://www.wfot.org/resources/occupational-therapy-in-school-settings
World Health Organization. (2021). Rehabilitation in health systems.

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Introduction

Modern occupational therapy

Examples of applied occupational therapy
Education of occupational therapists

When did science begin?
Where was science invented?

occupational therapy

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occupational therapy , use of self-care and work and play activities to promote and maintain health, prevent disability , increase independent function, and enhance development. Occupation includes all the activities or tasks that a person performs each day. For example, getting dressed, playing a sport, taking a class, cooking a meal, getting together with friends, and working at a job are considered occupations. Participation in occupations serves many purposes, from taking care of oneself and interacting with others to earning a living, developing skills, and contributing to society.

An occupational therapist works with persons who are unable to carry out the various activities that they want, need, or are expected to perform. Therapists are skilled in analyzing daily activities and tasks, and they work to construct therapy programs that enable persons to participate more satisfactorily in daily occupations. Occupational therapy intervention and the organization of specific therapy programs are coordinated with the work of other professional and health care personnel.

The discipline of occupational therapy evolved from the recognition many years ago that participation in work and other restorative activities improved the health of persons affected by mental or physical illness. In fact, patients have long been employed in the utility services of psychiatric hospitals. In the 19th century the moral treatment approach proposed the use of daily activities to improve the lives of people who were institutionalized for mental illness. By the early 20th century, experiments were being made in the use of arts and craft activities to occupy persons with serious mental disorders . This practice gave rise to the first occupational therapy workshops and later to schools for the training of occupational therapists.

The goal of early occupational therapy was to improve health through structured activities. World War I emphasized the need for occupational therapy, since the physical rehabilitation of veterans provided them an opportunity to return to productive work. In 1917, coincident with the increase in demand to aid veterans in the United States , the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy (later the American Occupational Therapy Association) was founded. Subsequent advancements in occupational therapy included the development of techniques used to analyze activities and the prescription of specific crafts and occupations for patients, particularly for young people and for patients within hospitals. In 1952 the World Federation of Occupational Therapists was formed, and in 1954 the first international congress of occupational therapists was held at Edinburgh.

In the latter part of the 20th century and early part of the 21st century, the development and refinement of theoretical models to guide occupational therapy assessment and intervention further advanced the practice of occupational therapy. These theories focus on the complex relationships between the motivations and skills of patients, the occupations that bring meaning to their lives, and the environments in which they live. Occupational science was developed to support the study of occupation and its complexity in everyday life. As a result, research in occupational therapy has grown substantially and has played an important role in providing scientific evidence to support many occupational therapy interventions.

Occupational therapists work with individuals of all ages and with various organizations, including companies and governments. The practice of occupational therapy focuses on maintenance of health, prevention of disability, and improvement of participation in occupations after illness, accident, or disability. Thus, therapists typically work with persons who have physical challenges in occupations because of illness, injury, or disability. They also work with persons who are at risk for decreased participation in their occupations. For example, programs for older adults that adapt their living environments to minimize the risk for a fall help them to continue to live in the community .

Establishing therapist-patient partnerships is an important part of a successful therapy program. Initial assessments enable patients to identify the occupations that are most meaningful to them but that they have difficulty performing. This helps therapists tailor programs to each patient’s needs and goals. Modern occupational therapy also focuses on the analysis, adaptation , and use of daily occupations to enable persons to live fully within their community. Each person’s day is filled with a variety of different activities and tasks, such as getting dressed, taking a bus, making a phone call, writing a report, loading equipment at work, or playing a game. Occupational therapists are trained to analyze these activities and tasks to determine what skills and abilities are required to complete them. If a person has difficulty engaging fully in day-to-day occupations, a therapist works with that person to assess why he or she cannot perform the specific activities and tasks that make up an occupation. Factors within the activity, the person, and the environment are examined to determine reasons for difficulties in performance. The occupational therapist and the person then develop a plan to improve performance through active participation in the occupation. Therapy may focus on improving a person’s skills through participation in the activity, adapting the activity to make it easier, or changing the environment to improve performance.

Occupational Therapy

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Carolyn Baum 3 ,
Leeann Carey 4 &
Helene J. Polatajko Ph.D. 5

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Activities of daily living (ADL) ; Ergotherapy ; Health science ; Life skills ; Occupation ; Occupational science ; Participation ; Rehabilitation ; Therapy

World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) defines occupational therapy as a “client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement” (World Federation of Occupational Therapists [WFOT], 2010 , para. 1)

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Occupational therapy, founded in 1917, has become a well-established profession within the areas of health and rehabilitation with over 60 member countries in the WFOT....

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References and Readings

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2005). Occupational therapy code of ethics. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 59 , 639–642.

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Carey, L. M., & Baum, C. (2011). Occupational therapy. In N. P. Azari (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of sciences and religions . Heidelberg: Springer.

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Christiansen, C. (1999). Defining lives: Occupation as identity: An essay on competence, coherence, and the creation of meaning. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53 , 547–558.

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Christiansen, C., Baum, C. M., & Bass-Haugen, J. (2005). Occupational therapy: Performance, participation, and well-being (3rd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK.

Clark, F., Azen, S. P., Zemke, R., Jackson, J., Carlson, M., Mandel, D., et al. (1997). Occupational therapy for independent-living older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 278 , 1321–1326.

Eriksson, G., Kottorp, A., Borg, J., & Tham, K. (2009). Relationship between occupational gaps in everyday life, depressive mood and life satisfaction after acquired brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 41 , 187–194.

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Hasselkus, B. (2002). The meaning of everyday occupation . Thorofare, NJ: SLACK.

Herzog, A. R., Franks, M. M., Markus, H. R., & Holmberg, D. (1998). Activities and well-being in older age: Effects of self-concept and educational attainment. Psychology and Aging, 13 , 179–185.

Horgas, A. L., Wilms, H., & Baltes, M. M. (1998). Daily life in very old age: Everyday activities as expression of successful living. The Gerontologist, 38 , 556–568.

Hultsch, D. E., Hertzog, C., Small, B. J., & Dixon, R. A. (1999). Use it or lose it: Engaged lifestyle as a buffer of cognitive decline in old age? Psychology and Ageing, 14 , 245–263.

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Kielhofner, G. (2004). Conceptual foundations of occupational therapy (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis. Authoritative texts on occupational therapy.

Law, M. C., Baum, C. M., & Dunn, W. (2005). Measuring occupational performance: Supporting best practice in occupational therapy (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: SLACK.

Söderback, I. (Ed.). (2009). International handbook of occupational therapy interventions (1st ed., Vol. 1). New York: Springer.

Townsend, E., & Polatajko, H. (2007). Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being, & justice through occupation . Ottawa, Canada: CAOT Publications ACE. Authoritative texts on occupational therapy.

World Federation of Occupational Therapists. (2010). What is occupational therapy? Retrieved from http://www.wfot.org/information.asp (accessed May 5, 2011).

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School of Medicine in St Louis, Washington University, 4444 Forest Park, Box 2508, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA

Dr. Carolyn Baum ( Elias Michael Director of the Program in Occupational Therapy Professor of Occupational )

Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia

Dr. Leeann Carey ( Head, Neurorehabilitation and Recovery and ARC Future Fellow Florey Neuroscience )

Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 160-500 Universtiy Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada

Helene J. Polatajko Ph.D.

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Marc D. Gellman

Cardiovascular Safety, Quintiles, Durham, NC, USA

J. Rick Turner

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Baum, C., Carey, L., Polatajko, H.J. (2013). Occupational Therapy. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_905

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In brief: what is occupational therapy.

Created: August 27, 2020 ; Next update: 2024.

The aim of occupational therapy is to help people to live their lives more independently. Occupational therapists can help, for instance, if you have limited use of your hand or arm due to a medical condition. They may recommend various exercises or activities, offer you advice, or suggest changing certain things in your everyday life. Occupational therapy can be useful for people of any age.

When is occupational therapy considered?

Occupational therapy may be used for the following diseases or disabilities:

Medical conditions affecting the brain (such as dementia , stroke , parkinson’s disease , traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis)
Paralysis (following a spine injury, for example)
Mental illness (such as depression , an anxiety disorder or schizophrenia)
Muscle, joint or skeletal problems (such as rheumatoid arthritis , osteoarthritis or a broken bone)
Amputations, prostheses
Developmental disorders – for instance, related to motor (movement) disorders, autism or mental and physical disabilities
What does occupational therapy involve?

The goal of occupational therapy is to improve the skills that are needed to live life as independently as possible. This includes being able to take care of yourself and to work, for example – as well as being able to leave your home and meet other people.

Occupational therapy can help you to cope with a (new) mental or physical limitation and manage better in everyday life. This can improve your quality of life and health. Family members can also get useful tips and advice from an occupational therapist.

Depending on the type of limitation and your personal circumstances, occupational therapy may include the following:

Re-training of everyday skills (getting dressed, preparing food, managing the household)
Learning and practicing skills for school, work or free time
Movement and perception exercises
Concentration and memory exercises
Manual and creative exercises
Help in structuring your daily routine
Modification of your home or workplace
Using medical aids such as a walker or prosthesis
Advice and, if needed, guidance for family members

The treatment goals are planned together with the therapist as much as possible, and the progress is also monitored together. For occupational therapy to succeed, you need to actively participate and use the techniques that you have learned in everyday situations as often as possible. Here are two examples of what occupational therapy might involve:

Carl was paralyzed on one side after a stroke and it was difficult for him to speak. He has already made major progress with physical therapy and speech therapy – but he can’t use his right arm like he could before and he is very unsteady on his feet. So he needs to use a walker.

His occupational therapist shows him how to use the walker and helps him to practice moving around with it. To help him grasp things better with his right hand and manage better in everyday life, she helps him to practice things like brushing his teeth and writing. He also learns various arm and hand exercises. His occupational therapist helps him and his wife to make changes to their apartment so that he can safely move around in it with his walker.

Mary has schizophrenia. This affects her motivation and she has a lot of trouble focusing on things. It’s difficult for her to organize and manage her daily routine. She quickly feels overwhelmed and is very insecure when dealing with other people.

With the support of her occupational therapist, she does concentration exercises. Manual and creative exercises help her to practice planning the different steps of a task and carrying out simple activities. She learns to set realistic goals for each day – like doing the shopping and cooking, for instance.

Where is occupational therapy done?

Occupational therapy is offered in:

Rehabilitative care centers
Occupational therapy practices
Outpatient clinics
Nursing homes
Early intervention centers
Occupational therapy practices also offer home visits.
How can you apply for occupational therapy?

Note: The procedures and requirements for applying for and receiving occupational therapy may vary between countries. This information describes the current situation in Germany.

Occupational therapy is often part of a treatment plan at a hospital. It is then done in the hospital. To have outpatient treatment at an occupational therapy practice or in a home setting, you need a prescription from a doctor. You will need to pay a basic fee of 10 euros per prescription plus 10% of the treatment costs. If one treatment session costs 35 euros, for example, for ten sessions you would have to pay 45 euros (the basic fee of 10 euros plus 10 x 3.50 euros). These costs do not have to be paid for children.

For the medical conditions listed above, prescribed occupational therapy is often covered by statutory health insurers (apart from the above-mentioned costs you have to pay yourself). In rehabilitative care, an accident insurer or pension fund will cover the costs.

But occupational therapists may suggest treatments that you would have to pay for completely yourself. In Germany, these are known as individual health care services (individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen, or IGeL for short).

An initial prescription will typically include 10 sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes each. Appointments are usually offered one to three times per week.

The German Association of Occupational Therapists (DVE) offers a search function on their website (in German) to look for occupational therapists in your area.

Claudiana - Landesfachhochschule für Gesundheitsberufe. Ergotherapie - Was bietet sie heute und in Zukunft? 2019.
Deutscher Verband der Ergotherapeuten (DVE). Indikationskatalog Ergotherapie .
Deutscher Verband der Ergotherapeuten (DVE). DVE-Info .
Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA). Richtlinie über die Verordnung von Heilmitteln in der vertragsärztlichen Versorgung (Hilfsmittel-Richtlinie) . 12.09.2019.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

Cite this Page InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. In brief: What is occupational therapy? 2020 Aug 27.

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Occupational Therapy Essay

OT Definitions & Distinct Value Everybody everywhere always has a different definition of occupational therapy. I decided to use the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for a formal definition of occupational therapy . AOTA says, “The practice of occupational therapy means the therapeutic use of everyday life occupations with persons, groups, or populations (clients) to support occupational performance and participation” and NBCOT says occupational therapy is “helping people participate in the meaningful activities they need and want to do after an injury, disability, or other health condition. It uses a holistic approach to look not only at why a client’s participation …show more content…

Interviewee 1 (personal communication, February 1st, 2023) stated that they thought occupational therapy was “teaching people how to reuse extremities on their body after getting hurt.” Interviewee two (personal communication, February 1st, 2023) stated something very similar which was “when you help people relearn to walk, shower, and eat after an accident.” After asking both what they thought occupational therapy was I gave them my definition of occupational therapy which is “increasing one’s independence and health through participating in occupations that are meaningful and purposeful to them.” They were both very surprised that occupational therapy is nothing like physical therapy and that it had a completely different meaning. I also had to explain the difference between occupations and activities to them and how occupations are activities that are meaningful to that one specific person. I also explained how doing these occupations promotes health and wellness in one and that we need all different kinds of occupations to feel fulfilled and have a balanced life. Overall, both interviewees’ definitions of occupational therapy were very similar and almost identical and did not differ much from each other making it hard to contrast …show more content…

Holistic healing focuses on healing the mind, body, and spirit as one rather than what physical therapists do. Physical therapists focus on the injured part of someone’s body and only want to heal that. The therapeutic use of self is using one’s own emotions and empathy to connect with clients and help them, rather than just giving them exercises and telling them to do something. Occupational therapists deeply care about their client's overall well-being and health. Occupational therapists want to find what is meaningful to a client and use that to help them have more participation and happiness in life, rather than just fixing an injury they have. Occupational therapists have nine occupations that clients do in their everyday lives that give them a sense of meaning, purpose, and organized daily living. These nine occupations are work, social participation, ADLs, IADLs, sleep + rest, leisure, health management, play, and education. By doing these nine occupations, focusing on a holistic approach, and the occupational therapist using their therapeutic use of self these clients are often overall healthier, happier, and have a sense of meaning in their life instead of just getting an injury

Eleanor Clarke Slagle's Case Study: Who Rise Above Adversity?

She demonstrated the first large-scale occupational therapy program and also founded an annual training institute for state therapists that became a model program throughout the country. Webster’s dictionary defines occupational therapy as a form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required in daily life. This paper is intended to demonstrate the interaction among a person’s inner

Comparison Of Occupational Therapy In America Compared To Sweden

Cultural norms and healthcare regulations may have some impact on how some interventions are executed but, ultimately, all Occupational Therapists have the same goal, and that is to provide client centered, purposeful, and meaningful interventions that will ultimately improve the quality of life those that we serve. Establishment of The field The Theories used in the fieild that we now know as Occupational

Occupational Therapist Letters

Occupational therapy is an arcane profession to the general populous. Occupational therapists help all individuals live life to their fullest by maximizing one’s level of independence through engaging

Occupational Therapy In Australia Essay

According to Aas & Bonsaksen (2022), while occupational therapists are built on valuing and focusing on the occupation-based practice approach, they seem to spend less time on it and more time on impairment-based practices due to several barriers to the occupation-based approach. Occupational therapists' roles are to encourage and promote health and well-being through occupation-based practices for everyday occupations that are meaningful to the client and to provide the occupational therapist with an understanding and perspectives that will help contribute to the participation of the persons, the groups, and the populations for occupational engagement (Boop et al., 2022). According to Aas & Bonsaksen (2022), this study was cross-sectional on occupational therapists. The participants were occupational therapists, and the questionnaire was based on what was meant by occupations and occupation based through open-based questions. The study found that occupational therapists self-reported high levels of occupation-based practice daily.

Why I Want To Be An Occupational Therapist

What I admire most in the field of Occupational Therapy is that I get to make a profound difference in people 's lives. It is one of few careers where individuals get an opportunity to assist patients interpersonally, and help them achieve their goals with activities of daily living. What brings me a feeling of accomplishment and inner enlightenment is the opportunity to give people the chance to grow or start over. This train of thought arose when my grandfather had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, perhaps one of the most lethal carcinomas in existence. This period of time was rather challenging for myself, taking on the responsibility of assisting my virtually immobile grandfather.

Occupational Therapy Papers

Occupational therapy provides assistance for those who are in need of assistance with daily living and work skills. These specialists work with people of various demographics to handle normal life challenges in a safe and healthy manner. How does occupational therapy work? The therapist determines what is important to the patient, and the obstacles preventing the patient from enjoying these aspects of life.

Occupational Therapist Personal Statement

The goal of this profession is to provide service to those in need of it. Responsibilities I may be granted include demonstrating and proposing specific equipment to the patients, observing, evaluating, educating patients and their kin, elaborating on treatment plans, and aiding those with various disabilities. A typical day in this career will likely involve traveling to numerous homes and discovering ways to help people lie their lives more comfortably. Occupational therapists usually work on their feet and might work night and weekend

Occupational Therapy Paper

For example, the OT work with different organizations (transportation, etc..) not just sick or disabled but activities of daily living can benefit from occupational therapy it helps in numerous ways and it also involves the family for their input. The OT is being an advocate for the community.

Occupational Therapy Personal Statement Essay

and intrigued by the mind-body connection as well as the importance of human activity and occupation in maintaining mental and physical well-being. At the same time, my desire to work directly with people and be able to make a positive and lasting change to their lives by empowering them and helping discover their strengths and confidence in themselves to achieve their goals, led me to a realization that a career in occupational therapy would be a perfect fit for me. To me occupational therapy is a dynamic, rewarding, challenging, and inspiring field where I can fully realize my skills and knowledge. Having always been a firm believer in the patient-centric approach, I am passionate about providing excellent service to patients by improving their performance, preventing illness and disability and promoting adaptation to life

The Importance Of Faith In Occupational Therapy

Although we might not understand his reasoning, there is always a purpose. Occupational therapy focuses on treating the person in a holistic approach, which recognizes the physical, mental, and spiritual interests of a person. The profession of occupational therapy is one of several professions that use this approach. Spirituality is something that is not physically present but is within every patient despite his or her religious beliefs. The occupational therapy practice framework lists spirituality as one of the client factors of

Occupational Therapy Personal Statement

Prior to my junior year of high school, Occupational Therapy was foreign to me. I was on a field trip that year when I was first exposed to an Occupational Therapy session, and I was not sure what was taking place. However, I was certain that I was beyond intrigued and immediately wanted to learn more. After extensively searching for information and continuously exposing myself to opportunities of learning, I knew that pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy was my desire, and I would do whatever it took to be successful in fulfilling it.

Why I Want To Be An Occupational Therapist Essay

I have always had the intense desire to care and look after people from a very young age. I firmly believe that everyone deserves the best quality of life possible and this is what had drawn me to occupational therapy as a career path in the first place. It is so easy to take for granted all the everyday tasks we can do and we seldom consider the effect of not being able to complete them. As an occupational therapist I would be able to make a positive impact on someone’s life and make it possible for them to enjoy their life. I want the opportunity to provide support to people, help them gain independence and watch them grow more confident in their own ability.

Occupational Therapy Application Essay

As an occupational therapist I would like to help individuals who are differently abled gain quality of life and independence by improving upon both mental and physical challenges to function as a whole person, as this is what I understand the role of the occupational therapist from both personal and observational experience to be. I believe this is accomplished through providing encouragement and support, educating each client and their loved

Becoming an occupational therapist is my passion and my long-term career goal. Since a young age I have been incredibly inspired and motivated to befriend and help disabled individuals. Having grown up with a disabled mother who benefited from the services of occupational therapy I had the opportunity to see first hand how the experience gave can give individuals like her fulfilling and productive lives. With both parents working as healthcare professionals, including my mother who is now an occupational therapist herself, I see every day how rewarding the field is. Through my life I have had unique personal, professional and educational experiences that have shaped me into a strong candidate for an advanced education in occupational therapy.

Nelson's Model Of Occupation

Purposefulness is also from the view of the person performing the occupation and will be different for every individual. The goals that are set by the person are affected by the meaning that the person ascribes to the occupation and the developmental structure of the person. These things together effect the context that the occupational performance takes place in. Based on this model for occupational therapy we can assess how we carry out our occupations in the context we are in and the meaning that we place on this context (Nelson, 1988:

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The Occupational Therapy Perspective of Occupation, Health and Well-being

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This essay describes, explains and discusses the Occupational Therapy (OT) profession’s perspective of the relationship between occupation, health and well-being with reference to how the OT perspective has changed historically through changes in OT paradigms. It describes how occupation is organised (occupational performance areas), and the relevance of participation, balance, the environment, culture and occupational justice to health and well-being. It also, refers to how therapists working in the modern health and social care service use the OT framework based on the philosophy of the contemporary paradigm and conceptual models to provide explanations of the the dynamic relationship between the person, occupation and the environment to guide practice.

This essay begins by briefly introducing some key terms used in occupational therapy (OT) and then discusses how and why the relationship between occupation, health and well-being is so important from the OT perspective. In order to understand this relationship it is necessary to look at the history of the profession and the theory that guides OT practice.

“Occupational therapy enables people to achieve health, well being and life satisfaction through participation in occupation” (College of Occupational Therapy (COT) 2004 as cited in., COT, 2010).

The concept of occupation has evolved throughout the history of the OT profession, as has the centrality of its role (Townsend & Polatajko, 2007). It has proved difficult to reach a clear concise definition of the word occupation, as it must encompass the importance of occupation to human development and experience (Creek, 2010b). In addition, the terms occupation and activity are used interchangeably throughout literature (AOTA, 2008) and some suggest it would be more useful to differentiate between the two terms to improve communication within the profession and with others (Creek, 2010b).

More recently, occupation has been described as the dominant ‘activity’ of human beings, usually consisting of self-care, work and leisure (Kielhofner, 2009) and as purposeful activity, which engages an individual’s time, energy and attention (Reed & Sanderson, 1983). Occupations are composed of skills and values that are meaningful to the person and are influenced by culture and environment (Creek, 2010a). Occupations shape peoples’ identity (Christiansen et al., 2005; Duncan, 2006) and are considered necessary for health and wellbeing (Kielhofner, 2009). They engage people in the world and in turn enable survival and self-maintenance (Christiansen et al., 2005). Wilcock (1998) described occupation as an amalgamation of “doing, being and becoming”, conceptualising occupation as a dynamic relationship among people’s activities of daily life, their occupational nature and their transformation and self-actualisation. These multiple dimensions highlight the complexities that underlie occupation and why it has been difficult to reach a definitive definition (Creek, 2010b).

Activities are the ‘doing’ process of occupation consisting of a series of goal directed actions that contribute to occupations (Creek, 2010b). Activities do not necessarily hold any meaning for the person (Creek, 2010b), but OT values occupation and activity, as both allow participation in life, and support and maintain health and well-being (AOTA, 2008).

The term health has also lacked a definitive definition. Historically, health has been defined in negative terms focusing only on the absence of disease (Reed and Sanderson, 1999). However, more recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2001) introduced the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF), which focuses on how people live with health conditions and can achieve satisfying productive lives (Baum, 2003). It suggests health is an interaction between bodily function, activity engagement and participation as influenced by environmental and personal factors (Baum, 2003). This definition recognises the importance of participation in life, and the negative impact of environmental barriers to occupation on health (Townsend &Polatajko, 2007). This is consistent with the OT perspective, that occupation engagement and participation is fundamental to establishing, maintaining and restoring health (Kielhofner, 2009; Townsend &Polatajko, 2007).

Well-being is a subjective experience that varies between people, consisting of feelings of comfort, pleasure, and health (Schmidt, 2005). Well-being encompasses physical, mental and social dimensions (WHO, 2002 as cited in Wilcock, 1998), extending beyond health to quality of life (Townsend &Polatajko, 2007). People experience well-being when they engage in occupations they perceive as conducive with their values and preferences, which support their plans, goals, occupational identities and their ability to competently perform their valued roles (Townsend &Polatajko, 2007).

Since its inception during the early 20th century the OT profession has been concerned with occupation and its links to health and well-being (Molineux, 2004). The consensus of a profession’s core beliefs (Duncan, 2006) is captured in its paradigm, which helps to guide and make sense of practice (Mayers, 2000). The underlying assumptions central to the first OT paradigm were that occupation was a basic human need (Dunton, 1919 as cited in Townsend &Polatajko, 2007), mind and body were linked, and a lack of occupation could result in dysfunction of the mind and body (Keilhofner, 1992). Conversely, occupation had the potential to be therapeutic (Townsend &Polatajko, 2007) restoring health and function (Kielhofner 2009). The person connected to the environment through occupation (Kielhofner, 2009), and occupation was thought of in terms of ‘work’, which was vital to happiness and wellbeing (Townsend &Polatajko, 2007). Participating in a ‘balance of occupations’ organised a person’s use of time (Meyer, 1992 cited in Letts et al., 2003) and brought structure to living (Townsend &Polatajko, 2007). The paradigm valued holism and recognised the importance of occupation and its links to health and human dignity (Duncan, 2006). People were viewed as occupational beings, with the right to engage in meaningful occupation (Kielhofner, 2009) and the focus of the profession was on intrinsic motivation and the effect of the environment on occupational performance (Duncan, 2006).

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OT 7111 Professional Development in Occupational Therapy I

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Professionalism.

Lecours, A., Baril, N., & Drolet, M. J. (2021). What is Professionalism in Occupational Therapy? A Concept Analysis: Qu'est-ce que le professionnalisme en ergothérapie? Analyse de ce concept. Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapie, 88(2), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417421994377
Reiter, K., Helgeson, L., & Lee, S. C. (2018). Enhancing Professionalism Among OT Students: The Culture of Professionalism . Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/ jote.2018.020308
The 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (the Code) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is designed to reflect the dynamic nature of the occupational therapy profession, the evolving health care environment, and emerging technologies that can present potential ethical concerns in practice, research, education, and policy. AOTA members are committed to promoting inclusion, participation, safety, and well-being for all recipients of service in various stages of life, health, and illness and to empowering all beneficiaries of service to meet their occupational needs. Recipients of services may be persons, groups, families, organizations, communities, or populations ( AOTA, 2020 )

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Occupational Science And Occupational Therapy

✅ Free Essay	✅ Health And Social Care
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The attempt to occupational diagnosis begins with the identification of activity limitations or participation restrictions. (Molineux, 2009). Whether physical or mental in nature, the behaviours necessary for completion of tasks in daily occupations can be analysed according to specific components related to moving, perceiving, thinking & feeling (Hersch et al 2005). Hence, it is consonant with the top-down approach to the occupational therapy process (Trombly, 1993). Impairments, negatively influencing performance, are then identified through Task analysis. Task analysis examining an activity to identify the sequence of steps or tasks that constitute the activity. Each task may be analysed into a further series of sub-tasks. (Creek, 2003) Subsequently, they are evaluated in detail through additional targeted observations or specific impairment tests, such as goniometry for range of movement and screening test for depress. Then, attention is directed to potential environmental factors restricting performance. Through it the process, clients collaborate (client centeredness) with the parishioners to develop an understanding of problems in relation to clients’ situation and to prioritise the relative importance of problems. . (Molineux, 2009).

The top-down approach differs from the approach in putting the initial emphasis on occupation. in the bottom-up approach, the practitioner begins the evaluation of occupational performance by exploring impairments. for example, knowing that a client has rheumatoid arthritis, the evaluation may begin with measures of pinch strength, 1.5 pounds of pinch on the right (dominant) and 5 pounds on the left, the practitioner might infer that the client is unable to proper meals due to the in adequate pinch strength. this is a weak diagnostic statement because it is based on prediction or inference about prefromance supported by impairment testing but not activity analysis. (molineux, 2009)..

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Definition Occupational Therapy Essay

Occupational Therapy 4 Contextual Definitions Define occupational therapy to a friend. Occupational therapy is a combination of therapeutic treatments that try to help a person gain a maximum level of independence in their daily lives. It is based on the idea that occupations provide structure and organize time. Take a child with attention deficit disorder, for example. The occupational therapist would try to break down activities into achievable components and try to increase the kid's ability to perform daily tasks. It addresses the problem by directly performing the occupations that affects the child the most in living a normal life. An occupational therapist may work with the child to improve his/her performance in school and assignment completion. An important part of occupational therapy is to constant reevaluate the treatment. This focuses not only on... The therapy is very much focused on the child and tries to improve the patient's confidence in performing every-day tasks. 2. Describe occupational therapy to a family member. Occupational therapists work with people who are having a difficulty achieving the routine tasks of their daily lives. They may work with a war veteran or someone suffering from depression that is having problems engaging fully in life. For a soldier with post-traumatic stress syndrome, an occupational therapist may create a treatment plan based on occupations that helps that person get used to living his normal life again. Therapists also work with people recovering from the death of a relative by helping them overcome the loss. The idea behind the treatment is that…

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Occupational Therapy Literature Review Ot

This is not just an opinion of the authors. They actually did a study called the Defining Issues Test (DIT) which measures ethical judgment. The (DIT) was given to over five hundred (500) college students upon entrance into an occupational therapy program and just prior to completion of the program. The study revealed a significant increase in ethical judgment scores as the students neared the end of their program

Occupational Therapy Good Morning, My

What are the main emerging physical issues that occupational therapists face? In the July-August-September 2004 edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the authors emphasize that in the near future, occupational therapists "will be treating an increasing number of clients with visual impairment." This is due to the fact that more and more adults are choosing to work until the age of 70, in order to make ends

Overlapping Duties in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy

Overlapping Duties in OT and PT Evaluation of Overlapping Duties in Occupational and Physical Therapy Occupational therapists (OT) often work in a team environment with other health care professionals including physical therapists (PT), nurses, speech therapists, and mental health professionals. Because of the similarity between occupational and physical therapy, the duties of both professions frequently overlap. The role of the occupational therapist as defined by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is

Therapy Methods Associated With the

Interestingly, Nagel identified these selves based on "because" and "in order to" motivations, which actually translate to two different selves or images: the present self or image of the individual ("because"), and the future self or image -- what the individual aspires/wants to be ("in order to") (243-4). From this typology, it becomes clear that phenomenology uncovered these two selves, which led to the author's understanding that purchase decision-making

Occupational Health and Safety There

Combined with the human development index these studies showed that using parameters that affect the standards like education, longevity, and standard of living it is possible to predict the environmental health factors, and find the actual health indicators. (Corvalan; Briggs; Zielhuis, 2000, p. 159) The first problem is the distinguishing between health promotion and health education. Work place health actions tend to be concerned about disease prevention. So far it

Health Care Reform and Occupational

The SG2 report (2010, p. 9) also mentions academic medical centers (AMCs), which will have enter into affiliation agreements in order to comply with the reformed care laws. This will furthermore mean more integrated physician networks and it integration, as mentioned above. Two further important factors are mentioned by Moyers (2010). She notes that the inclusive nature of health care definitions for occupational therapists is a significant step forward in terms

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Occupational Therapy Definition

The notion of occupational therapy has been around since the beginning of the 1900s. However, the Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy, now known as American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), did not hold their first meeting until 1917 (Willard & Spackman, 2014, p. 14). Occupational therapy has been a healthcare service for almost one hundred years, yet many individuals still struggle to truly comprehend what being an occupational therapist entails. The role of an occupational therapist is to provide a holistic approach to treat an individual based on the daily activities that provide meaning to them. Going out into the community and asking people what their definition of occupational therapy is, enhanced the fact that there are not only several different definitions of occupational therapy, but many people are unaware of the true definition, role, and impact occupational therapist have on individuals and society. I asked five different individuals if they knew what occupational therapy was and how they would define it. Everyone said they knew what it was, but yet they still seemed to lack important aspects of the definition. The five people I …show more content…

S4). When treating an individual, it is important for the occupational therapist to look at the person as a whole and incorporate all meaningful aspects of their life into their treatment plans, or goals. In my opinion, the best response was “focusing on the person more than the ailment”, because I believe that a holistic approach is one of the most important aspects of being an occupational therapist. However, the study of human behavior, restoring limb function, helping people with physical or mental disabilities, and a lot of work also plays into the therapeutic process of treating

Aota's Centennial Vision Analysis

The profession of occupational therapy has many up and downs since its inception. To regain and remain in power, we shall “reflect more on power, learn to capture it, and become strategic in its use, while remaining ethically guided, we will be better able to serve the public good” (Clark, 2010, p266).

Founding Vision Of Occupational Therapy

The concepts and principles in the Founding Vision of 1917 and the Centennial Vision of 2007 establish a connection between our past and present. Comparing the two Visions shows that many of our modern day values were first outlined by occupational therapy’s founders a century ago. The Founding Vision reads, “The particular objects for which the corporation is formed are as follows: The advancement of occupation as a therapeutic measure; for the study of the effect of occupation upon the human being; and for the scientific dispensation of this knowledge” (National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy [NSPOT], 1917). Where the Centennial Vision reads, “We envision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized, science-driven,

Why I Want to Be an Ota Essay

Lives are changed everyday by occupational therapy assistants. I have the dedication, compassion, and ability to celebrate every miniscule improvement needed to become a successful OTA. This a quickly growing field where I can use the talents I already possess to excel. I can easily recall the differences made in my papaw’s life through occupational therapy and the way every advancement in mobility or independence was as exciting as it would be with a new

Discourse Analysis On The Occupational Therapy Profession

The occupational therapy profession shares many objectives across the communities, clients, and families they serve. Some of these aims include: “Developing the field of occupational therapy and enhance the professions capabilities to meet the needs of the entire population, providing evidence on the efficacy of occupational therapy. This includes working with organizations and local communities, incorporating education, research, and practices as a complete whole. In addition, developing a team of professionals that innovates and adapts to the developing health needs of the population” (AOTA, 2013). This includes advocacy efforts with policymakers to ensure continued funding to provide care to individuals (AOTA, 2013). Occupational therapy is a distinctive profession that helps

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain And Process Essay

Occupational therapy has been in the process of continued development since the 1900’s. With several contributors helping to build the groundwork for creating the awareness needed to bring occupational therapy into the field of health care. Continued research is contributing to the ongoing significance of how occupational therapy is a vital aspect in promoting increased independences in all aspects of healthcare. (Willard, Schell, 2014) With the incorporation of “Occupational Therapy Practice Framework Domain and Process (3rd ed.)” helps creates the foundation for occupational therapy clinicians as well as other health care providers in facilitating the core believe of occupational and the relationship of health and occupation. (AOTA 2014) Therefore, providing a uniform outline of the various aspects of each individual and how they are interconnected to create the foundation of each individual. With a greater understanding of the foundations of that induvial, the clinician can then facilitate the best therapeutic treatment plan for that individual to achieve their personal goals with unified foundations of care.

The Effects Of Occupational Therapy On The Health Of Individuals

Occupational therapy was founded on the principle that participation in meaningful activity is important to the health of individuals. Mental health is very important to the well-being of an individual and those around them. 450 million people experience mental and neurological disorders around the world. These disorders are the leading 5-10 causes of disability worldwide. As services for individuals with mental illness have shifted from the hospital to the community, there has also been a shift in the philosophy of service delivery. In the past, there was an adherence to the medical model; now the focus is on incorporating the recovery model. (2) Occupational therapy’s focus that taking part in engaging and meaningful activities benefits the mental well-being of the individual.

Occupational Therapy Career Paper

“What if there was a job that allowed someone to have endless flexibility and creativity; a profession that is respected and is in overwhelming demand... Most importantly, wouldn’t it be nice to find a job in which you could make an impact, big or small, on the lives of each individual person you worked with? I found this job and that is why I decided to pursue a degree in occupational therapy" (Springer, J., 2015). This testimonial comes from a practicing occupational therapist who has found value in his life's work. Occupational therapy is not a job where "one size fits all"; there are many different demographics of people who need occupational therapy in different environments. Although, all occupational therapists have the same skills

Occupational Therapy Research Paper

Occupational therapists help people of all ages recovering from physical or mental illnesses participate and perform what they want or need to accomplish through works of therapeutic rehabilitation with use of everyday activities in daily life; hence, giving it the name Occupational Therapy. An occupational therapist must look at their patients holistically, not just the part that is causing them problems. Occupational therapists are important as they help people regain their independence in daily activities. This field is projected to be the fastest in growth in upcoming years.

Occupational Therapy Is More Than Enhancing Activities

Occupational therapy is much more than enhancing activities of daily living to me. I see occupational therapy as helping people achieve daily freedom and making attainable goals to improve their physical and mental health while providing a professional relationship to encourage trust and reliability throughout treatment. Something as simple as tying shoes or being able to grab a fork to eat can make all the difference in the world to the patients an occupational therapist will treat. I have been working at a hand clinic since September and have seen that the small achievements like the tying of the shoes of the ability to bend the finger 10 more degrees puts a big smile on the faces of the patients and improves their outlook and demeanor towards their injury. Encouraging home exercise, helping with self cares, teaching writing skills and helping provide custom splints are all aspects that I have seen with my job and observation of occupational therapy as a whole. When I started my job at the hand clinic a therapist told me that the most basic occupational therapy explanation she could provide me is that occupational therapy is a way of helping others achieve a better level of daily living for things that they want and or need to do in life than when they sought help from therapy.

Occupational Therapy, Health and Wellbeing

To be able to participate in one 's own life, to do the things we want to do, and to competently perform the activities that form part of our daily, weekly or monthly routines, is a common goal for most people. This not only includes taking part in the basic activities of self-care, such as grooming and dressing, but also extends to our work and leisure activities. It is through doing things that we learn and develop as human beings. The occupational therapy profession believes that being prevented or hindered in some way from participating in the activities that are important to us could adversely affect our health and wellbeing.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a profession that is currently growing faster than anyone would have expected. Because of the increase in demands for occupational therapy services, therapists are having larger caseloads, needing the help of more occupational therapists. Occupational therapy in the mental health setting is one environment that has grown in popularity over the last decade. Knowing the benefits of occupational therapy in this setting, and the expansion of clients needing occupational therapy services, more funding needs to be established in this setting.

Occupational Therapy Informative Essay

Occupational therapy is an underrated profession in the world. Occupational therapists help disabled, ill, or injured people perform the objectives needed to complete their occupation by using therapeutic measures to help them recover from whatever may have happened to them. In other words, they help their patients get back to their daily lives. Occupational therapists are able to aid people in a variety of ways, and they are very important to societies as a whole. In many foreign countries, people often overlook the importance of occupational therapy.

What Is Client Centered Practice?

Occupational therapy is a very holistic practice and believes in client-centered practice. I believe client-centered practice is extremely important in any health field. It is critical to create the therapeutic process based on the client’s wants and needs. I also believe a client will need a source of motivation in order to want to continue to work hard in their therapy. If a client is not motivated in their therapy, it is the therapist’s job to find something a motivating factor for the client. This helps the client have a more successful outcome. The source of motivation which could potentially be used includes the clients individual values and interests.

Occupational Therapy Self Reflection

In accordance with Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), “the efforts directed toward promoting occupational justice and empowering clients to seek and obtain resources to fully participate in their daily life occupations.” (Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 3rd Ed., p. S41). I consider occupational therapy to be a compassionate career, practitioners try to grant their clients’ wants and needs to better suit the

Positive And Negative Aspects Of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy has the fundamentals of working with several different conditions an individual may obtain. Whether a therapist has little or more time to work with a patient, therapist will always find a way to progress the state of being of his or her patient. Some conditions such as having a stroke; being autistic; having broken bones; having drastic injuries; or simply having some kind of learning disability, occupational therapy will help solve the problem to live a happily everlasting life.

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