What is a OT?

Hi team!👋

I wanted to chat with you all a bit about the role and duties of an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy, a crucial profession👩‍⚕️ that makes a real impact!

An occupational therapist (OT) is a healthcare professional who works with people of all ages to help them overcome the effects of disability caused by illness, ageing or acciden. Their job is to help people to carry out everyday activities which are essential for health and well-being.

They assess and treat both physical and psychosocial difficulties in their clients. They utilise their specialised knowledge and understanding of the link between occupation, well-being, and health to engineer treatment programs for their clients. Their techniques often involve adaptive strategies and equipment, activities of daily living (ADLs), and remediation activities.

One key aspect of an OT's👨‍⚕️ role is the ability to analyze daily activities. By breaking down tasks into their individual components, they can identify areas where a client may be struggling and work out how to help the individual achieve their goals. This could range from helping an elderly person to dress independently or assisting a child with disabilities in participating in school activities👍.

Often you’ll find that an OT will spend time teaching practical life skills; it could be as simple as relearning to tie shoelaces or as complex as adapting a work environment to cater to a physical disability. One must remember - OT revolves around adapting to the client's needs and capabilities 😇.

Adaptation is vital, and it is achieved through modifying the environment, task, method or tool to suit the person's abilities!

An OT’s function isn't just limited to the physical aspect of health. They concern themselves with the psychological well-being of their clients as well. They understand the direct correlation between physical health and mental well-being and work towards striking a balance to promote wellness 💪.

Building a therapeutic relationship with their clients builds trust, understanding, and provides a safe, non-judgemental environment for them to improve. They offer both emotional and psychological support, providing patient education and mental health counseling when necessary 🤗.

Additionally, OTs are active advocates for their clients; they fight for their client's right to participate in daily life. They help their clients regain autonomy and a sense of purpose, impacting the quality of life tremendously 🌟.

Research is a powerful tool in an OT’s arsenal. Keeping up to date with the latest treatments, technologies and techniques ensures they provide the best possible care to their clients. It also contributes significantly to the career's integrity and growth 〽️.

Last but not least, educating the public about occupational therapy is a crucial aspect. They share their knowledge 🎓 by hosting workshops, seminars, or classes, fostering an environment of learning and debunking misconceptualised ideas about therapy

All in all, an OT’s job is no easy task, it requires a great mix of patience, empathy, creativity, practical knowledge, necessary technical skills and all with an approach that each client is unique. They continue to innovate and adapt in their quest to enrich the lives of those they care for👏.

Hope that was insightful, until the next post 🤓!