Occupational Therapy’s Voyage and Return
Jaicy R. Sutak
Nebraska Methodist College
Occupational therapy is a profession of unquantifiable growth and opportunities in the healthcare field. Numerous different avenues of care presented to occupational therapy professionals have enabled new techniques, assimilation of knowledge, evidence, and research. Does this vast array of knowledge from advancements in science and health care lead professionals to lose sight of the core values the profession was built upon more so than any other point in the history of the profession?
Occupational therapy is built upon the backs of numerous different trailblazers including George Edward Barton, Dr. William Rush Dunton Jr., and Eleanor Clarke
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Occupational therapy has been successful because it encompasses theologies from numerous different professions but the incorporation of knowledge causes tension with normalcy. One of the forks in the road that Gillen (2013) alludes to is around the 1950s or early 1960s when the profession “began to get, perhaps, over focused on sets of techniques that may have looked more sophisticated and important than our normalcy” (p. 643). During this time era we see post-World War II effects on economy and health views. O’Brien (2013) examines the effects of new drugs in psychiatric treatments, the rehabilitation movement, and growth in healthcare (p. 18). The need for occupational therapy’s wide range of skill sets increased. Professionals faced a proverbial fork in the road on whether to implement and adopt knowledge from other disciplines to keep up with new research, which could cause lost focus on core values. Occupational therapy began to shift focus to preparatory activities and use of assessments that disregarded dual paradigm and environments promoting real-world interactions. Emerging technology and fast moving advancements challenged professions to keep up or to be buried and forgotten. The pressure to propel the profession lead to “a vicious circle, where impatience leads to still more pressure to push unadopted standards proposals, …show more content…
Gillen (2013) highlights assessments as core of frustration because occupational therapy had created but not implemented valuable assessments while other disciplines utilized them. Occupational therapists began to wonder, “Why is this not working? How can I make clients better, and how can I do this faster?” (Gillen, 2013, p.642). Post-World War II economy began to rise. The 1970s through the 1980s consisted of “introduction of personal computers, a substantial increase in drug and alcohol abuse, and the appearance of a new disease with no known cure, AIDS” (O’Brien, 2018 p. 19). During this time congress was also hard at work passing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Education for All Handicapped Children Act 1975, Handicapped infants and Toddlers act of 1986 and the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities act of 1988 (O’Brien, 2018 p. 19) which all increased the demand for occupational therapy services and so the thrilling escape and return to normalcy
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant has been an ambition of mine for several years now. After researching, job shadowing, and talking to professionals, I have decided to make Occupation Therapy my career. My passion is to help patients by participating and assisting them in their recovery from injuries and disabilities. My compassionate and caring attitude will be vital assets in pursuing this career. After training in Occupational Therapy, it is motivating for me to know that I will be a part of assisting patients to gain back their independence. Helping others is something that I am passionate about in my career and in my spare time. I have been on several mission trips to Haiti and other places which I have provided care for others in a medical setting.
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework defines an occupational profile as “the initial step in the evaluation process that provides an understanding of the client’s occupational history and experience, patterns of daily living, interests, values, and needs (2014).” During this process the client’s problems and concerns about daily occupations are identified then the client’s main concerns are determined (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). Occupational Therapists strive to be holistic and client-centered, and the occupational profile is one method to ensure treatment takes on these characteristics. During the occupational profile the clients share their priorities based on what is important to them, and the therapist
Occupational therapy is also known as the dynamic and developing healthcare profession that deals with people in ways of regaining their skills required for the every days of life. For a very long time I have always had the desire to achieve my dreams in becoming an occupational therapist. I am very well equipped with creativity, flexibility and the ability to aid people in solving their every day’s life challenges they get involved in. Occupational therapy is quite involving and needs good strategies and skills for one to be successful in the program.
Sacket et al, cited in, Duncan, E,A,S, (2006) Foundtions for practice in Occupational Therapy, 4th edition, Elsevier Ltd.
This article discusses the basic understanding of what occupational therapy is and what it the Occupation is defined as “activites of everyday life, names, organized and given meaning by individuals and a culture” (Association, 2006). This article also discusses the historical aspects of occupational therapy. Occupational therapy was founded by many different professionals with different backgrounds, that came together to share the same idea about how occupational therapy should be and the importance of activites for a person. This article also talks about different types of services that occupational therapy offers. Occupational therapists and assistances can work in many different settings.
The Occupational therapy perspective has transformed historically overtime, evolving Occupation and the role it plays in people’s everyday lives. The occupational therapy profession was strongly influenced by the medical model involving close medical contributions. In the 1950’s the majority of Occupational Therapist worked for the National Health Service, working primarily in physical rehabilitation centres (Hagedorn 1995) seeing craft work as an integral part of Occupational Therapy as it was perceived as having therapeutic qualities (Hagedorn 1995). Between the 1960s -1980s craftwork was no longer valued as important and the philosophy of the occupational therapy shifted to biomechanical exercises that incorporated adapted equipment increasingly using sensory motor techniques (Hagedorn 1995) and then from the 1980’s Occupational Therapist began to focus more on the occupational needs and competencies of a person (Hagedorn 1995)....
Occupational therapy has a multifaceted nature providing endless opportunities to serve a wide range of people within many environments, which is just one of the reasons I love this occupation. My long term goals enlist the desire to maximize my knowledge and abilities to care and supplement the lives of anyone that may cross my path in this career. I have seen occupational therapy positively impact the lives of people around me, and I strive to be a bigger role on the team helping make that happen.
Occupational therapy made its first appearance in a modern-day setting during the 18th century; however, occupational therapy dates back to 100 BC. The United States medical system adopted occupational therapy in the 19th century. In 1910, occupational therapy became a realized profession. Then, the main focus was working with individuals to get them to a fully functional state. Around 1930, standards of practice were developed for occupational therapists (OT’s). The career continues to evolve and change as new illnesses and disabilities arise. Even with all the changes, the main focus remains intact: helping people.
Perspectives on Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Settings for the Elderly In an ever-changing society, occupational therapy (OT) is becoming more popular among people of all ages. Sturkenboom et al. (2012) explains that OT aims to optimize a person’s functional performance and achieve a more independent lifestyle during everyday activities. The services occupational therapists typically offer is a personalized treatment plan to improve a person's ability to perform daily activities while maintaining an independent lifestyle.
When I was 15, my grandmother suffered from a severe stroke and was advised to go to a rehabilitation center. At that time I had not ever heard of the profession called occupational therapy. Upon visiting my grandmother, I had the opportunity to witness several health care professionals working together to help rehabilitate her. I have always wanted to engage in a career in which I could attribute to helping people, and at first I thought physical therapy would best compliment my natural abilities but then I encountered the occupational therapist. So as I watched her work with my grandmother diligently I realized that I had found exactly what I was looking for.
Occupational therapy (OT) theory offers valuable contribution to support professionalization since possessing a unique body of knowledge is essential to define a profession (Cooper, 2012). To utilize theory effectively, it is essential to differentiate between generic and specific theory as knowledge of the core theory helps to form OT identity and action as a practicing practitioner. In this essay, OT theory refers only to philosophy and OT specific models. Frame of references (FOR) will not be included since it can be shared with the other professions (Boniface & Seymour, 2012).
...e-based knowledge to inform the therapy practice. It also assists with furthering the therapist’s knowledge of humans as occupational beings as well as the relationship between occupation and health.(Yexer ,1993) introduced occupational science as a fundamental science supporting occupational therapy, with an aim to refocus the provision of therapy back to occupation. Hence, occupational science provides the therapists with support, justifies the meaning and uniqueness of the profession and distinguishes occupational therapy from other professions. In addition (Wilcock, 2001), also emphasises that occupational science might be another way to avoid the possible failure of the occupational therapy as a practice. With a strong research background, occupational therapists could make a contribution to medical science, which may challenge it from a different standpoint.
Kielhofner (2009) states “In the late 1940’s and the 1950s, occupational therapy came under pressure from medicine to establish a new theoretical rationale for its practice. Critiques arose from both Medicine and physicians regarding the concepts used in occupational therapy. Based on those comments, occupational realized the immediate need for a new paradigm. As Kielhofner mentioned “Occupational therapist came to believe it would bring occupational therapist recognition as an efficacious medical service and increase its scientific respectabilities
witnessed first-hand the impact occupational therapy can make in people’s lives, watching the delight of a
Cole, M. B., & Tufano, R. (2008). Applied theories in occupational therapy: A practical approach. Thorofare, New Jersey, United States of America: Slack Inc.