Occupational Therapy Essay

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Occupational therapy is grounded on the idea that participation and engagement in occupations improves health, wellness, and quality of life of those impaired by disease and/or injury (Arbesman & Logsdon, 2011; Gutman, Kerner, Zombek, Dulek, & Ramsey, 2009; Gutman et al., 2007; Oka et al., 2004). Unfortunately, patients’ diagnosed with a mental health condition continue to suffer from social injustice, occupational deprivation, and disparity (Krishnan, 2015). Social injustice is a form of inequality in which individuals are not granted equal access to perform in meaningful occupations and/or are forced to participate in occupations in which they do not want to partake in (Creek, 2011). Occupational deprivation occurs as a result of external …show more content…

When patients are engaged in occupations they are often also engaging in social processes (Borg & Kristiansen, 2008). Research has found that mental health patients along with other non-mental health patients benefit greatly from socialization (Davidson et al., 2005). Socialization and occupational engagement play an important role in establishing personal identity, increasing self-esteem, and providing patients with a sense of achievement (Blank, Harries, & Reynolds, 2015). Mental health patients place significant value on being able to participate and engage in occupations as they feel a sense of belonging when partaking in occupations (Blank, Harries, & Reynolds, …show more content…

Therapists use purposeful, reasonable, and goal-directed approaches to ensure that mental health patients feel connected with their surrounding community (Lohman, 2003). In terms of program development, occupational therapists must be knowledgeable about their clients’ needs, services available, and those services that can be initiated to satisfy unmet needs (Lohman, 2003). Occupational therapists use a creative, holistic approach to foster hope, value, and quality of life through the use of programs that can be developed and refined to meet an individual’s needs (Lohman,

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