Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Occupational therapy career options
Career goals for occupational therapist
The importance of occupational therapy
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Occupational therapy career options
The career as an occupational therapist (OT) became not only my goal, but my passion after I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in 2010. Suddenly, the disease temporarily took over my mobility and I had to receive physical therapy. My experience with a team of rehabilitation therapist was incredibly positive and successful. Instantly, I knew what I wanted, for my future and the future of injured and disabled patients. Soon after my recovery, I began shadowing at a pediatric outpatient rehabilitation clinic. I was a witness to an impactful treatment that was both creative and beneficial for the patients, a branch of healthcare known as occupational therapy. I was immediately inspired to help, managing my illness has given me the background to be understanding and empathetic towards the patients, associate with their needs, and motivate them to reach toward their goals. As a result of my experience, it is my main goal in life is to help others the same way the team of therapists have helped me. In order to impact the lives of these patients through the career as an OT, I will need to further my education by earning a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Therefore, admission into the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program at Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) will allow me to reach my …show more content…
Since TTUHSC provides students with access to a cadaver lab, I will be able to explore the human anatomy in detail and master the physiological concepts of the human body. The MOT program will also require me to gain hands-on experience in fieldwork at a variety of different settings which will strengthen my care and compassion towards patients. Consequently, it is my goal to digest as much information as possible through textbook readings, hands-on learning, and conducting
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
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.
Growing up around a nurse, I have known from a young age that I wanted to work within healthcare and after researching occupational therapy I was sure that it was the career I am suited for. Helping to improve a person’s quality of life and their independence, along with the diverse nature of the work is very exciting to me.
Occupational therapy was based off of psychology; we evolved from treating mentally ill patients with isolation as an efficient treatment plan. We must never forget we are known to be “the art and science of helping people do the day-to-day activities that are important and meaningful to their health and well being through engagement in valued occupations” (Crepeau, Cohn, & Schell, 2008). To other professional disciplines this article explains the difference between each of us, yet can also express our relation to one another. The basic goal of all therapeutic disciplines is to better our clients life, through physical, speech or occupational therapy. Every discipline targets different goals, may it be body mechanics, reducing a stutter or buttoning a shirt, at the end of the day our clients well being may it be through science, art or both is all that matters. To the occupational therapy field this article means progress for what we do. Reading this article today in the year 2015 did not seem like old information to me, it is still relevant, I am proud that our field is not only evolving with contemporary time but it is also maintaining its
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.
Specifically, this case contributes to the development of the OT profession by stressing the importance of emotional connections between therapist and clients. Stated in (Raphael-Greenfield et al., 2017), Peloquin (1993) illustrated that occupational therapist are not viewed as helpful if they only deliver protocols and procedures and are not considerably personal when it comes to their relationships with clients. To go along with facing difficult challenges and relationships between the therapist and the client, this case also highlights the positive results produced when students are thoroughly taught to trust in their own abilities as well as to consider that forming peer relationships is, important. With experiences such as this case to learn by, it will help develop past, present, and future therapist of the OT profession.
I find occupational therapy to pique my drive to teach people valuable life skills as well as learn from those people and their experiences. Being an occupational therapist would allow me to have one-on-one interactions with patients and establish meaningful relationships over the course of time. It would also give me the dutiful privilege and responsibility of instilling confidence in others and helping them realize their full potential in self-suffiency. All of my personal experiences, challenges, educational backgrounds, and professional interactions have guided me toward pursuing my goals of gaining experience working in all populations, enabling patients to thrive in their daily lifestyle, and spread public awareness of what OT has
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.
Since mental health issues have directly influenced my life, I want to do the same and directly influence mental health issues by means of occupational therapy
Since I was young, I’ve always loved to help people. What better way to do that by becoming an Occupational Therapist? Of course, there is other jobs like Fireman, Policeman, and Surgeon, but those require to work well under pressure, a skill I’ve never been very good at, in a life or death situation. Moreover, Occupational Therapists don’t just save lives, they get them back. An Occupational Therapist’s duties, work environment, and important qualities are the main ideas that only confirms: this is the job for me.
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.
My journey to pursue an education in physical therapy actually originates from my early childhood. I endured a very impoverished upbringing and my family’s socioeconomic status was below the poverty line. At a very young age, money became the central issue of my life. I found myself worrying about mortgages, health bills, and grocery money. As I grew older, I vowed to myself that I would not endure my family’s financial burdens into my adulthood. I knew the best way to accomplish this was by obtaining a college degree and having a professional career. However, I was unsure what career I wanted to pursue. I experimented with many different career ideas, but during my sophomore, I discovered my passion and skill for physical medicine. For my
I look forward to helping them become more independent by aiming for their personal goals and reaching for their full potential. I am enthusiastic in finding a career were I am able to be creative and discover the self-confidence in my patients that will help them succeed. Throughout the coming years, I hope to attain the skills and abilities to succeed in this field. As I further my knowledge in this field I hope to demonstrate ethical decision making and learn to appreciate my role in supporting my patients as they learn to navigate a new world. I hope to educate the community in gaining a better understanding of what occupational therapy is and the overall impact it can make on an individual’s life and
Transitioning into occupational therapy from what I am used to is going to be a challenge as there is a lot of information that I need to know before I can practice. One professional behavior that I believe I am doing correctly or will be doing currently is that I am a hard worker. I honestly take pride in this as I believe this is an excellent value to have as a person. I admire people who have a superb work ethic and I have always thought I want to be the person that nobody can say is lazy. When I was a child, one of my best friends said I was lazy because I was not very active and play sports like she did. It hurt me so much that I had to break the friendship off and I vowed to never be considered that again. I would have to say that her
As I crossed the finish line, I immediately could recognize where my family was located. My father, mother, and three sisters were all yelling with excitement that I had just beat my personal record for my half marathon time. My family is not ashamed to show their unconditionally support for me and my passions. When I mentioned I wanted to become an occupational therapist in eighth grade they took me seriously, my mother found every book in the library about occupational therapy and checked them out so I could read them. My father found articles foe me about the impact that occupational therapists have in the community. To this day, he still sends me every article he finds. I have learned about videogames improving home exercise programs for