As an Occupational Therapist, I am probably biased towards Occupational Therapy as being one of the best careers out there. But, what can I say? I love it. It is filled with loads of opportunities that allows one to walk down any path you wish.
I must confess, initially I didn’t realise that OT was the field of study for me, in fact, I was undecided about my career choice. Even after my four years of study, the penny still had’nt drop for me. It was only in my first year of work, that the picture suddenly turned from black and white to colour. I had fallen in love with OT. I fell in love with the way I was able to give back and help those who genuinely needed it. I had the opportunity to work with a wide range of patients, ranging from the sweetest and most difficult, but the reward for their success made it all worthwhile. I had found my purpose in life.
By definition, an OT is a health professional that helps patients regain their ability to perform physical or mental daily living and work activities. But to me, OT is so much more than that. Yes, we do use everyday activities to help patients function normally and independently but moreover, we help them create meaning through the choice of activities. OT allows you to work with people of varying ages, from a newborn to your great granny. With newborns, we help them to reach their milestones at appropriate ages, all the way to assisting them with a diagnosis such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy or Down Syndrome. As for the adults, we are able to assist with a variety of recoveries such as a stroke, amputation and returning to work after an injury. This includes the use of assistive devices to help them in everyday life. As for our golden oldies, we also help with various conditions such as Alzheimers, living with arthritis and helping them be as independent as possible. In OT it is about how you help the patient that makes it so special. And it is special because the therapy is tailored to suit their specific needs and bring meaning to their existence. We also have loads of fun while doing therapy and put simply, we put the FUN in function.
My passion actually originates from the fact that I adore children and from a young age I was convinced that my profession should include working with children. Children are the most innocent, honest and fun loving souls we will ever get the pleasure of meeting in our lives. They do not hold back on their opinions, they have huge imaginations and they enjoy having fun- something we often forget as adults. Children are unique with a unique view on life and tons of questions in between. OT lets me into their world by allowing me to assist them with their challenges and by trying to answer their questions in a way that makes it meaningful to them.
Working as a paediatric OT, demands that one has loads of energy and patience and it is for this reason that I chose play therapy. The joy, elation and the excitement that can be seen on the faces of little ones when they know its time to play is magic and contagious. Not even money can ever replace that.
Most paediatric OT's will tell you that they love their job and this is simply because we get to play for a living. Who else gets to do and say that? We use play as a means to help children reach their full potential of whatever stage they may be in their life. Fortunately, I have been blessed with loads of patience and therefore working with children comes naturally to me. I am of the opinion when you work and you are having fun, the time just flies by. There are those odd days when one of the children will push their luck and in the process your buttons, or the child refuses execute the plan in place, but you need to be flexible and to be willing to adapt the plan so that learning can take place. To me flexibility and adaptation to the plan was two of the greatest lessons I have learnt whilst practicing as an OT.
Just like any other career OT has good and bad sides to it, but the benefits by far exceed the cons. Mostly I see positive results in response to therapy and that is so rewarding. Even alleviating pain from patients with severe distress is rewarding and because each situation is so unique it keeps me interested and excited about OT. But the reward of it all makes me keep wanting more. My eyes have been trained to see all things OT- this is not say that I know it all. But I love my job and because I love it so much, I go back eagerly every day wanting to learn more. There are no quick-fixes to helping your child, but we do help you understand your child better and help them in a way that is best suited to their needs. Sending your child for OT is a journey of transformation that you take and a learning curve for both you and the child. As an OT, I am continuously learning from each child in my care. But at the end of the day, our children may not always know how to express themselves effectively or communicate in a way that we understand but be assured that they had learnt from the experience. We need to try to understand our children and advocate for them and their needs in whichever way we can.
Finally, I would like to share a very inspirational person with you, Mary Poppins. I think if Mary Poppins was not a nanny, she could have been an OT! Her love for children, play and imagination is what being a paediatric OT is all about. She believed in the art of adventure and brings together the concepts of being a caring and assertive person to life. Yes, she does use magic but the magic is her ability to bring out the beautiful lessons that life has to offer us in a fun and meaningful way. As Mary Poppins says, "Anything can happen if you let it".
I would like to thank you for reading my first blog ever! I look forward to walking on this journey with you, be it as a fellow OT, parent, teacher or just as a keen learner. I hope you enjoy getting to know the world of occupational therapy and me!
DISCLAIMER: The information shared above is based on current research and my own personal experiences. I do my best to share correct and relevant information with you. This is not to say that my view is the only view. As times are always changing, we need always be learning and keeping up to date with the latest research. I am merely sharing some basics and tips that can be done at home. If your child does have their own therapist, please check the tips with them to make it a collaborative approach to your child's development.