Occupational Therapy Personal Statement

The profession of occupational therapy is often mistaken for a job in which the therapist is a career counselor. This is the exactly what my dad had thought when I told him that I wanted to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I explained to him that occupational therapists are not concerned with career counseling; instead, they are focused on daily activities that give meaning to live. The goal of occupational therapy is to help patients regain or develop skills that are necessary for the activities of daily living. Occupational therapists have the option to work in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation centers, schools, and with patients in their own homes.

My long-term goal is to learn the techniques that are used by patients to help them progress. In addition, I want to explore the different work environments, which the occupational therapists work in such as in hospitals, clinics, or schools.

A myriad of challenging experiences have molded my life serving as a catalyst to become an Occupational Therapist. At age eighteen, I was diagnosed with a progressive form of bilateral hearing loss. Due to the sudden and severe nature of my hearing loss, I was able to participate in a rehabilitation program. Overcoming adversity provided a sense of purpose and vocational direction. The last 20 years, I have guided others confronting equally daunting hardships.

I’m currently working in the health care field as a Patient Care Technician. My job is to assist patient with their ADL’s, and becoming a therapist, I will encourage patients and help them to function Independently with their ADL’s. I’m very nervous and excited about becoming an occupational therapist assistance because I’m fearful of different challenges that will come being a therapist. Can I perform my duties successful as a therapist? I’m I going to feel like a failure when a patient is not progressing the way they should? I’m also feeling excited because, I will get the chance, to make a difference in someone’s life, by helping them function back to their occupations independently as possible before their injury, disabilities, or

The occupational therapy profession shares many objectives across the communities, clients, and families they serve. Some of these aims include: “Developing the field of occupational therapy and enhance the professions capabilities to meet the needs of the entire population, providing evidence on the efficacy of occupational therapy. This includes working with organizations and local communities, incorporating education, research, and practices as a complete whole. In addition, developing a team of professionals that innovates and adapts to the developing health needs of the population” (AOTA, 2013). This includes advocacy efforts with policymakers to ensure continued funding to provide care to individuals (AOTA, 2013). Occupational therapy is a distinctive profession that helps

Becoming an Occupational Therapist is a goal that I have been working hard to achieve my whole life and know it’s a field that I will be highly successful in. From a young age, I knew that I wanted to work in a field that helped people. I have dedicated my life to achieving this dream. I have given up breaks from school to observe therapists or to volunteer at Equestrian Zone, a facility that provides hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. I first learned about occupational therapy through a family I was close to growing up who has a daughter with Rett Syndrome.

Occupational therapy assistant is my dream career. They help people live a normal life again without any assistance of other people. The help people enhance, improve, develop, and recover the skills use for working or doing daily average tasks. OTA’s usually work under the direction of occupational therapists, and they still get involved with providing therapy for patients. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupational therapy assistants help patients do therapeutic activities. For example, they help patients to stretch or do other exercises. OTA’s also help children who have developmental disabilities to play activities that helps stimulate coordination and learn to socialize. They teach disable people to use special equipment,

“What if there was a job that allowed someone to have endless flexibility and creativity; a profession that is respected and is in overwhelming demand... Most importantly, wouldn’t it be nice to find a job in which you could make an impact, big or small, on the lives of each individual person you worked with? I found this job and that is why I decided to pursue a degree in occupational therapy" (Springer, J., 2015). This testimonial comes from a practicing occupational therapist who has found value in his life's work. Occupational therapy is not a job where "one size fits all"; there are many different demographics of people who need occupational therapy in different environments. Although, all occupational therapists have the same skills

There are many things that you have to be able to do to be a occupational therapist. You have to be able to “Test and evaluate patients ' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients” ("Occupational Therapists."Ohio Means Jobs ). This means that you have to be able to figure out your patient 's physical and mental abilities and you have to know what is best for your patient.

A young man with a spinal cord injury who must learn how to walk again. An elderly individual who can’t remember anything from the past day and needs help running errands. Both are activities that an occupational therapist would help with. An occupational therapist’s help citizens who have physical, mental, or developmental set-backs. Occupational therapists work hard at fulfilling people’s lives that have been altered due to injury or a disability.

First of all, I was fortunate to witness in my work, Bridges Montessori School, the positive impact that occupational therapy had on students with cognitive, physical and sensory disabilities. I observed a variety of occupational therapists assisting students with tasks such as grasping a pencil, tying their shoelaces, or master their problem solving skills. I watched students overcome their disabilities, get re-integrated into the classroom, and become equals with their classmates. I realized that, as I had pushed my students academically, the occupational therapist pushed them to overcome their limitations and reach to their highest potential. I think this is an important lesson to instill in every future patient. No matter how large or small the efforts might seem all progress counts. Secondly, I witnessed my best friend, Kelli, fight Chordoma cancer for two years until she succumbed to the disease. We discussed her treatments and she informed me of her weekly therapeutic sessions with an occupational

The profession of occupational therapy which, treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities appealed to me because occupational therapists can work with clients of all ages and they can work in numerous settings, such as hospitals, schools, or private clinics. Occupational therapy also interested me because

During my undergraduate education at Florida International University, I committed myself to studying Psychology alongside with the pre-requisites needed for the Occupational Therapy Professional MS Program. Psychology has taught me to understand the behavior of individuals and groups, adapt to change and manage difficult situations in high stress environments, and the ability to start and carry out projects or goals with little information or experience. Having a background in Psychology can help improve the interpersonal skills needed while working as an Occupational Therapist.

My personal experience with Occupational therapy is watching my grandpa go through it; he had fallen in a parking lot and had sustained a traumatic brain injury. He had surgery but then had a long road of recovery ahead of him. He had gone from not being able to get out of a chair to being able to hold a toothbrush and brushing his teeth again over a few months. I would go visit him and would watch the occupational therapists work with him so he could gain some of his independence back. They would help show him tools to make things like putting on his socks easier for him. Once he was home he still needed to do exercises like walking, so I would put the gait belt on him and walk with him so he would not get hurt again. He also developed Parkinson’s and dementia so there were times that he struggled with understanding what to do so I have also had experience working with the mental aspect. Working with him and watching him recover is such a great and rewarding feeling and I want to experience that with my career. I know becoming an Occupational Therapist Assistant is what I am meant to

My professional experiences working in a variety of settings including: pharmacy, at home assisted care, counseling, and most importantly occupational therapy, play an important role in my desire to pursue the goals I designated for myself as an occupational therapist. These goals include: communicating effectively with my patients, client-centered care, and revealing my patients potential and talents through therapeutic services. The most important experience that lead me to