In recent years, mindfulness and meditation have become increasingly common household terms. In a stressed out nation, we are constantly seeking ways to calm our inner anxieties and relieve our depression. And as the focus toward organic and natural living has continued to increase, so has the desire for us to use more natural means […]
One of things I love most about being an occupational therapist is the huge diversity in our scope of practice. Bridging the gap between physical therapy and speech pathology, we truly get the best of both worlds and are able to dip our hands into orthopedic conditions as well as cognitive impairments (via neuro rehab). […]
Everyone has different reasons for why they became interested in the field of occupational therapy. But there’s one thing we all have in common when it comes to our careers… We need to get paid! While compensation should not be the #1 motivation for getting into a field, it is certainly a factor that should […]
Before We Begin, What is Activity Tolerance? When we think about activity tolerance in relation to occupational therapy, we are referring to tolerance to activities of daily living. Therefore, in this instance, activity tolerance is an individual’s ability to tolerate completing their activities of daily living. Decreased activity tolerance is one of the main limitations […]
When working with patients affected by acquired or traumatic brain injuries for the first time, it can be challenging, exciting, and even stressful as an OT student or new occupational therapy practitioner. This is especially true if you have not been exposed to such a patient or any cognitive interventions for traumatic brain injury. The […]
At a staff meeting, your supervisor asks if anyone is interested in taking on a fieldwork student. Everyone tries to avoid eye contact, look at their computers, and sink lower in their chairs, hoping that someone else will speak up. No one wants to do it. The thought of adding one more thing to your […]
So, you made it through the grueling and exhausting process of applying to occupational therapy (OT) school and you got accepted; you deserve a HUGE congratulations (and maybe even a vacation)! Over the course of applying, I’m sure friends and family asked endless times, “What exactly is occupational therapy?” At times I feel like I […]
I quickly learned in graduate school (in my physiology and neuroscience courses) that I learn best with flow charts – when I can form a plan and visualize what steps come next. The same is true for me now when treating a patient in my hand therapy setting. Regardless of how simple or complicated the […]
As an occupational therapist, you know how wide of a variety of jobs we have to choose from. From inpatient rehab, acute care, pediatrics, home health, neuro outpatient, and of course, hand therapy. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in hand therapy, you will likely want to consider becoming a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) […]
If you’ve landed on this article, you may be currently wondering, “What else can I do with my occupational therapy degree that is not direct patient care?” or are looking into non-clinical occupational therapy job options. Whether you’re just curious about alternate career paths, are looking for a break from the physically demanding rehab settings, […]