I have supervised many occupational therapy students and I try to give them these 8 essential tips to help them succeed in their first year.
Keep a positive attitude
Even if you are having a bad day, putting a smile on your face will help your clients find greater success in therapy. It may even improve your mood.
Never sleep less than 6 hours
You are not going to function and interact well with your clients if you don't give your brain a chance to rest and revitalize. Those hours of sleep will give you energy and promote overall well-being.
Think outside the box
From the start of your day, think how you can make therapy treatments relevant, meaningful, and enjoyable for each client. Using a client-centered approach is key to a successful session.
Find your balance
Balance between work and the rest of the things in your life is important, but it’s also very individual. Find out how much time you need to do well as an OT without comparing yourself to others. The key is to do everything with moderation.
Make lists
When I feel like I have too many things to do, making lists usually helps me. I write down everything I have to do for the week, sometimes in priority order. I am a lot more organized when I make "to do" lists, and the best feeling in the world is to scratch something from it!
Love what you do
If you don’t fall in love with the profession, my advice is that you don’t continue in it. If you really love being an OT, you’ll be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to become the kind of professional that your future clients deserve.
Ask lots of Questions
Don’t be afraid to bounce ideas/concerns off other therapists and to ask questions. Doing so will give you confidence and different ways to approach or handle a problem. And you will learn so much!
There’s lots school won’t teach you
In my opinion, 80-90% of learning happens on the job. School gives you a good background and then you apply it in the clinic. I have been an OT for seven years and I still learn something new every day!
Labels: Behind the Scenes, Parents, Schools
