Occupational Therapist

The American Occupational Therapy Association was founded by William dunton, who promoted the idea that occupation was therapeutic; these statements made came the conclusions that occupation can have an effect on wellness and health, that it can create structure and organize time, and that occupation can bring meaning to one’s life.

An occupational therapists job is to help their patients improve their quality of life in many key areas. They help with basic, everyday motor functions and reasoning abilities, in both physical and mental problems. They help people perform every day tasks and function well in society. The goal of an occupational therapists job is to help their patients live an independent and product lifestyle, with or without their injury or disability. Occupational therapists are employed in many different areas, from hospitals, to schools, to nursing homes and much more. This fast growing field allows the therapist to interact on a personal level with their patient, and aid in the growth of both mental and physical development. The goal of the occupational therapist is to heal the patient of their problems so that their life can go on without their services.

There are many people who may benefit from the use of occupational therapy. These include people who may have had a work-related injury, including, but not limited to, lower back problems, carpal tunnel, head injuries, mental problems and more. They can help with sprains that become repetitive, limitations one might suffer after a stroke or heart attack occurs, or any age related illness such as having arthritis. Occupational Therapists also help in the areas of brain injury, neurodegenerative movement disorders that may include multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, or other learning disabilities that can affect a person’s mental and physical movement.

Occupational therapists’ jobs do not end there. A baby that has suffered injuries during birth may be a good candidate for therapy, as is one that suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. Accidents can occur that cause lasting damage, such as a bad fall, burns, fractures, or sports injuries. Occupational therapy can help in these areas as well. A therapist can also help those who have obsessive compulsive disorder, autism, perceptual or cogitative impairments, among other illnesses. Occupational therapists work with many areas and have a lot of expertise in a wide variety of issues.

One of the best parts of working in the occupational therapy field is that there are many places that one can work. Therapists can work in outpatient clinics, helping those who have been injured at work, in an accident or at school, as a few examples. They can also work in long-term care, such as a nursing home, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and clinics. Therapists can work in burn centers, pediatrics, in-patient and out-patient hospital settings, forensic units, homeless shelters and much more.

Occupational therapists may also work in community based practices. This is the practice of moving away from hospitals and rehabilitation clinic type settings into a setting that is not as typical, such as a homeless shelter. There are many types of community based jobs that one can work in the occupational field. These may be in day care centers or child development centers, where the skills of an occupational therapist could be greatly used. Occupational Therapists also work with schools, many times private ones, to provide services on a one-on-one basis with the kids in a relaxed setting. Some people choose to have occupational therapy services provided in their own homes for ease and convenience; however, this may be quite costly. Some jobs may even include providing a program that helps those who are returning to the workforce after an injury. This type of program can really help those who have been out of work for a very long time.

Occupational therapists may work with and around children and babies in their field of work. Helping children with their needs may sound like basic ones, such as helping a baby pick up and hold a rattle or helping a toddler scribble. Unfortunately, many babies and kids lack the necessary motor skills for these problems, and need outside intervention. There may be many reasons for this, such as birth defects, illness, or problems caused by the mother, such as fetal alcohol syndrome. It may also just be a child who is slightly behind in their learning abilities, and simply need a little help. Either way, an occupational therapist can make a great career out of helping children. Early intervention programs can include many needs for occupational therapists in their programs.

A therapist can help children who have developmental delays and teach them the basics that they are having trouble with. This can include bathing, dressing, feeding themselves, and washing their own faces. They may help those who have behavioral disorders, such as hitting or yelling when they are mad. They can show children positive ways that can help them manage their anger better. Therapists will also work with children who may have some type of sensory or attention problems, and help them focus on improving these areas. A therapist can also aid in evaluating whether a child needs special equipment, such as a wheelchair or communication aids, and can help the family qualify for such things. A career in occupational therapy with children can be a rewarding one as well as lucrative job.

An occupational therapist has to be licensed to practice in the United States, which involves a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Therapists must also complete 6 months of fieldwork in a supervised setting, and complete a test with passing scores on both national and state examinations. For entry into the field of occupational therapy, a masters degree or higher is a must. Many schools now offer part-time programs and weekend programs to obtain a degree, as well as the regular full-time programs. The coursework will contain a number of things, such as physical and behavioral sciences. A college will look favorably on those who have had paid work in the health care field, and especially on volunteer work of the same nature.

To receive a license in all states in the United States, a person must graduate from an educational program that is accredited by their state, and also pass a national certification exam. The title of Occupational Therapist Registered is the title given to those that do pass all of the required tests. For those who may work in schools or early intervention programs, some states may have additional requirements. These may or may not include education-related classes and an early intervention certification.

Becoming an occupational therapist is not just about taking classes and going to work. Therapists need to have strong communication skills, patience, and having an outgoing and caring attitude. Many patients will not have a fast improvement, so exercising patience in this situation is an absolute must. Occupational therapists’ jobs will include having an imagination to cater to the needs of an individual, especially those who work with babies and young children. Designing programs that help individuals can be an important aspect if this job.

In many states, it is required to take continuing education classes and workshops to maintain an occupational therapy license. Many companies will encourage their staff to take these classes anyway, so that they maintain the highest level of professionalism and knowledge. Many of those who make a career out of occupational therapy are taking on a more managerial role in the workplace. Therapists can try and advance their careers by assuming more responsibilities, such as supervising and administrative duties. They can also advance their careers by specializing in a clinical area, and working at becoming a specialist in a certain area. These may include gerontology and mental health. By offering and setting up classes to teach to others in the same field, an occupational therapist may also advance their career.

In the year of 2006, occupational therapists filled more than 99,000 jobs. Many occupational therapists held more than one job, as well. Hospitals employ the largest amount of jobs in this career. However, other large places offer many jobs as well. Health care practitioner’s offices, educational places, both public and private, nursing care facilities, home health care services, and outpatient care buildings were all popular places an occupational therapist may be employed by. Many jobs were held by government agencies, as well as care programs set up specifically for the elderly. Some therapists can be employed by private practice or in private homes. Clients that may have been referred there by some other health care provider may be treated by a therapist in a more private setting. Contract services to other places, such as schools, adult day care programs, and nursing homes are other areas a therapist can work in.

Industrial therapists are a branch of therapists that include both occupational and physical therapists. However, these types of therapists also deal with the many worker’s compensation cases and claims that are made every day. Claims may be difficult and complicated to deal with. As an industrial therapist, one must be able to handle stress and give an objective opinion on their patients and their problems. Industrial therapists also deal with the paperwork and communication in a worker’s comp claim.

The career of occupational therapy is expected to be a fast-growing one, much better than the average for other occupations. For those who want to make a career in this field, it should be easy to find a job after graduation, especially for those who want to treat the elderly. The increase in percentages between 2006 and 2016 is expected to rise by 23 percent. There will always be the need for occupational therapists as there will be people with disabilities and problems who will always need therapy. As the growth in the elderly population continues, so does the demand for occupational therapy. There will always be a need for therapeutic services, from baby years to old-age.

The outlook for an average salary for occupational therapists is as follows. Median earnings in 2006 were about $64,470. The average salary can be between $50,450 and $73,710. Home health care facilities topped the list of places to get the highest salary for occupational therapy. Nursing homes came in next, followed closely by physician, physical and occupational offices. Audiologist offices also need the use of occupational therapists. The lowest pay, although still in the $60,000 dollar range, are medical and surgical hospitals as well as elementary and secondary schools. However, occupational therapists can make anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000, depending on their level of experience, qualifications and their place of current employment.

The need for occupational therapist will continue to rise as more and more people ease into elderly ages, and develop the need for services. As more and more people turn 75 years of age and older, the need for therapy will increase as strokes and heart attacks increase alongside them. Another reason this field will become so popular is that there are more and more advances in modern medicine. These keep people alive who may have a critical disease, but also cause the need for more therapeutic therapy.

A career in occupational therapy can be a very rewarding one, both financially and mentally. An occupational therapist can work in many job settings and advance their career to make a better salary. If you like to help others in a very hands-on environment, than a career in occupational therapy may be the right job for you. Occupational therapy is fast-moving, fast growing, and immensely rewarding.