Occupational therapy is a branch of healthcare services that is related to maintaining the occupations or other meaningful activities of individuals or groups. Occupational therapists are among allied healthcare professionals. They work with people suffering from mental health problems, injuries, disabilities or impairments. The American Occupational Therapy Association defines their role as helping people during their life to perform the things that they want by the therapeutic use of their occupations. Occupational therapists usually work in coordination with other professions as physicians, physical therapists, speech-language pathologist, nurses, social workers and psychologists. Examples for occupational therapies include helping students with disabilities participate fully in schools, injury rehabilitation and supporting elderly with the cognitive and physical changes.

What does an occupational therapy student learn?

Occupational therapists should have the medical knowledge about the common disabilities or health problems that can affect the daily activities of people. They also learn how to optimize the daily activities to overcome the disabilities and related health conditions. The following list shows the courses commonly offered in occupational therapy degree programs:

1. Functional anatomy: this course introduces the anatomy of the human body with more focus on the functions of various tissues and organs.
2. Human development and functioning: this course describes the developmental stages for humans during childhood which is essential for evaluation and providing support to children with mental or physical disabilities.
3. Health services practice management: the course presents the management aspect related to health services which is important for students who aim at running their own business. This includes working with other healthcare professions as physicians, nurses and psychiatrists.
4. Occupational therapy process: the course describes the steps for occupational including the evaluation of disabilities, implementing therapy and monitoring progress.
5. Occupational therapy process
6. Psychology: this is important knowledge for efficient interference as injuries, disabilities and impairments can have significant psychological impacts.
7. Kinesiology: this is the science of the human body movement and exercise and how it affects the human body. This represents a major part of occupational therapy.

Now I have the occupational therapy degree…where can I work after graduating?

Occupational therapy is a professional degree that qualifies you to get your license and work in this field. It is financially rewarding career and there is growing demand for it. You can work as an occupational therapist in a variety of work environments:

1. Hospitals and clinics
2. Home health services: you will provide support to families that have members suffering from disabilities, impairments or injuries to maintain the normal quality of life.
3. Child day care services: some of the facilities providing services to children with special needs. These facilities hire occupational therapist to help children function and integrate normally with other children and prepare for schools.
4. Nursing and skilled nursing facilities: nursing facilities provide medical support which includes occupational therapy.
5. Retirement communities and assisted living facilities: these are residential communities dedicated to retired elders to provide the needed assistance to maintain their quality of life.

Should I choose an occupational therapy degree?

Occupational therapy is a good choice for people who have passion to help patients with special needs as those who suffer from injuries, disabilities and impairments. The profession is financially rewarding and graduates can earn more than $100K a year. Additionally, studying occupational therapy will help you develop a number of important skills:

1. Communication skills: occupational therapists should have excellent communication skills to help people in need and also communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals who may be involved in the therapy.
2. Patience: occupational therapy is usually a slow process that takes months to provide significant results. You also need patience and persistence to change the people’s behavior.
3. Empathy to people in need: the core of occupational therapy is to provide people who have special needs. These people are usually more vulnerable compared to others.
4. Teamworking skills: occupational therapists work closely with other members of the healthcare team or other care institutes.
5. Critical thinking and ability to find solutions to problems.