OT Round Table: The Best Parts, The Hardest Parts and What We Wish Others Understood About OT

As occupational therapy clinicians, our jobs drastically shape our values and perspective on life. We share a unique outlook and approach to meaningful engagement in all of life’s occupations. Today is the first round table session in which Brock and Erika, a few OTs from different practice areas, come together to discuss topics within the field.

Guest Panelists:

• Brock Cook, BA OccThy - Lecturer - James Cook University - Mental Health
• Erika Downs, COTA/L, MSG - Geriatrics

We discuss the following topics:

• The beach
• Apps & social media: MySpace, Facebook, Marco Polo
• Structure of our jobs in per diem, home health, mental health, and academia
• Hardest parts of current jobs
• Limitations on our jobs as a therapist imposed from our healthcare systems
• Dealing with tough cases and death of a client
• What we wish more people knew about occupational therapy
• Why people do not know what occupational therapy is
• Our favorite/ last watched TV show
• Mental health as a practice area in the United States and Australia
• Our paths to the field of occupational therapy
• Importance of gaining exposure in numerous practice areas
• Best parts of being an occupational therapist