Nutshell 4 - My Why

     While Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy have similarities like getting people on the right track to fulfill their routines and responsibilities, the types of interventions and scope of practices for these professions are very different. Physical therapists work to give patients who have experienced an injury to regain mobility and the motor skills they had before. Occupational therapists, on the other hand, work with clients who may or may not have experienced an injury to carry out their daily occupations such as dressing, house maintenance activities, health management, applying for jobs, and even playing! These are only a few examples of occupations people do for a meaningful life they can enjoy. While our focus includes mobility as well, we believe occupations are the means and the end to a successful life (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2017). You can find both types of practitioners in hospitals, skilled nusing facilities, and outpatient clinics. Additionally, Physical Therapists may have their patients use an arm bike in sessions to work on increased mobility of the shoulder, but an Occupational Therapist is going to incorporate activities that are meaningful to individuals like having them put dishes from the dishwasher into upper cabinets of their home or paint a picture of something they love while standing a certain amount of feet away from the wall. Occupational Therapists believe occupations are the means and end to therapy (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2017). I chose to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy because everyone has a human right and innate need to participate in life’s occupations regardless of the circumstances they may be under (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2017) and Occupational Therapy practitioners see clients as a whole person with wants and needs rather than by a diagnosis, so I believe their therapeutic services have the most effect on people’s quality of life and independence.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2017). Philosophical base of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(Suppl. 2), 7112410045. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.