Occupational Therapy Schools




If you’re looking for a rewarding career in occupational therapy, it’s important that you consider your options when it comes to occupational therapy schools and the type of occupational therapy you want to pursue.

Of course, there are a number of questions to be considered. First of all, what exactly is occupational therapy? Secondly, what are some of the qualifications that you should be looking for in occupational therapy schools to ensure that they can train you well for this career? Finally, there is also the question of whether it’s better to dedicate yourself via an online program or on the traditional campus. Both have pros and cons, and we’ll take a look at these questions and more.

What Exactly is Occupational Therapy, Anyway?

In a nutshell, occupational therapists help patients become able to participate in things that they want to do and things they need to do by the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupation).


Occupational therapists help patients in all stages of life. With children, occupational therapists offer their help by enabling them to participate in school and social situations that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to. In adults, injury recovering is often the focus of occupational therapy. In older adults, bodily and cognitive changes often create the need for occupational therapy in order to help such patients cope with the circumstances of their day-to-day lives. As you can see, occupational therapy schools offer training for a career that is much needed and very rewarding.

Occupational Therapy Schools and Programs

There are three essential elements in the successful occupational therapy program. First, there is an individualized evaluation. This evaluation in conjunction with the therapist, the patient, and the patient’s family as well as with the identification of the patients’ needs result in the construction of suitable treatment programs.

Secondly, the treatment program itself is administered. Under the supervision of the occupational therapist, the patient is taken through a series of exercises designed to help the patient regain abilities he or she may have lost.

Finally, an evaluation is necessary to determine whether or not patients’ goals were made, and what steps (if any) should be taken next.

What Else is an Occupational Therapist Involved In?

Aside from the three elements we’ve already mentioned, there are other occupational therapy steps that are involved in a successful treatment. In addition to treating the patient, an occupational therapist is also often training patients’ families regarding better ways to assist the patients in their therapy and their lives beyond here. In addition, the occupational therapist will often provide a complete analysis of the patient’s environment at home, school, and work. After this analysis, the therapist will be able to suggest ways to make the environment be better suited to the specialized needs. Of course, this is exactly the kind of thing you learn in occupational therapy schools.

Different Types of Occupational Therapists

There are a number of different types of occupational therapists. We’ve already discussed how occupation therapists can specialize in working with different age groups. There are also occupational therapists who specialize in working with different types of disabilities. There are mental disabilities, bodily disabilities, emotional disabilities, and learning disabilities. There are also others, but these are several of the main types of disabilities that occupational therapists assist patients with. Any of the good occupational therapy schools should be able to help you learn everything you need to in order to specialize in any of these departments of occupational therapy.

occupational therapy schools

Occupational therapist (source: KOMUNews)

Where Do Occupational Therapists Work?

Occupational therapists currently have a number of options when it comes to deciding where they would like to work. Of course, many of them do work in hospitals or rehabilitation centers. Also, however, many schools, both public and private schools, often employ occupational therapists. Not only that, occupational therapists also have the opportunity frequently to work in convalescent homes. Sometimes, you can even work directly and home to the pier. As you can see, a career as an occupational therapist can not only be rewarding, but it can also actually be quite flexible.

Occupational Therapy Schools

Types of Occupational Therapy School Programs

There are a number of different options when it comes to pursuing degrees from occupational therapy schools. For example, in additional to bachelor level programs, there are both master’s and doctorate degrees available. Some occupational therapy master’s programs require a bachelor’s degree in that same specific field. However, this is not always the case. In addition, some of these programs are generally geared toward those seeking accreditation. These programs are available online and on traditional campuses. Online occupational therapy schools are a great option for those who don’t have the time or opportunity to pursue their education on a traditional campus.

Life After Occupational Therapy Schools: Career Options

While occupational therapy careers can be rewarding, they can also be quite challenging. As a result, it’s very important for potential candidates for careers in occupational therapy to evaluate their own personal strengths and weaknesses before enrolling in an occupational therapy program. For example, right off the beat, if you don’t enjoy working with people, then this is not the career for you. Likewise, if you’re uncomfortable working around or near the elderly, children, or the physically (or mentally) disabled, then you should also reconsider this particular field. Ideally, the perfect candidate is someone who is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and who really cares about them regardless of their age or disability.

Popular Occupational Therapy Schools

Choosing the right occupational therapy school for you can be a big part of the process in deciding to become an occupational therapist. Luckily, there are a variety of occupational therapy degree programs for you to choose from, depending on your location, desired career path, and your ideal education setting. Some of the most popular schools for occupational therapists in the U.S. include:

  • Boston College (Sargent) in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
  • University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California

Occupational Therapy Schools: Summing It Up

Occupational therapy schools train special people, because it takes a special person to become an occupational therapist. If you have this desire, then you are to be commended. Already, you have been shown some practical steps that you can take towards becoming an occupational therapist. First off, evaluate your own personal strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, begin the search for the right occupational therapy school for you. Depending on whether or not you’ve already attained your bachelor’s degree, you’re going to have a number of different options available to you. Whichever option you choose, we wish you all the best of luck in your quest to become an occupational therapist. We are quite sure that you’re going to find this career fulfilling in terms of both finances and a sense of purpose.

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A Day in the Life of an Occupational Therapist

As we all know, occupational therapy schools provide you with the education that you need to become a working occupational therapist. But what exactly is an occupational therapist and what does their typical day look like? Let’s find out!

What is an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist is a working professional who cares for people with mental, developmental, emotional, or physical disabilities. Occupational therapists work to help these people recover from their conditions and develop their daily living and working skills. What type of people do occupational therapists learn to work with? Occupational therapy schools teach students about working with a variety of different people. As a therapist, you could be helping people overcome just about anything including ADD, strokes, amputations, pain, or any other physical, emotional, mental, or developmental condition.

What does a day in the life of an occupational therapist look like?

The majority of an occupational therapist’s day will be spent working one on one with their patients. Having said that, occupational therapy is about much more than hands on work. It also involves a great deal of paperwork, communication, and organization. The typical day of an occupational therapist will begin with management activities. This can include anything from organizing caseloads, reviewing paperwork, communicating with colleagues, and determining the workload for the day.

Once you have finished occupational therapy school and have entered into fieldwork, the majority of your day will be spent providing direct patient care. If you have a new patient, time will need to be taken to assess their condition, set short and long term goals, and decide how these goals will be reached. Then, in following sessions, you can work towards achieving these goals. Generally speaking, the goal of each day will be small, completed with the help of some simple therapeutic activities. After each session, it is the job of the occupational therapist to assess and record the progress of the patient, determining their goals for the next session.

Once all scheduled appointments are complete, the day is not quite over yet! Most therapists will take an hour or two to review their caseloads, prepare reports, and get their paperwork ready for the next work day.

Real-World Occupational Therapy Skills Story

Mary S. is an occupational therapist in Minnesota who prides herself on taking her occupational therapy patients outside of the office and into real-world settings where they can use their skills. She frequently takes her patients to a hair salon — yes, a hair salon! — that is down the street from her office. At the hair salon, her patients are able to test their dexterity with hair dryers, unheated styling tools, and even scissors on fake hair models. She finds that women in particular love playing with hair tools and it makes their therapy work a much more positive experience. The hair stylists love her visits as well — and they’ve even hooked a few patients on Mira hair oil, their flagship hair product!

Summary

If a-day-in-the-life of an occupational therapist sounds like something you would like to do, start searching for occupational therapy schools today. An occupational therapy school will teach you everything that you need to know, providing you with the degree that you need to become an occupational therapist!

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