Occupational Therapy Interest Paper

    Create a personal definition of Occupational Therapy by incorporating an understanding of the historical and philosophical base of the profession of occupational therapy while integrating the meaning and dynamics of occupation and activity, including the interaction of areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, activity demands, context(s), and environments, client factors.
    Identify and describe how Occupational Therapy aids in the demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the concepts of human behavior.
    Explain the impact of this knowledge and understanding on the individual client.
    Identify areas categorized as traditional and emerging areas of OT practice.
    Select a field of personal interest in OT. Discuss why field of interest is of personal interest from the identified areas categorized as traditional and emerging areas of OT practice.
    Identify personal experiences that provide useful insight and empathy in this field of interest.
    Reflect about your career goals 5 years after you graduate.
Identify what you would need to learn to achieve your career goal, i.e. resources, certifications, and training.
    Exam business aspects of practice e.g. Owning a clinical practice, by outlining the startup and implementation process: location, permits, accreditation, credentialing, funding sources, reimbursement and client referral sources
    Demonstrate an understanding for the commitment in the Profession to locating, processing and relaying/creating quality information (tests, statistics, measurements) from evidence-based research to facilitate role development, delivering evidenced based practice and developing therapeutic relationships.
    Discuss personal skills/abilities possessed (e.g. empathy, altruism, therapeutic use of self) and which will be needed to engage with specific populations(for e.g. when working to address effects of health, disability, disease process on the individual, family and society or when promoting wellness)and develop appreciation for the diversified components of the individual client (environmental and sociocultural considerations).