Looking back on my observation hours I completed prior to applying to OT school, there are some situations/ decisions I saw that seem a little less clear, knowing what I do now. Watching PTs or OTs do their jobs is one thing. They make decision-making look easy, when in reality there is so much more to the story than is visible to the observer (especially an observer with no graduate-level knowledge under their belt).
I observed PT and OT in an outpatient pediatric clinic as an intern for a semester. During that time, I learned a great deal about client interaction and numerous diagnoses that were commonly seen in the children that came to this clinic. However, I did not recognize at that time that the therapist's clinical decision-making was so involved. From my perspective, the therapists would take each client and each day as it came, utilizing whatever motivated the client that particular day. It is true that children are unpredictable and are motivated by different things at different times (for example, maybe they got a new toy for their birthday- the client could implement this into their therapy). However, looking back at those experiences now, I realize that the therapists had more of a plan than it seemed. They had to learn a great deal about each diagnosis and used their clinical experience to make realistic and motivating goals based on each individual client, and create treatment plans to get them there. While it might have seemed much simpler to me, such as simply picking a game to play for the day, the therapists actually have a challenging task of working towards those specific goals while also keeping the clients motivated. They also have to analyze the client's performance during each activity, in much more detail than one might realize. With children, this can be especially tricky. I have a new found respect for those therapists, their skill and their patience in treating their clients. I look forward to learning more about theories in OT and hope to have the same skills and knowledge as those therapists.
I observed PT and OT in an outpatient pediatric clinic as an intern for a semester. During that time, I learned a great deal about client interaction and numerous diagnoses that were commonly seen in the children that came to this clinic. However, I did not recognize at that time that the therapist's clinical decision-making was so involved. From my perspective, the therapists would take each client and each day as it came, utilizing whatever motivated the client that particular day. It is true that children are unpredictable and are motivated by different things at different times (for example, maybe they got a new toy for their birthday- the client could implement this into their therapy). However, looking back at those experiences now, I realize that the therapists had more of a plan than it seemed. They had to learn a great deal about each diagnosis and used their clinical experience to make realistic and motivating goals based on each individual client, and create treatment plans to get them there. While it might have seemed much simpler to me, such as simply picking a game to play for the day, the therapists actually have a challenging task of working towards those specific goals while also keeping the clients motivated. They also have to analyze the client's performance during each activity, in much more detail than one might realize. With children, this can be especially tricky. I have a new found respect for those therapists, their skill and their patience in treating their clients. I look forward to learning more about theories in OT and hope to have the same skills and knowledge as those therapists.
Excellent points!
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