The Hoodie That Never Was: A Reflection on Occupational Therapy
During my university studies, my cohort had a fun idea: creating Occupational Therapy (OT)-related hoodies to wear. We narrowed down the designs, and the most popular one by far featured a bold quote:
“Occupational Therapist – It’s okay no one knows what we do”.
Unsurprisingly, the university wisely raised concerns, fearing it might send a negative and unhelpful message about our profession. While the hoodie was never printed, I can still relate to the quote after many years of working in the field. Unfortunately, it reflects the reality of our profession, even within allied health circles, where OT is often misunderstood and undervalued.
What exactly is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a vast field, and defining it in simplistic terms can be challenging. For example, saying something like “I help people with wheelchairs” or “I help children improve their handwriting” can be overly simplistic. On the other end I have also spoken to many OTs who over complicate things and try provide lengthy explanations of their knowledge of sensory processing, motor skills and then wonder why people are confused. The strength of occupational therapy lies in our holistic, client-centered approach.
We focus on what is meaningful to each individual, which enables us to see the bigger picture. We take into account multiple factors—such as the environment, personal abilities, and the specific demands of tasks—when creating strategies to help our clients achieve their goals.
A simple explanation of Occupational Therapy
Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations about OT with other health professionals, parents, teachers, and friends. One of the most common sources of confusion is the term “occupation.” When I tell people that I work primarily with children, their expressions often turn even more puzzled. But “occupation” isn’t just about work—it refers to the everyday tasks and activities that give our lives meaning.
So, how do I explain what I do? Over time, I’ve refined my explanation:
“Everyone has occupations or jobs to do in their daily life. I work with people to help them do the jobs they need and want to do.”
From there, I usually explain how OT looks at all aspects of the “job” someone needs to do. We consider factors like the environment, personal strengths and challenges, and task requirements to create a plan that helps people reach their goals. The key is that we land on what is most meaningful and important to that person.
Your turn: Let’s talk!
My explanation probably won’t sell any hoodies and it isn’t perfect so is continuing to evolve. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic! Feel free to comment below or send me a message directly.
- If you are an OT: How do you explain OT to others?
- If you are not an OT: What’s your understanding of OT and how else have you heard it explained?
If you’re looking to explore how an Occupational Therapist can help you with the “jobs” in your life, whatever they may be, I’d be happy to chat. Just click the button below to get in touch!
Chat soon – Reuben 👋