Occupational Therapy News OTnews November 2019 | Page 31

‘‘
STUDENT EDUCATION FEATURE
I chose occupational
therapy because I wanted
a career that allows me to
support positive change in
the lives of individuals in all
aspects... it supports the
widely discussed shift from
occupational therapists
working in mainstream
healthcare services to being
present in non-traditional
community settings.
welcoming and onboard with the whole
aim for our project.
‘When our first client arrived, she
looked as nervous as I did, so I told her
that I would stay with her until she felt
comfortable with the beauty therapists,
as we had built up a rapport via our
messages in the run up to the event, and
this seemed to put her at ease.
‘Soon our other guests started to
arrive, and it was a relief to see that
they all knew one another from having
attended the same support groups run
by the domestic violence organisation.
‘Very quickly, the atmosphere was
one of complete relaxation. Our clients
all sat in chairs having their hair done,
drinking tea and chatting, leaving us with
a feeling of real contentment. After having
their hair done, the clients then moved
in to the therapy room for manicures,
pedicures and massages – the relaxation
continued.
© GettyImages/Zoran Zeremski
OTnews November 2019 31