Career development
Career development
Feature
After spending so many years out of education I had a genuine fear that retraining into the world of occupational therapy was an insurmountable task . What I didn ’ t anticipate is that I would meet so many others with similar thoughts .
They each had their own set of strengths and their own worries or barriers they felt they had to overcome .
Though still present , as I learned more about occupational therapy these thoughts became easier and easier to manage , much in thanks to learning about ‘ strengths-based approaches ’ within occupational therapy itself .
Learning more about these approaches didn ’ t just allow me the space to succeed , it also made me honestly reflect on privilege , access and opportunity , both in the occupational therapy world and within wider society too .
A strengths-based approach
In occupational therapy , a strengths-based approach focuses on identifying and leveraging an individual ’ s inherent strengths , talents and resources , to enhance their wellbeing and participation in meaningful activities .
Unlike deficit-focused models , this approach emphasises the positive attributes of people rather than solely focusing on limitations .
This changed the game for me . Alongside this , a particularly talented lecturer at Brunel University gave us a timely reminder of growth mindsets – reframing the ‘ I don ’ t know that ’ mantra with ‘ I don ’ t know that yet ’. These things felt simple , but were so important when retraining , and I really hope that all students training in the profession hear about them too .
So many of my peers came from different backgrounds , with different skills and different lived experiences . We were encouraged to draw on these , and for me this really was the key to studying for a career I am enjoying so much now .
A year into practice
It ’ s now been a year since qualifying and I still use those founding principles of focusing on my strengths , rather than my assumed limitations , as a practising occupational therapist . I draw on my planning skills , on my creative background , on things I ’ ve learned from leadership roles in the past , and of course all the lived experience I ’ ve had to date .
I look to my peers , who have come from different backgrounds ; some who are parents , some with lived experiences of different conditions , and also those from a range of professional backgrounds . It couldn ’ t be clearer to me that the occupational therapy workforce
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benefits so greatly from these different perspectives .
I spent such a long time wondering how I could make a move into a career I could love and I feel so lucky that I ’ ve found it in occupational therapy . I won ’ t stop telling people how much value I think there is in taking a strengths-based approach in all areas of your professional ( and personal , but that ’ s another story ) life .
I find the beauty of occupational therapy lies in its theory , but also its scope . I am currently working within a predominantly acute hospital rotation , but I don ’ t doubt that the skills I am learning and honing now can be applied and used in whatever the occupational therapy world has in store for me next .
The best part ? My story isn ’ t a unique one . I ’ ve now met so many peers and colleagues who found different ways into the profession , all using their own unique skills to ultimately support their service users . It ’ s truly part of what I think makes occupational therapy so special .
Words LUKE TELSON-SILLETT , Occupational Therapist , is currently working on rotation at the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery , and at the time of writing , on rotation at University College London Hospital , in Trauma and Orthopaedics
November 2024 OTnews 37