6 Traits of a good Occupational Therapist

Did you take a moment to celebrate World Occupational Therapy day on the 27th of October? You may have taken time to reflect and learn, or possibly attended some events and listened to some great speakers. 

Occupational Therapy Day was first launched on 27th October 2010. Since then, it has become an important date in the occupational therapy calendar to promote and celebrate the profession internationally.

Occupational therapy (OT) is a branch of health care that helps both paediatric and adult patients who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems. OTs can help individuals regain independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational therapy differs from other healthcare professions like physical therapy or nursing in its focus on treating the whole patient, rather than treating a particular injury, ailment, or disability.

So what are the traits of a Good Occupational Therapist ? Here are a few pointers: 

• Empathy and Patience - A great occupational therapist knows that their clients are undergoing a variety of challenges from their disabilities and so may get rude, frustrated, impatient, or angry. This can be very demanding so patience is key.

• Communication Skills - Constant communication is needed with the client , their family and other healthcare professionals as part of of a multi-disciplinary team. They should be able to articulate themselves clearly and effectively. 

• Organisational Skills -   managing their schedules , appointments, reviews, team meetings and documentation are some of the items they need to juggle. 

• Creative  and innovative Problem-Solving skills - Each client is unique as they have distinct goals, different problems, different fears, and varying motivations. 

• Ability to Support and Encourage - Cheering on your clients and showing that you are invested in their success can make all the difference.

• Physical Strength - There will be times when an OT need to be able to provide physical support  to help clients during functional mobility tasks or even to move heavy equipment. 

A big thank you to all Occupational Therapists who make such a difference day in and day out! 

If you are currently considering new OT roles - please feel free to browse through a list of advertised positions here.