What Is Occupational Therapy? – Defining OT – University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
Discover what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists help individuals participate in the activities that bring meaning and purpose to their daily lives. Faculty members from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) explain the individualized nature of occupational therapy, emphasizing how treatment is shaped around each person’s needs, abilities, goals, and daily routines. From improving independence with everyday tasks to addressing physical and mental health challenges, occupational therapy focuses on helping people overcome barriers and engage in the activities that matter most to them.
The video explores the broad scope of occupational therapy practice and the different populations occupational therapists serve, from infants to older adults. Faculty also discuss the balance of science, creativity, and problem-solving involved in the profession, as well as how occupational therapy students at USAHS are prepared to work with diverse populations and support individuals in achieving greater independence and quality of life.
Transcript
What Is Occupational Therapy – Defining OT – University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
[00:00:00] Mary Zadnik (OT Faculty): We struggle as a profession to really say we do X or we do Y because what we do is actually really generated by what that person or that patient is and what their needs are. [00:00:15] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): Some of what we do really looks the same as our colleagues, but our goals will be written in the way that reflects what’s meaningful to that client. [00:00:22] Maureen Johnson (OT Faculty): It’s so customized and individual that there’s not one definition. [00:00:26] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): We are almost only limited by our imagination. [00:00:28] Jennifer Summers (OT Faculty): But what keeps us centered as occupational therapists is we’re always thinking about what is it you need to do. [00:00:34] Maureen Johnson (OT Faculty): Of course, our biggest mission is getting them, anyone back to doing the things that they love to do. [00:00:38] Mary Zadnik (OT Faculty): And so independence in a daily task could look different for each person as well as the struggles they face. So it could be a purely physical struggle, it could be a psychosocial struggle, or it could be a combination of both. And so we take the time to get to know that client and figure out where they might have some challenges and again, step in and help them overcome them. [00:00:57] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): Everything is open for us and we have this huge mental health component. We have this physical component. [00:01:04] Jennifer Summers (OT Faculty): Love and appreciate science, but we also have that kind of creative artsy piece as well because we have to problem solve in those creative ways all the time. [00:01:12] Mary Zadnik (OT Faculty): To help somebody be independent in those roles and responsibilities or occupations will look different for each person. [00:01:18] Jennifer Summers (OT Faculty): What’s their passion? What drives them? What motivates them? [00:01:20] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): They may tell you, “You know, I just really want to be able to manage my pot of coffee in the morning.” And so that’s our goal. [00:01:26] Jennifer Summers (OT Faculty): How do you actually do the, do the things that you need to do in context? [00:01:30] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): The benefit of OT is really how broad our scope is. [00:01:33] Mary Zadnik (OT Faculty): At our university, we’re preparing our students to be able to work with any population. [00:01:38] Maureen Johnson (OT Faculty): We work with infants, we work with adults, we sometimes even work with animals. It’s amazing the things that we do. [00:01:44] Mary Zadnik (OT Faculty): That’s what truly separates us from physical therapy is our focus on the client. [00:01:48] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): Our goal is for that individual to be independent. [00:01:51] Mary Zadnik (OT Faculty): And what they need to do in their daily lives. [00:01:53] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): We have 100 years plus of experience doing it. [00:01:57] Jennifer Summers (OT Faculty): Occupational therapists have this strong sense of duty and compassion to make a, a positive change. [00:02:03] Gina Benavente (OT Faculty): It has been our driving force.
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