Ethically Grounded with a Strong OT Identity
1. Advocates for clients who have been neglected or underrepresented in the system.
At the behavioral health center, I interacted with clients in group and individual contexts. This allowed me opportunities to observe behaviors in the milieu that other staff may not recognize as maladaptive behaviors that could be addressed by occupational therapy. One youth demonstrated decreased frustration tolerance and sensory regulation during several life skills group sessions, such as banging their head repeatedly on the desk, so I referred the youth for occupational therapy. I evaluated the youth, and results from the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile indicated that the youth had a low registration sensory processing pattern. All of the youth at the behavioral health center demonstrated some level of emotional dysregulation, so it can be challenging to distinguish sensory processing differences. I believe having an occupational therapy practitioner in this setting is critical to serving those who would benefit from skilled interventions.
At the behavioral health center, I interacted with clients in group and individual contexts. This allowed me opportunities to observe behaviors in the milieu that other staff may not recognize as maladaptive behaviors that could be addressed by occupational therapy. One youth demonstrated decreased frustration tolerance and sensory regulation during several life skills group sessions, such as banging their head repeatedly on the desk, so I referred the youth for occupational therapy. I evaluated the youth, and results from the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile indicated that the youth had a low registration sensory processing pattern. All of the youth at the behavioral health center demonstrated some level of emotional dysregulation, so it can be challenging to distinguish sensory processing differences. I believe having an occupational therapy practitioner in this setting is critical to serving those who would benefit from skilled interventions.
2. Fulfills commitments to the professional community.
I always ensured that I was on time and prepared for fieldwork commitments. As a future occupational therapy practitioner, it would be disrespectful to my clients and my colleagues to arrive late to work. Punctuality sets the expectation for professionalism and helps to build trust with clients. As a student representing my program and my university, I had an additional responsibility to ensure that my fieldwork educators would have a positive impression of students placed at their sites. A poor experience with a student may result in fieldwork educators becoming hesitant to accept future students, so I maintained my accountability.
I always ensured that I was on time and prepared for fieldwork commitments. As a future occupational therapy practitioner, it would be disrespectful to my clients and my colleagues to arrive late to work. Punctuality sets the expectation for professionalism and helps to build trust with clients. As a student representing my program and my university, I had an additional responsibility to ensure that my fieldwork educators would have a positive impression of students placed at their sites. A poor experience with a student may result in fieldwork educators becoming hesitant to accept future students, so I maintained my accountability.
3. Represents the unique perspective of occupational therapy when participating in inter-professional situations.
Many clients did not understand the purpose or role of occupational therapy. I would educate clients on occupational therapy and its role in conjunction with other healthcare professionals. In the screenshot below, I discussed my role as an advocate for the profession:
Many clients did not understand the purpose or role of occupational therapy. I would educate clients on occupational therapy and its role in conjunction with other healthcare professionals. In the screenshot below, I discussed my role as an advocate for the profession:
4. Assumes responsibility for professional behavior and growth, in accordance with AOTA standards.
My fieldwork rotations gave ample opportunities for proactive learning and growth. White I entered the field with academic knowledge from the classroom, there is no true substitution for direct experience with real clients. I am proud to have demonstrated growth during my time as a student practitioner, as evidenced by the feedback I received during my final Fieldwork Performance Evaluation at the conclusion of my first rotation at the behavioral health center:
My fieldwork rotations gave ample opportunities for proactive learning and growth. White I entered the field with academic knowledge from the classroom, there is no true substitution for direct experience with real clients. I am proud to have demonstrated growth during my time as a student practitioner, as evidenced by the feedback I received during my final Fieldwork Performance Evaluation at the conclusion of my first rotation at the behavioral health center:
5. Functions autonomously and effectively in a broad array of service models.
The behavioral health center was a challenging setting with a variety of responsibilities that necessitated advanced planning, organization, and autonomy. I created a digital binder to keep track of my individual and group schedules, due dates, and expectations throughout the week. The screenshot below is an example of one week from the digital binder (I have omitted some information to maintain privacy/confidentiality):
The behavioral health center was a challenging setting with a variety of responsibilities that necessitated advanced planning, organization, and autonomy. I created a digital binder to keep track of my individual and group schedules, due dates, and expectations throughout the week. The screenshot below is an example of one week from the digital binder (I have omitted some information to maintain privacy/confidentiality):
6. Upholds the AOTA Code of Ethics in practice.
Throughout my fieldwork experiences, I endeavored to maintain the highest standards of ethical practice through consistent utilization of therapeutic boundaries with clients. I also upheld client confidentiality by omitting identifying information for required assignments and refraining from posting on social media. The screenshot below shows an example of evaluation I received from my fieldwork educator regarding my adherence to the AOTA Code of Ethics:
Throughout my fieldwork experiences, I endeavored to maintain the highest standards of ethical practice through consistent utilization of therapeutic boundaries with clients. I also upheld client confidentiality by omitting identifying information for required assignments and refraining from posting on social media. The screenshot below shows an example of evaluation I received from my fieldwork educator regarding my adherence to the AOTA Code of Ethics:
7. Serves as a role model for honesty, integrity, and morally grounded decision making.
One of the core values of the behavioral health center was, “We do what we say we do.” During orientation, they taught us that our integrity will guide our decisions, and it was important for us to follow through with what we said. I did my best to serve as a positive role model for youth who had not always had adequate support from adults. I displayed empathy while maintaining therapeutic boundaries, and demonstrated patience during moments of elevated emotional dysregulation. For example, when one youth had been harassed by another youth prior to our evaluation, I chose to allow the youth to decompress before the session by playing with construction blocks. While I understood the importance of improving my time management skills, I also knew it would not be compassionate if I did not give the youth time to process their feelings in a healthy manner.
One of the core values of the behavioral health center was, “We do what we say we do.” During orientation, they taught us that our integrity will guide our decisions, and it was important for us to follow through with what we said. I did my best to serve as a positive role model for youth who had not always had adequate support from adults. I displayed empathy while maintaining therapeutic boundaries, and demonstrated patience during moments of elevated emotional dysregulation. For example, when one youth had been harassed by another youth prior to our evaluation, I chose to allow the youth to decompress before the session by playing with construction blocks. While I understood the importance of improving my time management skills, I also knew it would not be compassionate if I did not give the youth time to process their feelings in a healthy manner.