Advice to my future self as an OT and as a person

 

Dear Future-self 

I am writing this letter to give you a few pieces of advice which I am hoping will gently guide you like a compass in this ship of life, which will hopefully help clear your mind to give you a refreshed perspective, and which will serve as a reminder of your purpose in this profession.

1)      1) Therapy does not come with an expiry date

Yes, clients pay for therapy. However, unlike other products we purchase, the use of therapy is not limited to a “best before” date. The time it takes for every individual to heal is as unique as the individual themselves. By now I am sure that you may have experienced something like working with a client for a couple weeks or MONTHS now, and you haven’t seen any real progress- you have hit a plateau and you don’t know what to do. Here is a simple tip that I feel can help overcome this plateau in therapy.

ZOOM OUT: It can be so easy to hyper-focus on higher-level skills during therapy such as eating/dressing and other fine motor skills, that you may often forget to “ZOOM OUT” to ensure that you are addressing the clients needs as holistically as possible. Question whether the client’s very basic needs are being met or not. By basic, I don’t mean the ADLs, but I am referring to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs which you learned way back in the first year of university- needs like attachment, safety, and a positive self-image. 

To read about each level in detail, you may visit this link: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4136760

Think about what the environmental demands are? Is the client able to even sit upright? It could be any one or more of the most basic needs not being met, which could hinder progress. Therefore, remember to use a hierarchical approach as this will focus on foundational requirements being met, to then allow higher-level skills to be addressed. For example, if a client is constantly in fight or flight due to an impairment in their CNS and/or subsequent sensory processing, then it will be virtually impossible to expect results with skills higher up in the brain hierarchy, like executive functioning. 

Remember, plateaus can occur in therapy. The important thing to do is to reassess or zoom out if need be, modify your approach/FOR, and even go as far as providing the client a break in therapy if this occurs.

2)      2) Client satisfaction over traditional practices

Take a page out of the book of your role model in the OT field- Michelle D.- the Latina Paediatric OT, based in Miami, Florida. Just like her, I know you wish to specialize in pediatrics, have your own practice and run an OT entrepreneurship alongside. Remember how she chose to let the child sleep during therapy instead of being productive. She spent half the treatment session trying to motivate her friend there to engage in play. However, it was his third therapy session of the day and his mum reported that he was running on minimal sleep. Hence, she found it safe to conclude that this child’s sensory system was on overdrive, leading him to have a complete meltdown during the session, with inconsolable crying and screaming. She recalled how as a fresh graduate she would have continued to try and motivate the child to engage in an activity that he may like so that they could “get something done”. However, her experience taught her, that sometimes the BEST thing to “do”, is to take a step back and reflect on what IS IT, that this child desperately needs. With this child, he was tired from lack of sleep the night before and experiencing a high level of stress from an overloaded sensory system. Hence, she knew it was time to switch gears. She instinctively dimmed the lights, allowed him to climb up into her lap, and proceeded to hug him tightly to provide some proprioceptive input to assist in organizing his sensory system. She admitted that it took a couple minutes, but he finally relaxed. Thereafter, he was able to calm himself enough to walk out independently and greet his mother with a smile at the end of the session. Now, one may argue that the session was not as productive as others. However, by bombarding his sensory system with more demands and sensory input, more harm would be caused than good as his stress levels would be increased. Instead, she was able to provide the child an opportunity to feel safe and regulate himself when he was feeling most vulnerable. SO, you hardworking and intelligent OT, remember that therapy is not always a linear process- and that is OKAY! Remember to acknowledge and celebrate your little victories and milestones along the way- indeed they are the most meaningful accomplishments. 

https://www.instagram.com/michelled_ot/?hl=en- Take some time out to scroll through her Instagram feed to learn and see what she ahs been up to. 

3)  4) “It’s not how we make mistakes but how we correct them that defines us”- Sonu Singh

The mantra of every OT student was to look at clients HOLISTICALLY- fair enough. However, what about YOU? Who besides yourself will ever consider you holistically hey? Not always are people lucky to have empathetic superiors. Hence it is vital to prioritize yourself, take care of yourself, and establish good energy, mindset, and health for yourself so that you can go out and provide the best possible healthcare to other individuals. 

4 simple self-care tips for health professionals- https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-importance-of-self-care-for-health-care-workers

You are not alone if you feel:

• grateful for a client cancellation to catch a breath in between client appointments
• overwhelmed with balancing your career, relationships, finances, and family life.
• impostor syndrome and are constantly questioning if you are providing the best care.

In reality, it gets difficult to juggle so many roles and tasks at once and still keep it all together. Burnout and anxiety are REAL. With burnout, you just want to sleep, but the anxiety keeps you up. You may feel “guilty” for taking days off and a time may come where you feel like all that matters is making more and more money. But these things should NEVER sacrifice your mental health. NEVER.

It is not only you. There are many who experience similar situations and emotions when navigating life as a healthcare practitioner. Especially when thinking about the realities that you experience every day: unrealistic productivity standards, massive student loan debt, complex caseloads, and the emotional burden that one experiences when working so closely with individuals.

Honey…I want you to validate these feelings and if need be, seek help from a trusted mentor/community, because when ignored, they can build up to bigger issues like chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. This world can be very fast-paced and unforgiving. All this is to say, please take care of YOU friend. After all, there is ONLY ONE you, and the world is blessed to have you in it 🌍💕

 

4)      3) "Positivity" is the lifeboat in this sea of life

You have always been an optimistic individual as far as I believe. As much as I pray this trait never dims, you do not have control over the trials and tribulations of your existence in this world. However, what you CAN control is how you respond to it.

Bark if you need to. Step away to be alone (and this isn’t avoidance, by the way). Shake your fist at the sky. But DO NOT obsess, swim, or dance in this negativity forever or what feels like forever. It is always easier said than done but find the silver lining. Accumulate wisdom from your error. Accept. Adapt. Be fair to yourself. Be kind to yourself. See the world as perfectly imperfect and don't let it overwhelm you. When meeting a new individual, try and find at least one positive attribute. Instead of assessing and looking at them as problem lists, try and search for the best in them and nurture that goodness. They may not be you, someone you know, or someone you may hang out with for a lifetime, but they still deserve your respect, genuine interest, and a chance to show their best selves. Thrive on the highlights of the week, those little, valuable moments.

 

Lastly, whenever you are having a hard time, remember what your Lord has said: "There is no person who visits the sick but 70000 angels send blessings upon him".

Here to support, inspire and mOTivate

 ~Your 2021 self

     ~Shakeelah🎀