Recreational Therapist Case Study

Occupational Profile
1. Who is the person you interviewed?
Carol Marcus is a 35 yo single female who recently left her job as a Recreation Therapist and moved from Pittsburgh, PA to Chapel Hill, NC in order to pursue a master’s in OT. She currently shares her living space with her dog and a housemate whom she is not fond of.
2. Considering the education and work the person did before deciding to come back to school, why did they decide not to continue with that kind of work: what aspects of that work were not a good fit for the person, what aspects were a good fit, why did they choose OT as their next career move, and what do they think about how the demands of being an OT match up with their strengths and weaknesses?
Carol had the opportunity
to learn about OT after HS when she was offered a job as an OT aide. Through her observations and experiences during that time, she realized that OT was a perfect match for her. However, she felt she didn’t have what it takes to become an OT so she decided to get a degree in Recreation Therapy instead. After working for several years as a RT, Carol realized she was doing the work of both an OT and a RT, but only being paid for the recreation portion. She states that she had a great job, but after working in both fields, she feels strongly that OT is a better fit for her and she would like to be properly compensated. Carol admits that while she is not the best student, she is very dedicated and is determined to get through the master’s program to become a practicing OT. She has taught crafts to people all her life and gets great enjoyment from watching others learn. She loves working with older adults and finds it especially nurturing to teach them how to garden. Carol believes her skills and prior experience are a good match for the demands of OT and that through therapeutic use of activity she will be able to help improve the quality of life for others.
3. While the person is in the OT program, what are his or her concerns with daily life activities or balance of occupations and roles while they are in school?
Carol states that she had to give up everything, except her dog, in order to make this move and start on the path to a new career. She had to borrow money in order to return to school and is only able to work part time at a local restaurant to help with living expenses. She realizes that she will need to focus the balance of her time and attention on the OT program. She understands that there will be little to no time for leisure or social activities for the next two years. Carol feels her hard work and dedication will pay off and the end result will be worth the sacrifices she has to make at this point in her life.
4. Which contexts of their life support or inhibit them being in school and making the career choice to become an OT?
From the time Carol decided she wanted to go back to school she realized she was facing many challenges. She knew she had to make an out of state move but had no idea how to make that a physical reality. A friend offered to help transport her belongings to NC; however, after the move she never heard from him again. She says her biggest supporters were her clients at the senior center where she had been working for the past several years. She shared that they didn’t want to see her go but were very understanding. They even went so far as to gather supplies and collect money for her. They also put together a farewell party which she admits was very emotional. Carol states that most of the other people in her life don’t support the choice she has made to leave her job to go back to school because they don’t understand what OT is. Being an older student, Carol is on her own financially as well. With little to no backing both emotionally and financially, Carol knows that she will have to rely on her inner strength and determination to get through this program so that she can return to work as quickly as possible.
5. Regarding their free time, determine several occupations they enjoy and describe what it is about them that is fulfilling or enjoyable to them?
Carol loves dogs and the companionship they provide. She also appreciates the fact that they get her out of the house on a regular basis and keep her active. Additionally, she enjoys spending time outdoors gardening. She believes that teaching others to garden is a very caring thing to do. Carol also loves making crafts of all sorts, especially knitting and creating mosaics. She has taught crafts all her life and gets great enjoyment from watching others learn.
6.
What are their priorities and target outcomes for this change in career?
Carol intends to be a practicing OT upon completion of her master’s. She states that she has always felt a special connection with older adults and hopes that this career change will allow her to use her knowledge and skills to teach therapeutic activities in order to improve and enrich the lives of this clientele. Carol feels that, while RT has its benefits, OT will go much further in contributing to the welfare of her clients and be more fulfilling for herself. She also believes that this will allow her to be paid more equitably for the services that she is capable of
providing.
7.
Write a paragraph reflecting on how you used active listening techniques to help your interview go smoothly. How did you get your partner to share important information with you? Was this easier or harder than you thought it would be? How would it be different with a client? After thanking Carol for agreeing to do an interview with me, I found it very easy to get her to share her personal history with me. I did use reflection and clarification during the interview but it was more for my sake than to get her to divulge more information. If this had been a client instead, things could have taken many different turns depending on the person’s situation and diagnosis. A client might not be willing to answer questions as freely and openly as a classmate or colleague would. With a client it may be necessary to ask for clarification in order to draw out additional information. Reflecting on the clients comments would also be useful in getting a deeper understanding of their circumstances. Simply restating what they have already said may also be helpful in getting them to share more about themselves. Using these active listening skills throughout the interview may put the client more at ease and therefore generate better results. In some situations it may also be necessary to involve family members and/or significant others in the discussion, particularly if the person is
unable to properly communicate the necessary information.
8. List several things you learned about your classmate/interviewee that you could use to make their OT sessions more client-centered if they were a patient of yours. I learned that Carol loves spending time with dogs, enjoys gardening, and a variety of crafts. She is especially fond of knitting and also has an affinity for creating mosaics. All of these activities can be used for a variety of therapeutic benefits. If Carol was a client, incorporating any of these things into her treatment would make it more engaging and client-centered for her.