Profile of an Occupational Therapist

In every career field, there are certain personality traits and general interests that characterize the people who are successful in that area. The field of Occupational Therapy is no different. There are several defining psychological features that many OT's have in common in order to be the best at what they do. Here is a brief overview of these characteristics.

A Great Occupational Therapist Will Be:

Patient
OT's must be able to tolerate clients who might not progress quickly and have difficulty doing tasks we often take for granted, like picking up a pencil. If you have no tolerance and patience with slow learners, OT is probably not the best career choice.

Creativity
In order to meet every clients needs in a personalized and specific way, OT's are always being called upon to be super creative. Even if you are not crafty, if you have the ability to creatively envision a grander functionality in a typical environment, OT may be right up your alley.

Fun-Loving
Okay, so this is not exactly at the top of this list, but it is a common characteristic of OT's. Traditionally, they are a fun group. This may be partially due to their creativity and other endearing qualities, but it is a characteristic worth noting.

Servant's Heart
OT's pour into others' lives and help them achieve goals no matter what it may require of them. This means that their duties at some point may include awkward topics like teaching a teenage girl with Down's Syndrome how to use a tampon or helping a 70 year old incontinent man regain some independence. People who need Occupational Therapy the most are often in vulnerable positions and require OT's with a servant's heart. If the thought of this makes you want to run for the hills, perhaps you need to re-think OT as your career choice.