Joan T. Warren's Occupational Therapy

What exactly is occupational therapy? Occupational therapy is “An artful blend of science and simplicity, therapeutic authenticity” (Warren, “Occupational Therapy). In “Occupational Therapy”, a poem written by Joan T. Warren, a plethora of information reveals many aspects of what occupational therapists accomplish on a daily basis. The themes of diversity and variability are prevalent throughout the poem and is exemplified through the various foundations of education required to become an occupational therapist, the different types of rehabilitation exercises patients are tasked with, and the wide array of patients that occupational therapists are obliged to assist on any given day. An occupational therapist is required to have knowledge …show more content…
These routines vary depending on what part of the body needs to be coached back to health or functionality. In “Occupational Therapy”, Warren provides different areas of the body and daily routines that occupational therapists can work with alongside their patients, “Developing handwriting, visual perception, peer interactions and social connection…cooking or eating, standing or seating, playing piano, or maybe just listening, balancing checkbooks or just reminiscing; we’re facilitating what matters to you, showing your value whether just be, or do.” As you can see, occupational therapists can deal with voluminous aspects of a patient’s daily life ranging from simple tasks such as standing, to more complex tasks such as playing the piano. Occupational therapists never truly know what their day has in store for them. In an interview I conducted with Dr. Salcedo, an occupational therapist in the Philippines, he stated that “Each day brings variety…each day brings surprises and different intensities of work…One of my patients experienced a stroke that left him with a very weak upper body. His treatment plan consisted of exercises that would get his upper body back into shape so he could travel around in his wheelchair efficiently again”; he then offered a contrast, “…the next day was less serious. The most serious case I had to work on was helping a 13-year-old boy put on his …show more content…
To efficiently assist in the rehabilitation of their patients, it is essential that occupational therapists possess the ability to communicate with different patients. Occupational therapists are exposed to working with a variety of people—young, old, African, Hispanic, Asian, and many more. Variety and diversity being the central themes of the poem, occupational therapists must readily adapt to any situation and any patient, “Teens need special consideration…On to adulthood… You’ll find us with elders wherever the need…Assessing environment... selecting equipment… We modify, formulate and make adaptations…” (Warren, “Occupational Therapy”). Each individual is unique, which attributes to more variety and diversity in the occupational therapy work field, “…we come alongside and spend time with you. We share in your struggle, engage your connection; we want to do more than facilitate function. For joy, and purpose, and efficacy too, are the pillars supporting what humans can do” (Warren, “Occupational Therapy”). To arrive at the ideal rehabilitation routine, each individual is assessed, “There are roles and habits to assess, routines and interests to address…Bringing the just-right challenge, we grow—producing responses with beautiful flow” (Warren, “Occupational Therapy”). Each individual has his or her own unique “just-right challenge” which further supports