reflection – OTalk

This week’s #OTalk, hosted by @pd2ot, provided a space to reflect on and learn from experiences of occupational therapy “going wrong”. I (@clissa89) found this conversation valuable and thought-provoking. Below are a selection of tweets from the chat. The full transcript can be read here: (link/PDF).

Resources:

http://pd2ot.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/when-occupational-therapy-goes-wrong/

http://pd2ot.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/ot-is-for-thick-people/

http://shamelessotgeek.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/when-occupational-therapy-goes-right/

http://shamelessotgeek.wordpress.com/2013/08/11/dearmentalhealthprofessionals/

@pd2ot There is value in honestly and realistically critiquing our services and professional values to examine practice #OTalk

— Bethan Collins (@Bethanhc) September 17, 2013

It amazes me to read all the bad experiences with ot, never heard anything like it before! #OTalk

— Ward Dusink (@Wardmans) September 17, 2013

@Bethanhc @OTalk_Occhat Thats tough to hear sometimes. We cocoon ourselves in success stories. #OTalk

— Ashley Peter (@OTAshleyP) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat @lapsangsusie Yes, thank you for sharing. As a student, hearing these perspectives is so valuable. #OTalk

— Ashley Peter (@OTAshleyP) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat @pd2ot #OTalk Thanks for taking on board the realities of OT being a negative experience for some.

— Carrie (@IamCarrieeeeee) September 17, 2013

@pd2ot Love all the learning points from bad experiences. Also learnt the importance of explaining aims thanks to your pre-chat blog #otalk

— Maria Markland (@Maria_Markland) September 17, 2013

@IamCarrieeeeee @OTalk_Occhat I found this really valuable.Really hit home that if we get it wrong = a missed opportunity for therapy #OTalk

— pd2ot (@pd2ot) September 17, 2013

My take home point from #otalk is that there is as much learning in hearing about -ve experiences of OT as in hearing about successes.

— Eileen Hegarty (@eileenhegarty7) September 17, 2013

We discussed the lasting impact that poor practice can have:

@OTalk_Occhat When #OT is good, it can be truly life changing. When it isn’t good, it can undermine sense of self and identity. #OTalk

— Bethan Collins (@Bethanhc) September 17, 2013

@Bethanhc I often see people who’ve had -ve experiences of OT in the past & it affects current engagement too #OTalk

— OTalk Occhat (@OTalk_Occhat) September 17, 20133

I’m really struck by the potential for a ‘bad’ experience of OT to destroy any potential for useful future interventions #OTalk

— pd2ot (@pd2ot) September 17, 2013

Examples of “Occupational Therapy Gone Wrong”:

Watching two personalities (patient and practitioner) clash meant treatment came to a halt. #OTalk

— Lucie Greenham (@JeSuisLucie) September 17, 2013

As a service user, one thing my #OT peers sometimes fail me is adjust to my difficulty to initiate conversations at school. #otalk

— Bill Wong (@BillWongOT) September 17, 2013

@pd2ot I (@clissa89) wrote a blog post earlier about things I’ve seen “go wrong”, more generally http://t.co/f40pCTKRKO #OTalk

— OTalk Occhat (@OTalk_Occhat) September 17, 2013

Pressures can mean we ‘fit’ our clients into the ‘services’ that are on offer. Therefore not really client oriented. #OTalk

— Helen OTUK (@Helen_otuk) September 17, 2013

#OTalk as a student I have felt there is very little time spent ‘doing’ activities that person actually wants, no time

— Gingernuts (@tabbycats4) September 17, 2013

@OTAshleyP Absolutely. OT goes wrong when we are not client-centred enough and truly engage with their identity and values. #OTalk

— Bethan Collins (@Bethanhc) September 17, 2013

I wonder whether ‘x isn’t engaging with occupational therapy’ might mean ‘x doesn’t find the ward based activities meaningful’!! #otalk

— Kirsty Stanley (@kirstyes) September 17, 2013

@OTAshleyP there was nothing of therapeutic value on ward I was on, very sad. Just a discharge process not a place for me to be #OTalk

— Gingernuts (@tabbycats4) September 17, 2013

@pd2ot @AnnabelFenn Yes! In some services we are just discharge planners – really downplays our breadth of knowledge & skills #OTalk

— Ashley Peter (@OTAshleyP) September 17, 2013

When I’ve spoken to those who’ve had OT experiences they don’t seem to have received input I’d have expected! #otalk OT as good as The OT?!

— Kirsty Stanley (@kirstyes) September 17, 2013

@clissa89 @OTalk_Occhat @pd2ot For me, it’s strange to read re theories, practice etc. Came across OT when IP – they ran the bingo! #OTalk

— Carrie (@IamCarrieeeeee) September 17, 2013

@IamCarrieeeeee @clissa89 @OTalk_Occhat sounds like they weren’t adapting to your needs, and certainly mirrors my first exp of OT #OTalk

— pd2ot (@pd2ot) September 17, 2013

@pd2ot @clissa89 @OTalk_Occhat #OTalk didn’t interact with people on any different basis than a random person on the street could

— Carrie (@IamCarrieeeeee) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat @clissa89 @pd2ot #OTalk That wasn’t even on the cards. I didn’t attend the ‘activities’ because they were pointless.

— Carrie (@IamCarrieeeeee) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat #OTalk It makes me sad really. Actual OT input would have been invaluable. An intelligent person with #bpd who is bored leads

— Carrie (@IamCarrieeeeee) September 17, 2013

@kirstyes I find lack of understanding purpose of OT can be a barrier – using theory to explain can overcome this. #OTalk

— Lucie Greenham (@JeSuisLucie) September 17, 2013

Prompted by @IamCarrieeeeee‘s experience of OT I’m sharing my blog post ‘OT is for thick people’ http://t.co/a0EhKVgg4L #OTalk

— pd2ot (@pd2ot) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat #OTalk which was fine for where I was at that time. But craft & relaxation offered as escapism rather than addressing issues.

— LindyB (@lapsangsusie) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat #OTalk she couldn’t help me with eating. So i had to leave daycare bc I couldn’t eat the food and they couldn’t help with that

— LindyB (@lapsangsusie) September 17, 2013

see more -exp. when not connected 2 session, not “clicking” or feeling effective. In others I see OTs who dont c value of own prof. #OTalk

— Heatheryb (@Heatheryb2) September 17, 2013

Getting it “Right”:

I’ve found theory anchors me in the ideals of the profession; might protect students from cultures of ‘going through the motions’ #otalk

— Jason Newman (@NewmanOTstudent) September 17, 2013

@pd2ot Self reflection/evaluation. Ask clients if this is right for them. Work WITH clients to achieve goals. Regular supervision #otalk

— Gilly- does- Doing (@GillyGorry) September 17, 2013

@clissa89 rather than cancelling group, could have utilised our skills, eg my lit&theatre background, to improve its effectiveness #otalk

— LindyB (@lapsangsusie) September 18, 2013

@kirstyes Expressing empathy and understanding whilst being professional can build a productive relationship #OTalk

— Lucie Greenham (@JeSuisLucie) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat @kirstyes Being 21 wrking w/ a pop. of 65+ it’s vital for me to connect w/ my pts to ensure we understand each other #OTalk

— Lucie Greenham (@JeSuisLucie) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat I think it’s about giving people chances to participate in what’s happening give feedback make changes to benefit them #otalk

— BPD FFS sue sibbald (@BPDFFS) September 17, 2013

@pd2ot just remember reflection skills, things will go wrong, but if you reflect, learn and change your practice, things improve #otalk

— Rachel Booth (@BoothRach) September 17, 2013

@OTalk_Occhat #OTalk Each S.U. is an individual with their own patchwork of experiences. Listening is more important than talking sometimes

— LindyB (@lapsangsusie) September 17, 2013

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussion: