Purpose of the course

In this course you will learn to understand the history, development and status of occupational therapy as a part of rehabilitation. You will learn basic knowledge of occupational therapist´s work, concepts and competences. This course focuses on the fundamentals on how to use occupations both in assessment and intervention processes. You will also learn how to assist client´s daily occupations by taking risk factors into consideration.

Occupational therapy is a goal oriented rehabilitation process that is based on therapeutic relationship. Occupational therapist needs to understand the profound meaning of occupations and to be able to analyze and adapt occupations according to the client´s needs. It is important, that the occupational therapist understands his/her own role and impact in the therapeutic relationship and can use his/her own strengths parallel to the goals of the client.

Competences
Knowledge of occupational therapy
Professional relationships and partnerships

Learning Outcomes

After the course you will understand the development and status of occupational therapy as a part of rehabilitation. You will recognize the distinctive nature of occupations, different levels of occupations and is able to analyze occupations in different stages of occupational therapy process.

You will know the basics of assisting and guiding clients in everyday occupations. You will understand the meaning of therapeutic relationship in occupational therapy. You will know the principles of the use of self and your responsibilities as an occupational therapist. You will be able to name forms of therapeutic reasoning.

You will appreciate and respect individual differences, cultural beliefs, customs and their influence on occupation and participation.

In this course you will study about the use of self as an occupational therapist. You will examine your own interaction skills and name your strengths and development areas. You will get to know therapeutic relationship and ethical viewpoints. You will practice interaction, interviewing and doing with a client. You will practice assisting and guiding daily occupations and taking risk factors into consideration. You will learn the history and current status of occupational therapy. You will carry out a task analysis and a theory focused performance analysis.

The student needs to understand the phases of occupational therapy process (e.g. OTIP-model).

Pass/Fail

Passed:

You can recognize and describe development, current demands and status of occupational therapy in the Finnish service system. You are able to name new work areas of occupational therapists. You can name different ways of professional reasoning and you understand their meaning in professional decision making.

You are able to use the knowledge of occupational therapy in order to reason the meaning of therapeutic relationship. You recognize your own strengths and are able to name goals in order to develop your own interaction skills. You know the ethical principles of occupational therapist are able to use them with a case client.

You are able to interview a client by using an assessment method focusing on the occupational history of the client. You value and respect individual differences, cultural beliefs and routines of clients. You can use task analysis and theory driven analysis. You can explain how to use occupational analysis in different stages of occupational therapy process.

You know the principles of assessing by taking risk factors into consideration.

In the written documents you follow the JAMK guidelines mainly. There is a clear structure in your written documents. You use the demanded resources.