Aquí son muy pocos los que saben que es terapia ocupacional, desde que empecé a estudiar hasta la actualidad a menudo me he conseguido personas como familiares, amistades, nuevos conocidos que cuando llegamos al tema de ¿en qué trabajas?, ¿cuál es tu profesión? y les digo que soy “terapeuta ocupacional” me miran con cara de ¿qué es eso?… hacen una expresión como si yo les fuese dicho una cosa de otro mundo!, hasta propios pacientes han llegado a una consulta sin saber que es, solo porque un médico los refirió o alguien les comento… En consecuencia, todos los terapeutas, bien sean estudiantes o profesionales, nos hemos dado la tarea de darle auge, vida y reconocimiento a esta labor, que es tan importante al igual que otras.
Hello HIVE community! Today I want to tell you a little about what is occupational therapy? Some will know it, others will have heard it and others will not have the slightest idea what it is about. In Venezuela, Occupational Therapy (OT) is not as well known as in other countries such as: Argentina, Spain, Chile, USA among others, ... Here there are very few who know that it is occupational therapy, since I started studying to date I have often found people like family, friends, new acquaintances that when we come to the topic of what do you work? What is your profession? and I tell them that I am an "occupational therapist" they look at me with the face of what is that? ... they make an expression as if I were told something from another world! Even patients themselves have come to a consultation without knowing what it is, just because a doctor referred them or someone told them ... Consequently, all therapists, whether students or professionals, have given ourselves the task of giving rise, life and recognition to this work, which is as important as others
Entonces ¿qué es terapia ocupacional?
Es una disciplina socio-sanitaria en la cual utilizamos actividades terapéuticas para fomentar la independencia y autonomía del individuo en sus actividades de la vida diaria, con el fin de mejorar su calidad de vida. El terapeuta ocupacional se centra en las actividades con propósito, ya que con ellas las personas logran adquirir las habilidades, destrezas y actitudes necesarias para desenvolverse plenamente en su entorno familiar, social y laboral. ¿Por qué nos basamos en las actividades con propósito?. Pues cuando dirigimos una conducta a un objetivo que tiene un SIGNIFICADO UTIL para la persona, esta se centra en la meta de la actividad más que en el proceso a través del cual se alcanza, entonces la persona se siente más motivada y su participación es más activa y voluntaria. Añadiendo que todas estas actividades son graduales y siempre se les debe proporcionar desafíos aptos para cada condición e individuo.So what is occupational therapy?
It is a socio-sanitary discipline in which we use therapeutic activities to promote the independence and autonomy of the individual in their activities of daily life, in order to improve their quality of life. The occupational therapist focuses on activities with purpose, since with them people manage to acquire the skills, abilities and attitudes necessary to fully function in their family, social and work environment. Why do we rely on purposeful activities? Well, when we direct a behavior to a goal that has a useful meaning for the person, it focuses on the goal of the activity rather than on the process through which it is achieved, so the person feels more motivated and their participation is more active and voluntary. Adding that all these activities are gradual and should always be provided with challenges suitable for each condition and individual.
The success of the therapies is in helping patients to learn or relearn to be as independent and autonomous as possible and during this journey you experience the small achievements that are also yours and that feeling of satisfaction and autonomy that they show you is something indescribable You realize that that contribution, that small action that we do changes someone's life, and even if it is little for us for them it is a great step, ultimately helping others and seeing their evolution is the best part of my job!
Did you know?
Every October 27, World Occupational Therapy Day is celebrated. In order to raise awareness of the work and development of this profession.
