Hello readers, my name is Martyna Gwiazda Adomako and I graduated last year (OT Bachelor’s). Where I found a job at my current position which is Occupational Therapist in a Daily Mental Health Ward. I have been working there for 1,5 years.
I have chosen this topic because I have been working in the Daily Mental Heath Department for Adults for almost a year. As I started I had some knowledge and a little bit of practice.
Although I felt like I didn’t get any advice on how to manage a therapeutic process with my patients. As I was working with this very specific group of clients. That’s why I decided to choose this topic, I believe that it might be helpful for some of the readers. Knowledge is the key to a therapist’s own safety likewise their patient.
- Setting: The timetable is a constructive way for the staff and patients to frame time
throughout the therapeutic process. It gives the patients a sense of sustainability and
security. - Truthfulness: To me, means to weigh your own words and be careful when it comes to
communicating with patients. Due to their life experiences, we need to keep our words and
promises. - Boundaries: Clear codex make cooperation more successful. People with mental health issues
can have difficulty obeying and understanding the rules. Someone of them can
may experience getting them from the very first time. We as occupational therapists
should follow them and they should be fair from the beginning for both sides. - Communication: While conversing, we should focus on making sure that the
patients understand what we are trying to say. Don’t hesitate to double-check if everything is
clear for your patients. If you have misunderstood ask as well. - Awareness: Be aware of your patient’s limits and difficulties. Changes can take time. Stay
patient. - Space: It is important for patients that the meetings are conducted in the same place. When
it is needed to make some changes please inform about it your patients earlier. Some of
them will need to prepare due to transit. - Engagement: Be aware that the patients may be unable to participate actively in given
tasks. In some cases, there is nothing that the therapist can do at the moment. It will just take
more time. However, motivating and trying to find the trigger can be the critical aspect to
involve the patients.
Remember that the words your patients say and the way they behave have nothing to do with you.
They will provoke rejection, anger, and boredom. It is typical for patients with mental health issues. Remember to take it easy and never be personal.
The patient should take drugs and be in touch with a psychiatrist. Along with seeing the psychologist regularly if possible. In those conditions, occupational therapists will have stable conditions to work with patients.
- Supervision: It is essential for the practitioners to have an opportunity to discuss the
therapeutic strategy. Also the ways of treating patients with an expert who is not involved in the
whole process. It can not be someone who works with patients in the same organization. I have supervision once a month. It helps me see how to treat the patients, communicate with them and verify my previous mistakes. - In the multidisciplinary team, I work with nurses, doctors, psychologists, social workers, and other occupational therapists. To see our patients holistically, we need different approaches
and views. Each member brings their own ideas and information about the patients. We all take
care of the same people but from another perspective. This knowledge and observations
combined let us conduct the therapeutic process in many areas.