More Than Therapy: The Hard Conversations That Make Us Better OTs

“Your kiddo successfully tied his shoes today without any help! He is so excited!”

“This new equipment will help your little girl stand without anyone having to help her.”

“I have no doubt that your son will be successful after adding a few of these exercises into his daily routine.”

These are the kinds of conversations that happen frequently in the wonderful world of occupational therapy. We have the unique ability to look at an individual’s struggles and give that person the tools to overcome them. It can be an amazingly rewarding profession in that respect.

However, there are also conversations that go like this:

Therapist: “We have been focusing on these goals for years, and your child is getting more and more frustrated. He is showing signs of burnout, and it could be time for a therapy break.”

Parent: “How could you give up on my child like that? He NEEDS therapy!”

Or maybe like this:

“Unfortunately, you have not attended your therapy sessions regularly enough to make progress, and due to our facility’s attendance policy, we have to discharge from therapy services at this time.”

Then, there are even more difficult conversations:

“I am starting to see some markers for autism. You are going to need to have her assessed by a developmental pediatrician.”

“I’m concerned that your child is not just ignoring you or zoning out. These episodes look more like absence seizures. We need to get you a referral to a neurologist.”

“These new symptoms are concerning. I think we need to talk to your child’s doctor about getting an MRI to look for a possible neurological cause.”

Of all the conversations that OTs have with our clients and their families, nothing compares with having to explain that something more is going on medically than initially expected. No one wants to be the first person to suggest a scary diagnosis or start the process of investigating a difficult medical problem.

However, in my experience over the years, I have found these moments not only help me connect on a deeper level with my clients and their families, but they also allow me to grow in my ability to explain complex medical information in a way that feels less intimidating.

Facing a new diagnosis or troubling new symptoms can be overwhelming for anyone. The wonderful part of my job as an occupational therapist is that I can go on those difficult journeys with my clients and their families. When doctors throw scary and complicated explanations at them, I can break things down into simpler and more layperson-friendly language so that it is more palatable.

This lesser-known part of being a rehab professional is truly one that can make all the difference. Of course, the actual therapy piece is significant and really the reason people seek out an occupational therapist, but the hidden benefit of having a consistent support person with medical knowledge can be the game changer no one expects. It may in fact be a key feature that sets a great therapist apart from the rest.