Why You Should Hire an Occupational Therapist Writer

First of all, let me explain what an occupational therapist (OT) is for those who, like the majority of the world, have no clue. No, we are not the same thing as physical therapists, and, no, we do not help people find jobs. An OT is a rehabilitation specialist who helps people to either develop or redevelop skills needed to achieve their occupations in life.

Occupation in this sense is basically everything a person does to “occupy” their time. See what I did there? Occupations can be played (for a child), using utensils to eat, getting dressed, cooking, driving, typing, and any other skills needed to participate in daily life. An OT determines the barriers that hinder a person from participating in their occupations and then helps them to break through them.

So, why would this type of professional make a good health content writer?

Here are some of the main skills that an OT must have to be successful in clinical practice that also translate to superb content writing skills:

Holistic Approach OTs are unique in the medical world in that they look at clients as a whole when developing a treatment plan. They do not just look at one specific area of the body. For example, if a client comes along with difficulty getting dressed independently after a stroke due to tightness in their left arm, an OT will assess the whole picture that contributes to the problem, not just stretch and exercise the arm. The client might need specific activities that act directly on the area of the brain that is affecting the arm to release the tightness, or they might need special tools to compensate for the affected arm. Occupational therapists are exceptional at thinking outside the box.

This skill makes them great writers because that is how they will approach each writing project. OTs will research the data to expand the topic enough for readers to see the whole picture and relate it to their own personal needs.
Clinical Knowledge In the world of health content writing and marketing, there is a seemingly limitless amount of topics that need coverage. Occupational therapists must obtain a vast amount of knowledge on health-related topics just to perform therapy. OTs work in facilities ranging from schools to hand clinics to hospitals to mental health facilities to community health organizations and many more. Because of this large range, it is vital for therapists to constantly keep updated on current research.

OTs have a leg up on non-clinical writers in that they already have an understanding of a lot of health-related topics and are skilled at researching topics in which they may not be well-versed. It’s just part of the job of an OT to research new treatments or unfamiliar diagnoses. For most of us, we spend a significant amount of time outside the clinic reading to keep up with what is trending in the world of healthcare. As writers, we would apply our research skills and clinical knowledge to each and every assignment.
Experienced with Client Education Practicing occupational therapists, no matter their setting, spend a significant amount of their time educating clients in one way or another. I primarily worked in pediatrics as a clinical OT, and much of my job was spent ensuring that parents and caregivers understood our plan of care in the clinic and how they could continue with it at home. I would even venture to say the educational portion of therapy was more important than the therapy itself because parent carryover was the main determining factor of client success.

It’s easy to see how this translates into a writing career. During my time as a practicing OT, I have written everything from small informational handouts to full curriculums for programs. OTs also have to have an exceptional grasp on correctly writing for a specific audience, depending on if the writing is for a doctor, a parent, or even a teenage client.
Attention to Detail In clinical practice, every client must first have an evaluation, in which the OT assesses specific concerns of the client as well as overall occupational performance. This process includes looking at every aspect of the person that appears to affect participation in daily life. Then, the plan of care is developed based on evaluation results to directly address all limitations identified. Therapy activities are developed using activity analysis that ensures all plans directly address a goal area. For example, if I have a pediatric client who struggles to hold a pencil functionally, I might plan an activity where the child creates a craft using small torn pieces of paper because the act of tearing paper strengthens the small muscles in the hand that are needed for pencil grasp.

This level of attention to detail is extremely important in any kind of writing. Just like an OT has to consider the exact muscle groups needed to perform a task, a writer has to consider the audience, voice, style, and many other details when completing an assignment. A successful OT will likely come by this skill naturally or will have at least honed it over the course of his or her career.
Client-Centered One thing that separates OTs from other healthcare professionals is the emphasis on keeping everything “client-centered.” This means that when we plan any goals or activity, we use the client’s personal goals and interests for their plan of care. This skill is of supreme importance to have a successful career as an OT.

A client-centered approach is also extremely important for a career in health content writing. Every writing assignment will require the writer to fully understand the client’s goals, brand, and audience in order to produce the highest quality material.
Solid Interpersonal Skills The nature of rehabilitation requires OTs to be extremely personable. Oftentimes, people come to us in some of the darkest times of their lives, and we have the responsibility to be positive and supportive in our interactions with them. One such case I experienced was a family whose child had a stroke and a leg amputation at the age of four. There was no possible way to just treat the child’s physical limitations and not offer a listening ear to the family as they navigated this tragic event in their otherwise typically developing child’s life. OTs typically are skilled in understanding how to interact with people in a positive way despite difficult circumstances.

As a writer, it is of utmost importance to interact with clients in a manner that is not just professional but also friendly. None of us are robots, and we all appreciate the kindness of those with whom we interact in our work lives.

Therefore, if you are looking for the highest quality professional to provide health content writing, occupational therapists are a great choice!

Ready to start your next project? Get in touch with me today.