Occupational Therapy in the Community

Occupational therapy is often considered to be one of the most productive and involved forms of medicine, requiring therapists to have a particularly high level of empathy and discipline together with robust development skills. Occupational therapy jobs that are based in the community are often even more demanding, involving one-to-one patient contact without the facilities and assistance available in a hospital setting. However, for many practitioners the added difficulty makes the job even more rewarding when they succeed.

Regardless of the setting, occupational therapy jobs are carried out by highly trained practitioners with a particular focus on helping others. It is unique among therapies in that the objective is often to improve quality of life rather than seeking full rehabilitation. It is this continuous nature that makes practicing in the community a clearly defined subdivision.

The Benefits of Occupational Therapy in the Community

The priority in any form of occupational therapy is improving the quality of life of patients whether they are ill or injured. In a hospital environment, many patients feel the stigma of being a patient; everything they do is in a controlled environment and the overall effects of success are not felt as sharply. However, in the community, such as in their own home, they are in their most natural environment. This gives a heightened sense of independence and subsequently achievement.

The diversity of possible environments in the community means that therapists can use their knowledge of the patient to customize their treatment. Some view their success during rehabilitation as being able to drive or work — anything that brings a heightened sense of self-reliance. Outside the confines of a hospital, this means actual treatment can take place at the likes of driving centers or workplaces, magnifying the effect of the therapies administered there.

Working as an Occupational Therapist in the Community

Occupational therapy jobs require a diverse skill set no matter where they are performed. Alongside medical ability, practitioners also need to be able to identify physical and mental conditions and often design unique programs for each patient. The ability to work virtually anywhere eases this process, with the therapist able to ascertain the goals of the patient and work towards those goals in the most conducive environment.

Occupational therapy in the community also gives the practitioner the added benefit of being able to make modifications to the surroundings.  While external equipment and adaptations may well be impossible in a hospital setting, therapists can identify and implement any solutions that they feel may aid in the rehabilitation of the patient.

Overall, community-based occupational therapy provides opportunities and variety that cannot be found either in hospitals or in some other branches of the therapy profession. Jobs in the field provide the opportunity to deliver rehabilitation programs with more freedom than is traditionally afforded to such medical work. Most therapists judge their own success by the recovery and happiness of the patient and those who favor as much control over the entire process as possible would be well served by a role in the community.

Freelance Jobs in Rehab and Massage Therapy

Freelance Jobs in Rehab and Massage Therapy

Among the many types of medical therapy, including physical, occupational, recreational, and speech therapies, most are practiced within the confines of a hospital or other medical facility. Massage therapy, on the other hand, offers a bit more freedom in that it allows for more self-employment and freelance opportunities.

Despite what you may think, massage therapy is a legitimate and recognized field of therapeutic medicine. All fifty states require licensee to practice massage therapy, and physical therapists and medical doctors will often refer a patient to massage therapy for specific treatment. Some of the variants within the family of massage therapy jobs include Acupressure, Amma, Connective Tissue Massage, Neuromuscular Massage, Reflexology, and Shiatsu. License requirements vary from state to state, but a certain level of education will always be required.

The freelance and self-employment aspect of massage therapy jobs make this field especially attractive to those who don’t like to be confined to a single medical facility. Using the state of New York as an example, the massage therapist has a bit more professional freedom than the physical therapist. A physical therapist is not allowed by state law to work with a patient unless that person has been referred by a medical doctor. An exception is made after the PT has completed a certain number of work hours. But even with the exception, he is limited in the amount of treatment he can provide without a referral.

A massage therapist, on the other hand, is not required to work from referrals. He is free to set up his own office in a self-employment scenario, or contract his services in a freelance facility-to-facility situation. He is also free work in the homes or offices of individual clients.

One of the downsides to massage therapy employment is the stigma attached to the profession as a result of the immoral activity of some. Before licensing was required for massage therapy, the activity was often used as a front for prostitution. Even though regulation has since helped to reduce such instances, they have not been completely eliminated and still cause many people to be suspicious of massage therapists.

With that in mind, many states have developed very clear guidelines to define licensed massage therapy. What a therapist is qualified to do, what he is allowed to do, and what he is prohibited from doing are all included in state regulations. As an example, massage therapists are prohibited in most states from conducting personal relationships with clients for as long as they remain clients. They are required to respect the client’s boundaries and comfort levels at all times, and are prohibited from attempting to manipulate or force patients beyond their comfort level.

Massage therapy is a rewarding career with a lot of flexibility in employment choices. Whether you’re more of the institutional worker or the freelancer, massage therapy jobs are waiting to be filled. Check with your state education department for information on obtaining your license to practice massage therapy.