Occupational therapy as a career option:
So you have completed 12th grade, and everybody around you goes like – You should consider med school or go for engineering or choose law.We listen to these external noises and end up blindly diving into the ocean of career possibilities.
How do we know which one we could do long enough? How do we filter career pathways and choose the one that truly interests us? “The exact way you choose your career path is by picking something you would do for free. That way you’ll never have a sad day in your life,” says Neil deGrasse Tyson, a renowned science communicator.
Now, with developments all around us, the number of jobs is increasing. In fact, new jobs are being created every second. Some of these jobs are quite interesting – therapeutics(therapy), healing, full-stack development, content creation, AI development and digital marketing. Therapeutics or therapies are known to heal people and get them back on their feet. It calms their mind and body and alleviates stress.
One such type of therapy, which is gaining more and more attention nowadays, is Occupational therapy. It is mainly because of the increase in the number elderly people, people who return to routine after a stroke and the spike in the number of children suffering from developmental disorders like autism. In general, it helps people with their daily tasks like buttoning their shirt or getting a cup of coffee. Seems easy right? but most people often struggle to do this.
Why choose Occupational therapy as your career?
What if I said there is a job that not only makes you happy and light-hearted but also yields you millions? Exactly, it’s occupational therapy. But why is it so highly paying? The demand for occupational therapists is very high in the Indian market. As per statistics, right now, 1 in every 68 children in India is affected by autism spectrum disorder(ASD) and by 2050, India is expected to have 319 million elderly people, which essentially means there will be an even higher demand for it in the future.
Occupational therapy is a job that not just treats but empowers. Imagine a day in a wheelchair or being bedridden for just a day. How would you feel? Yes, you feel lost. And that’s exactly how most people feel today.
It is an occupation in which you get to build lives piece by piece. It’s not simple. It’s challenging. But it’s real. It’s high time we realise popping a few tablets isn’t the real cure to heal people, rather it is to talk to them, stand by them and guide them to achieve fulfillment. Occupational therapy is a soul-fulfilling job, but again it doesn’t suit everyone. That being said, let’s see if occupational therapy (OT) is your cup of tea.
Who will be your patient if you are an Occupational therapist?
People who are recovering after an injury , drug addiction, long-term disease or a surgery, kids with developmental problems like autism, Older adults facing Alzheimer’s or Dementia, or even those with poor vision
Who can become an Occupational therapist?
If you are a student exploring healthcare, or a parent of a special-abled child or just a person who simply wants to do meaningful work, this is your chance to make an impact.
Anyone passionate about helping people become independent, or simply wants to have variety in their life, can opt for Occupational therapy. Why variety? You may ask. It’s because there are a lot of different places like hospitals, schools and clinics in which you can work.
Beyond all of this, this profession requires a lot of patience and care because progress takes time. You need to have a lot of self-motivation because most patients lose hope easily. You can easily communicate with people. You are creative and skilled at solving problems. You are willing to connect with people and be empathetic towards them, then this is the perfect choice for you.
Who shouldn’t consider OT as their career?
Work with Occupational therapy patients takes a long time to see results. Hence, this career might not suit you if you are looking for quick solutions.You are driven only by money. Though Occupational therapy gives decent pay, the core motive of this job is to make you feel lively by helping others regain control over their lives.You are not ready for long years of training. Every patient is a book. Opt for Occupational therapy only if you’re willing to invest the rest of your life learning them.
You prefer desk-based jobs- Occupational therapy requires a lot of activity, movement and interaction.
You dislike working under pressure- You have to do a lot of paperwork, like documentation and insurance compliance.
Occupational therapy is a great career option, but again, it’s only you who can decide if it’s a great career option for you.
Every field requires people who are in it for the right reasons. It’s wise to choose your career once you have completely analysed your character traits.
One of the best ways to know your character, recommended by professionals like James Clear, is the “Big Five Personality test”. Takes less than 20 minutes, and saves your next 20 years of experimenting professions!
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