Marilyn Said:

Careers: Mental Health Counseling or Occupational Therapy?

We Answered:

Its really good to know someone else is going through exactly what I am, seriously, word for word, we are in the same boat. I have heard both positive and negative about both careers, and I do believe there are positives and negatives about all careers. If there were a perfect career, I think the world would know. So you have to keep that in mind about both.

Anyways, I am in school, so I do not have much advice about working either career, but i believe i can still help you. I have been to a counselor for my own needs, and after going, I completely changed my mind about becoming one. Maybe it was this particular man and how he worked, but I decided I wanted a job that lets me be a little more creative. He too admitted having to work another job to get by, and he still wasnt making enough even after having his own practice! It may be the economy, but I do not feel this job as secure either.
Now, let me tell you the negatives I have heard about OT before the good stuff. I have heard about how exhausting the job can be, mentally (but so is counseling, so) and sometimes physically. I have heard that sometimes people make you feel unneeded (PT's look down on the profession because you are less educated), depending on the specific job, it can be mundane, if you dont like touching people... dont consider the job.
As for the positives, it is obvious. The satisfaction you get from helping someone is great. When you get that connection with certain patients, i can imagine it being awesome. I have heard the job is very rewarding and makes you feel like you are making a difference. What I love about the job is that it is SO flexible. You can work with kids, adults, the elderly, in hospitals, in schools, homecare, and the list goes on. If you dont like one setting, just move on to a different one! If you have a passion for kids, there you go! If you watch videos of OT with children, it is just play therapy for the most part. who wouldnt love getting paid to play all day :) And the job is growing, so you have much more security. And after getting your masters, the pay beats MHC by far.

I also wanted to mention that you can almost be a MHC in the OT world. In hospitals and other settings, there are the psych wards where many OT's work alongside of MHC's. There is substance abuse, addictions, and a whole array of situations that OT's deal with there. So, what I would recommend is job shadowing and OT, and going to a MHC even if you dont have an issue. either make one up :) or just go in and ask about the job. When i went to a counselor, i told him I might want to be a MHC and he said if you have any questions or need references, or just job advice let me know. so you can get a lot of first hand info just by going.

You cannot know if you are making the right choice unless you actually experience an aspect of each career. But personally, I am leaning much more towards OT just because of the versatility, pay, security, and creativity. Good Luck!

Now, these are opinions of certain people that I read about, so you really should see for yourself. Consider doing job shadowing sessions. Get some connections if you can, otherwise, check into some rehab or senior living or school atmospheres and ask if you can watch. Places usually are great at this and are used to students coming in.

Emma Said:

What do careers in occupational therapy entail?

We Answered:

Occupational therapists (OTs) help people who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They also help them develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills.

One must earn a master's degree or a more advanced degree in occupational therapy to work as an occupational therapist.

In the United States occupational therapists must be licensed in order to practice. To obtain a license, applicants must graduate from an accredited educational program and pass a national certification examination.

Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.

Median Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Numbers of Occupational Therapists (U.S., 2006)

Home Health Care Services: $67,600
Nursing care facilities: $64,750
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists: $62,290
General medical and surgical hospitals: $61,610
Elementary and secondary schools: $54,260

On a typical day an occupational therapist will:
assist clients in performing activities of all types;
use physical exercises to help patients increase strength and dexterity;
use activities to help patients improve visual acuity and the ability to discern patterns;
use computer programs to help clients improve decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills;
design or make special equipment needed at home or at work;
develop computer-aided adaptive equipment and teach clients with severe limitations how to use that equipment in order to communicate better and control various aspects of their environment;
Occupational therapists may work with particular populations, i.e. children, the elderly, or may work in specialized settings, i.e. mental health.

Tracey Said:

Occupational Therapy.?

We Answered:

If you shadowed 1 teacher in one school do you think it would give you a clear picture of what it means to be a teacher. The same would apply to OT. That OT might want to be less hands on. Try a different OT and in different settings (home health, schools, rehab clinics).