Bertha Said:

Should I go for Occupational Therapy or Mental Health Counseling?

We Answered:

If you decide to do Occupational Therapy, you will still be able to work with the Mentally Ill, so you might want to seriously consider it if you are having some doubts. Occupational Therapists are able to help all kinds of people, with all sorts of problems, to be able to do everyday things, so if that's the kind of thing you want to be able to do OT is a great choice.

I can't tell you which would be better for you, because I don't know. But I do know that no matter which you choose, you will be helping people that really need it, which is a great feeling.

If you want to know anything else about OT, just e-mail me, my sister has CP, and I have personally been to an OT myself. I am also an Occupational Therapy major in college right now. = )

Brenda Said:

Is Occupational Therapy a good career?

We Answered:

I am going to school for OT. The way the program is currently set up, you have to get a bachelors degree (in anything, I'm in psychology) and then you apply for OT, which is an additional two years. OT is a great career to get into, especially now since the baby-bombers are going to start needing therapy b/c of strokes, and heart attacks, etc. I'm looking at getting into pediatric OT and working at a children's hospital. With children you can deal with MS, ADD/ADHD, MRDD, birth defects, cerebral palsy, etc., the list is endless. I know of someone who was hired right out of college for $60,000/year. I hope this helps!

Pamela Said:

What are the treatments for dementia?

We Answered:

My grandmother suffers from dementia and she is given the anti-psychotic Risperdal (Risperidone). It keeps her from having delusions/hallucinations and keeps her a bit more calm. She was also given Aricept (aka 'Donepezil', usually used for Alzheimer's patients to slow the disease) but she had a horrible reaction to it.

As for other treatments, I have no idea what they could be. My grandmother is not exactly capable of participating in much of anything anymore. She also happens to now be bedridden.

My mother made daily visits to my grandmothers house while she was suffering from dementia but it became overwhelming and my grandmother became a danger to herself. She kept wandering into the street saying she was waiting for a ride, things like that. She also began tearing up important documents and old family photos. She thought people were in the house with her and she kept trying to escape them. We finally made the decision to put her in an assisted living facility since she needs 24 hour supervision.

Good luck with your situation.

Kelly Said:

Green Cards for Occupational Therapists?

We Answered:

It depends on how long a facility has been looking for a therapist. If a place is having a hard enough time finding a therapist , then they would be happy to sponsor a foreigner.
However, the Adolescent mental health field is a very small one, and there are not that many open positions. If you really are looking for a Visa, I'd recommend specializing in geriatrics (I know it's not as interesting as psych, I've done both of them). It's most often the nursing homes that have a hard time finding a therapist, and are more willing to go out of their way to hire a therapist. As you know, a work visa sponsor has to prove that the foreigner is filling a position that could not be filled by a current resident.

One more note, be prepared to present your prospective employer with all the paperwork almost filled out for them for your visa, give them no excuse to say that having to pursue a Visa is too much work. Also know that an employer who is sponsoring you may also offer you a lower salary, so don't count on a work visa forever. Once you get here, do whatever you can do to become a resident. Then you can specialize in whatever area you want. Good luck.