Occupational Therapy Week 2023: Unity Through Community

It is Occupational Therapy Week!

It’s come around again, that week in October where we talk about occupational therapy! Occupational therapy is broad – we exist in many different work environments and support a range of different individuals.

I often joke that I’m not the kind of occupational therapist that will help you get a job, or one that will help you turn your taps easier. But I do know a handful of occupational therapists I can send you to if that’s the kind of support you would like!

I have a special interest in co-regulation. We can’t go around a feeling, we have to go through it, and for a range of reasons, that can be really challenging. The way I practice is to consider the relationship as the occupation – two individuals (typically a parent and child) dancing together to make meaning of the world. I’m not implying there are faults in a parent-child relationship, rather we can use the relationship as a powerful tool to help make sense of and manage a range of feelings. If we feel regulated, we’re better able to tackle the demands of day-to-day life.

Neurodiverse-Affirming Occupational Therapy

2023 has seen some criticisms of the occupational therapy profession, with concerns about specific services and their misalignment with neurodiverse affirming practice. These criticisms are valid, but I see ENORMOUS shift in clinicians and researchers enthusiastically adopting tenants of neurodiversity affirming practice.

The 2023 Occupational Therapy Australia Scientific Conference had a specific, half day panel about neurodiverse affirming practice. Occupational therapy clinicians are looking for and accessing professional development opportunities to upskill about how they can best offer supports. I am regularly approached by clinicians about providing them with reflective supervision – a space where clinicians can explore their work and think carefully about their approaches. Social media spaces are being used as ways for clinicians to connect and share knowledge about how we can do better. I see the shift, and I am excited!

Unity Through Community

The theme of Occupational Therapy week 2023 is ‘Unity through Community’. I’m keen to hear from my occupational therapy colleagues about their neurodiverse affirming journey. Get in touch and let me know how your journey is evolving – I’m keen to hear it!

Your friend in neurodivergence – Kristy.