From Therapy Clinic to Barnyard – A Day in the Life of an OT
I am finally starting back up the Day in the Life Series. These are interviews with various professionals who help children succeed. This interview, From Therapy Clinic to Barnyard, is a MUST WATCH if you want to hear about what I would consider a dream job AND a dream way to delivery occupational therapy services. Meet Dorothy, an Occupational Therapist, who works in the clinic, provides equine movement therapy, and uses a therapeutic farm to help her clients reach their OT goals.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW
You can listen and watch the interview. Just hit play or scroll down to read about instead.
You can watch the video on YouTube.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS DREAM OT JOB
Dorothy shares with us all about the multidisciplinary clinic that she works for in Colorado. Their practice has occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, ABA, music therapy, equine movement therapy and a therapeutic farm! How amazing is that!
The facility includes a clinic where evaluations take place and “traditional” outpatient services for children. There is also an outdoor arena and pasture, and kids can ride all year long, weather permitting. In addition, the therapeutic farm includes horses, goats, chickens, one albino donkey, cats, and a dog. Children from ages 2 to 19 years of age with a variety of diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, cortical visual impairment, autism, and more are provided with the services to target a huge variety of goals. The clinic bills insurance and does accept Medicaid. OTs and animal care providers mostly run the therapeutic farm.
WHAT DOES YOUR WORK WEEK LOOK LIKE?
Dorothy feels very supported in her job and feels very lucky to be able to work in this environment. She had participated in research on OT in and equine environment prior to this job so it was an area she was familiar with. She works with 20 other OTs in what she describes as a “fairytale OT clinic” which I would agree!
Her schedule includes 40 sessions in one week with one OT evaluation per week. She works 4 ten hour days with a maximum of 10 sessions per day. Her caseload varies but the larger majority of children are 4-8 years old and the farm is older kids to work on life skills and executive function skills while practicing dual tasks.
Dorothy describes the kids’ different skills and programs they specifically have for teens and summer sessions.
They follow a 12-week curriculum that was developed by an OT in the therapeutic farm program, where it starts with education on animals and general care. Farm “chores” and skills are used as a tool for children to reach their OT goals. The older students are particularly motivated to practice real life skills for chores that actually have to get done.
SUMMARY
Combining the traditional clinical setting with the therapeutic wonders of a farm, this video interview is a must-watch for anyone interested in innovative healthcare approaches, occupational therapy, or holistic child development.
Check out the rest of the Day in the Life Series here.
