Exploring Occupational Therapy’s Role in Severe Mental Health Care: Abnormal Psychology Honors Contract

During my undergraduate studies at the Honors College at Indiana University Indianapolis, I completed an honors contract within my abnormal psychology course that focused on exploring the role of occupational therapy in supporting individuals with severe mental health disorders. This experience took place during my sophomore year and allowed me to extend course content beyond traditional assignments by engaging in independent research aligned with my emerging professional interests.

For this honors contract, I developed a research paper examining how occupational therapy interventions can support individuals experiencing conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. The project involved reviewing scholarly literature, synthesizing theoretical frameworks, and analyzing evidence-based interventions that address functional limitations, community participation, and quality of life among individuals with complex mental health needs.

I selected this experience as my Showcase artifact because it represents a meaningful intersection between my academic learning and career aspirations in occupational therapy. At a time when I was still exploring potential healthcare pathways, this project allowed me to investigate occupational therapy through a mental health lens, strengthening my understanding of the profession’s holistic approach and reinforcing my commitment to pursuing graduate education in occupational therapy.

Skills Development

Completing this honors contract significantly strengthened both my academic skill set and my emerging career competencies within healthcare and occupational therapy. One of the most valuable skills I developed was advanced literature searching and database navigation. Using scholarly databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, I practiced constructing effective search strategies by combining keywords related to occupational therapy, severe mental illness, functional performance, and recovery. I applied Boolean operators, phrase searching, and filtering techniques to locate high-quality peer-reviewed articles, allowing me to build a focused and credible evidence base for my project.

This experience also enhanced my critical analysis and synthesis abilities. Rather than summarizing articles individually, I learned to identify themes across studies, compare intervention approaches, and evaluate how occupational therapy contributes to functional outcomes and quality of life for individuals with complex mental health conditions. Synthesizing multiple sources into cohesive arguments strengthened my ability to think systematically and engage with research at a deeper level.

In addition, I developed professional writing and scholarly communication skills through organizing and presenting complex information in a structured research paper using APA formatting. This process required precision in paraphrasing, citation management, and maintaining an academic voice, all of which are essential competencies for graduate study.

Beyond technical academic skills, this project contributed to my development of broader career readiness competencies, including critical thinking, initiative, time management, and professional identity formation. Independently managing a long-term research project required self-direction, organization, and persistence. Most importantly, exploring occupational therapy’s role in mental health care strengthened my understanding of holistic, client-centered practice and reinforced my commitment to pursuing occupational therapy as a meaningful and impactful career.

Reflection and Connection

Completing this abnormal psychology honors contract marked a pivotal moment in my undergraduate journey, as it transformed my curiosity about occupational therapy into a more defined professional identity. Through this project, I moved beyond simply learning about mental health diagnoses to understanding how occupational therapy practitioners support individuals in rebuilding daily routines, fostering independence, and re-engaging in meaningful life roles. Examining evidence related to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder deepened my appreciation for the complexity of recovery and the importance of client-centered, occupation-based interventions.

The artifacts included in this showcase, particularly the faculty connection facilitated by Dr. Minor and my conversation with Sally Wasmuth, serve as tangible evidence of my growth from student learner to emerging professional. Seeking mentorship and engaging in dialogue with a researcher actively shaping occupational therapy mental health practice allowed me to envision myself contributing to this field in the future. This experience reinforced that professional development often occurs through initiative, relationship-building, and openness to opportunity.

Reflecting on this honors contract also highlights my development as a critical thinker and scholar. Navigating complex literature, synthesizing theoretical perspectives, and articulating implications for practice strengthened my confidence in handling graduate-level work. Most importantly, this project affirmed my commitment to occupational therapy as a career grounded in empathy, advocacy, and holistic care. It represents not only an academic accomplishment but a formative step toward becoming a practitioner dedicated to improving participation and quality of life for individuals experiencing severe mental health challenges.