Utah Occupational Therapy Association Conference 2023 -------------------------------------------------------
I attended the following classes on 11/19/23:
· “Mastering Your Life” with Antonius Tsai (opening)
· “Life Hardening: The possibility of enhanced functioning with OT” 9:40-10:40 with Philip Lamoreaux
· “New Graduate Panel: Perspectives of the Current Job Market” 10:50-11:50 with Kristen and the new grads
· “Occupational Therapy, Mental Health & Burnout” 1-2 with Bonnie Eckman
· “Mental Health Occupation Therapy Treatment in Utah” 2:10-3:10 with Angie Blaser
· SLCC projects and posters 3:20-3:50
· “Highlight Your Greatness: Preparing for the Current Job Market” 4-5 with Kristen
I learned so much from the conference. Some of it reiterated concepts from our classes, and some of it was very new information. In this reflection, I’ll summarize my two main takeaways from the conference.
The first takeaway is that I am in charge of my own professional and personal development and my life. Allison, Antonius, and Bonnie all touched on mental health and professional burnout. I loved Antonius’s emphasis on balance, throwing out what doesn’t serve you, as well as remembering your “why.” This led me to write down my “whys” and consider what I want my career in OT to look like. The conversations around mental health also led me to evaluate how I balance my time and energy. I appreciate that in our program, our teachers have placed special emphasis on doing our best, yes, but also prioritizing ourselves above specific grades or outcomes, especially when they likely will not have much of an impact on our future. “80% of 100” is a really helpful mantra for both competency and energy conservation (“permission” of the 6 P’s). I also appreciated Kristen and the panel’s input on the current market. A lot of that conversation was focused on the tools and skills we can use to prepare ourselves for the job market. Once again, my future is mostly in my hands, and I shouldn’t be afraid to take or make opportunities, as long as I’m taking care of myself.
The second takeaway was the concept of “life hardening” from Philip Lamoreaux’s presentation. “Life hardening” uses techniques to make a task more intense so that the person is working at 75-80% of their HR max. It applies the concept of “just right” challenge to encourage neurological adaptations for motor learning. Philip showed a lot of cool ways to harden tasks, like using a weighted mock razor for shaving practice, wearing weights while walking or transferring, and increasing walking distance or speed. Initially, I was under the impression that work should be done where it’s comfortable or just beyond, and heart rate wasn’t a thought except for making sure it wasn’t too high or too low. I can see how I can apply this in my practice with clients at any level of functioning and for various disabilities.
Taking initiative, mental health, and the concept of “just right” challenge are not new concepts to me. However, I saw them applied in new ways during this conference. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field and the chance to see how the concepts I’ve learned in class are applied in practice. I look forward to the next conference!
MedBridge Classes Completed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Functioning Skills: Strategies for Children with ADHD and SPD - 4/2024
Addressing Incontinence in HOme Health: An Occupational Therapist's Perspective - 4/2024
Pediatric Aquatics for the CHild with a Neuro-Motor Disorder: Principles and Precautions - 3/2024
Telehealth: An Introduction to Virtual Care - 3/2024
Is It Sensory or Is It Behavior? Part 1: Overview - 2/2024
Is It Sensory or Is It Behavior? Part 2: Sensory-Based Behaviors - 2/2024
Assistive Technology Overview - 1/2024
Balance Challenges Part 1: Assessment - 1/2024