Professional Value Statement:
I am a leader who strives to collaborate with clients and valued health care professionals, while ensuring evidence informed practice. Client engagement in meaningful occupations is my ultimate goal. Positive well-being and health is what I will strive for in every client encounter.
Personal Value Statement:
I value being a trusted and respected member of my family and among my friends. I intend to be impactful in making differences in the lives of individuals within my broader community which is a place that I am proud to call my home. I am passionate about advocacy and supporting issues that need addressing in New Brunswick. Lastly, I strive to uphold my beliefs while respecting the beliefs held by others.
Aim of Professional Practice
My professional practice will be viewed through a holistic lens that will enable me to see clients as whole beings, with unique needs, goals, dreams, and aspirations. My role will be to enable clients in all ways possible, to facilitate positive well-being and quality of life.
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One of the aspects that have driven me to this career field is the great possibilities and opportunities to work with a variety of clients and settings. Currently, I have been drawn to working with older adults to promote independence in all aspects of their lives. I feel that at times, older adults diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease are misunderstood and pushed aside in the healthcare system because of a lack of "knowing what to do". I intend to work with this population to be a medium to facilitate engagement, behavioural management, as well as support for family and caregivers caring for individuals with this disease. Additionally, I am interested in working with individuals with neurological conditions in a rehabilitation facility, to have the support from other disciplines to provide holistic care with a team of professionals.
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Client Goals
It is my role as a future occupational therapist to facilitate client-centered practices that will enable clients to engage in meaningful and purposeful occupations. I will guide interactions and interventions around the client's goals and wishes. It is my goal to promote every clients unique occupational engagement, help to engage clients to foster belonging and meaning, and to respect the clients journey to achieving their goals.
This will be achieved through:
-Developing collaborative S.M.A.R.T goals with each client
-Respecting the clients priorities
-Being strength based and focused
-Enabling clients to engage in life-roles
-Seeing the client through each of the determinants (cognitive-neurological, physical, socio-cultural, psycho-emotional, environmental).
My Goals
My personal goals as a future occupational therapist are to remain evidence informed by keeping up-to-date on appropriate materials and research articles in regards to my client population needs. I will also take opportunities for continued growth and knowledge translation by going to workshops for continued learning. I will also be a reflective practitioner and consult expert OTs or other health care professionals to get their experience when dealing with complex and unfamiliar cases. I will also be reflecting independently on what went well with client interactions and how I can continue to grow and improve upon when I make mistakes. Lastly, I believe that it is important to keep in mind my own limitations in regards to my emotional and mental health when dealing with difficult and sensitive client cases.
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Client-Practitioner Relationship Goals
The goals that I have for future client-practitioner relationships, is ensuring that the client feels comfortable, safe, respected, cared about, and heard. I want to be trusted in the client-practitioner relationship, to follow through in regards to commitments and promises. I want to create a balance of power between myself and the clients that I will work with where their priorities and goals are emphasized, not my own agenda. My understanding needs to be on what the client hopes to get out of working with me, not what I feel should take place. They are the ultimate experts of their lives, and I will respect and appreciate their knowledge and what they will bring to therapy.
Preferred Work Environment
I want to work in an environment where I have the support and expert advice from other health care professionals. I want to be able to trust and rely on my colleagues, to ensure that we are providing the best care possible to our clients. My first placement was with the Extra-Mural Program in New Brunswick where I developed a new-found appreciation and understanding of the importance of working with a team of multiple disciplines who work well together, consult each other, and respect each others opinions and expertise. They all brought their skills and expertise to every client encounter, depending on one another to provide the best care possible to their clients. There was also continuous learning opportunities for the employees, encouraging all members of the team to keep up-to-date on relevant and new information. Also, every member of the team had unique skills and strengths that they brought to the Extra-Mural team and the clients they worked with. This was a type of setting that inspired my future preferred work environment.
