ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Course Number & Title: OTA 2103 OTA in Behavioral Health
Credit Hours: 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hrs/week x 15 weeks=45 clock hrs)
PLACEMENT: Spring
FACULTY: TBA
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course addresses the most commonly seen psychiatric
symptoms, behavioral health correlates, screening and psychiatric occupational therapy
techniques for use within a multicultural setting.
STUDENT LEARNER OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, the student
learner will have been given the opportunity to:
1. Recognize occupational therapy in the treatment area of behavioral/psychiatric health.
2. Identify commonly seen psychiatric symptoms and behaviors.
3. Explore age appropriate media, meaningful activity, and selected life tasks available
for occupational therapy treatment.
4. Identify the partnership of the OTA/OT in treatment.
5. Identify screening and assessment techniques to identify the need for occupational
therapy services.
6. Identify methods of recording assessment and intervention.
7. Explore the impact of culture and community on occupational therapy treatment.
8. Explain the meaning and dynamics of occupation and meaningful activity including
the interaction of contexts for persons exhibiting atypical behaviors.
9. Adapt the environment and occupation to meets the needs of the client and their
psychosocial context.
10. Demonstrate therapeutic adaption with occupation pertinent to the needs of the client.
11. Identify safety techniques and responsibilities of the OTA and explain the privacy
issues of HIPAA.
12. Monitor and reassess the effect of the OT intervention and the need for continued and
or modified intervention.
13. Explain the role of the OTA in discharge planning.
14. Demonstrate appropriate professional oral and written communication skills.
TEACHING STRATEGIES:
Class discussions, readings, in-class activities, and peer review in class activities. The instructor may
assign point values to such activities. Modeling and simulation are also used in this class.
1
EVALUATION STRATEGIES:
(See grading criteria, grading rubrics, & assignments described on Blackboard Learn)
Midterm
Final
Development of treatment plan
Design an adapted environment for a given client
Conduct an in class group activity
Reflection paper on the OTA/OT role
25%
25%
20%
10%
10%
10%
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Cole, M. (September 2011). Group Dynamics in Occupational Therapy: The Theoretical
Basis and Practice Application of Group Intervention. Fourth Edition. SLACK,
Incorporated. Thorofare, NJ.
Bonder, B. (February 2010). Psychopathology and Function. 4th edition. SLACK,
Incorporated. Thorofare, NJ.
Early, M.B. (February 2008). Mental Health Concepts and Techniques for the
Occupational Therapy Assistant. Lippincott: New York.
COURSE POLICIES:
1. The College of Nursing and Health Professions values academic integrity. An Honor
Code is used within the College and all students are bound by this code. Information
regarding the consequences of cheating is listed in the University Student Handbook
and the department specific handbooks. Should an individual choose to participate in
academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or cheating, that individual will be held accountable.
2. Assignments should be submitted by the due date. Late Assignments will not be accepted
unless an exception is negotiated with the Instructor prior to the assignment due date.
3. Classes are mandatory and must be attended. Participation is required and evaluated.
4. ALL official communication, notices or announcements will be sent through the student’s
ASU EMAIL account ONLY. The student is accountable for checking this account on a
regular basis (daily or every other day) and is accountable for all official communication.
It is the student’s responsibility to keep the email account viable, enabled to receive
email transmissions and blackboard access on a daily basis.
Access BlackboardLearn: Course Documents/ Information at course website for additional
resources and guidelines. Also, see downloads available from Information Technology
Services (ITS) for the use of BlackboardLearn.
2
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES: OTA 2103 OTA in Behavioral Health
Session 1
Course outline and therapeutic use of self
Session 2
History of psychiatry in the US and internationally
Session 3
Mental Health/Illness
Session 4
Therapeutic use of self-2
Session 5
Symptomology of mental disorders and behavioral states
Session 6
Overview of the intervention process/midterm
Session 7
Data gathering and evaluation and coordination with the OT
Session 8
Intervention planning and coordination with the OT
Session 9
Intervention planning and coordination with the OT
Session 10
Safety and suicide and diseases of malaise (drug and alcohol addiction)
Session 11
Medical Records
Session 12
Effective use of groups in treatment 1
Session 13
Effective use of groups in treatment 2
Session 14
Effective use of groups in treatment 3
Session 15
Final exam
3