Stay rooted & take
flight
Dr M Clare Taylor
Bournemouth University
Stay rooted – but rooted in
what?
Stay rooted – but rooted in
what?
 History
 Knowledge
 Skills
 Evidence
 Philosophy
A stroll through the history of
OT
 What
are the origins of OT?
 When did OT start?
 Where did OT start?
and
 What about OT at Coventry University?
Occupational Therapy was first observed to
be taking place during the French revolution
as basket weaving became highly fashionable
with the working classes. They competed with
each other to create the most decorative
baskets for the aristocrats’ heads to fall into.
 Many people were more interested in the
basket weaving that the actual beheadings,
much to the consternation of the guillotine
technicians who felt their role was not being
taken seriously.

A stroll through the history of
OT
 The
Age of Enlightenment [1700s]
 Pinel
 Tuke
 Moral treatment
 The
Arts & Crafts movement
A stroll through the history of
OT

The power of meaningful occupation as a
means of therapy

How does occupation effect a cure? … One
thing is certain, that the coated tongue, the
obstinate constipation. The diminished
secretions, the sallow complexion and the
other symptoms of ill health that very
stubbornly resist other methods of
treatment gradually disappear when patients
are engaged in suitable occupation, and we can
nearly always look forward with confidence
for a marked improvement in mental condition
Moher (1907) Occupation in the treatment of the insane,
JAMA, 158:1666
The medical model
• The occupational therapist carries out
her treatment on prescription from the
medical officer only. No case should be
dealt with without this prescription.
Howarth & MacDonald,
cited in Turner, 1996
Rediscovering occupation

Occupational therapy is a profession
concerned with promoting health and well
being through occupation.
A stroll through the history of
OT
OT education in the UK
 When did it start?
 Where did it start?
 What
about Coventry?
A stroll through the history of
OT
 Actually
- Wolverhampton
Knowledge …
… I know nothing
Models & FoR
Occupational Science
A skills or 2
Think about the skills you’ve
developed doing research
developing a question
 finding literature
 reviewing literature
 collecting data
 understanding data analysis
 synthesis & analysis
 presentation skills
 problem solving
 time management
 writing

Evidence-based what …
Let’s philosophise …
 ‘Man
(sic), through the use of his hands,
as they are energized by his mind and
will, can influence the state of his own
health’
Reilly(1962): 1
 Occupation
ends
as means & occupation as
Take flight – but where to?
Where to from here …

Band 5 OT
Where to from here …









Specialist practitioner
Consultant therapist
Research OT
Head OT
Lecturer
Chair of COT Council
Renowned author
Leader of the profession
…???
The world of OT is your oyster

enjoy