It is crazy to think back on what can happen in one year! I am now over 12 months on from starting at The Potential Ability Group and would like to take a moment to reflect on my journey and hopefully impart some advice for anyone else who is starting their own Occupational Therapy career.
Twelve Months as an Occupational Therapist
What is the first year as a new OT really like? Amazing, challenging, and everything in-between...
Starting out is scary. Whilst you spend 4-5 years at university and undertake numerous hours of placement, becoming an Occupational Therapist means increased responsibility. I definitely felt imposter syndrome and to be really honest there are still times now when I feel like this. I have come to acknowledge that it is likely I will always have moments when I am not feeling as confident as I would like and am unsure of answers to some questions. It is okay to not know things. It is okay to ask for help! We work in a career where we have the amazing privilege to walk alongside others and journey with them. Coming out as a graduate you should expect to have to ask questions and whilst it is uncomfortable, know that no one expects you to have all the answers.
In order to succeed, we need people around us to believe in us and help guide us. I have very much valued the amount of support I have received from everyone at TPAG throughout my graduate year. Regular phone calls, supervision sessions, shadowing opportunities, clinical team meetings, team days… the list goes on! As a new graduate it can be scary sometimes asking for help. As I have developed relationships with my supervisors and other colleagues it has been very easy to ask for help and seek feedback. I have appreciated the reviewing of reports, documentation and feedback that has helped me improve and seek the best outcomes for my clients. Clear supervision guidelines should be there to support you to grow as you come out from the university bubble.
Self-care was not something that I ever considered properly within my university degree. I was aware that it was something I should consider, but never put any steps into my life to implement it – instead constantly striving to be busy. This past year has significantly changed my perspective of self-care! Self-care is designed to help you physically, emotionally, and mentally and Occupational Therapy is a demanding role physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can be difficult to carry the stories and burdens of others that we hear. Creating a self-care routine has been something that I have worked with my supervisors to implement throughout my grad year. This can look very different for everyone. For myself, it has consisted of exercising straight after work has finished, incorporating gentle movement, and breathing, like yoga, in my weekly routine and ensuring that I have lots of family time throughout my week.
As you continue to learn it is important to stop and take time to reflect on what you’ve learnt and how far you’ve come! Reflection is something that is drilled into Occupational Therapy university degrees and is so important for our client outcomes. Stepping out into the real world means some of the reflection work is up to you to implement. TPAG has a very strong culture of reflective practice and I have found this immensely encouraging as I have continued to develop my own reflective skills. Not only have I been encouraged to reflect on my clinical outcomes and dilemmas, but also my professional skills and workload. In my experience, a positive environment of self-reflection leads to an increased sense of self-awareness and empowerment.
Starting out in a new organisation is challenging at the best of times, let alone when you are also starting out in a new career. It is very difficult to know exactly what a workplace is like until you start working there. What is it’s culture? How do people communicate? What are its values? In my experience, there is also a lot of pressure we place on ourselves to compare our situation to others – what job are all my friends doing? When did they get their job? What supports are they receiving? As you are starting out, I really encourage you to consider what is it that you are looking for in an organisation. For myself, I have found that the support aspect from TPAG, the ability to work across funding bodies and the lifespan and working in the community have been important for me in my career. As you experience different workplace cultures and clinical cases, I encourage you to be honest with yourself of whether you are fulfilling your potential and whether you are enjoying your work and workplace culture.