Blog

September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day

There is hope, make the call

According to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Summer 2013 newsletter, Certification Matters, of the 29,000 occupational therapist registered (OTR) and certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) who renewed their certification by March 2013, the breakdown is as follows …

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Stop Using, “Schizophrenics”

Schizophrenia

This morning, I read an interesting article about the brain.  It was published in a non-peer reviewed resource.  The author of the article used the term schizophrenics, a word that has made me cringe as an occupational therapist (OT) since …

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OT Private Practice and Thin Mints

Thin Mints

In the spring semester of 1995 my classmate at San Jose State University, Sarah, and I, did our best to succeed in the psychosocial clinic.  It was part of our fulfillment of a degree in occupational therapy (OT) along with …

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Weighted Situations

Weighted Spoon

Yesterday, my 94-year-old neighbor stopped by my apartment to return a dish I lent to her. “I know you work from home.  Are you a shrink?” she asked me. She remembered from our previous discussions that I worked in mental …

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Appreciation

Lunch is Served

“The fact is that people are good.  Give people affection and security, and they will give affection and be secure in their feelings and their behavior.” ~ Abraham Maslow This afternoon, one of my clients said he wanted to cook …

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The Benefits of Water Exercise

I moved into my new place the beginning of August 2012 and in the process of bending, lifting, kneeling, carrying loads, cleaning, etc. I must have injured my right knee.  I have a high tolerance for pain and tend to …

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Report on California Coalition for Mental Health (CCMH) Meeting

OT-LeadershipMessages

On behalf of the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) and the Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Action Coalition (POTAC), I attended the California Coalition for Mental Health (CCMH) meeting that was held on March 20, 2012 in Sacramento, CA. Below is an overview of the meeting.

After Peter Schroeder, CCMH president, welcomed the members and the minutes from the January 25, 2012 meeting were approved, the CCMH treasurer reported that the organization planned to contribute to Sacramento Advocacy Day on March 28, 2012, they welcomed the California Elder Mental Health and Aging Coalition as a new member, and voted regarding the Racial & Ethnic Mental Health Disparities Coalition (REMHDCO).