Occupational Therapy Careers: OTAs Are Meeting the Mental Health Challenge

Welcome to part six of a six-part blog series that dives into the world of occupational therapy careers and those who work directly with individuals affected by various challenges: the occupational therapy assistant!

Part 1: Occupational Therapy Careers: Working with Children and Youth
Part 2: Occupational Therapy Careers: Improving Health & Wellness as an OTA
Part 3: Occupational Therapy Careers: The OTA Role in Work and Industry
Part 4: Occupational Therapy Careers: OTAs Help With Rehabilitation
Part 5: Occupational Therapy Careers: Occupational Therapy Assistants Ensure Quality of Life

Part 6 of this blog series explores occupational therapy’s role in mental health. The knowledge and instincts of those choosing an occupational therapy assistant career provide mental health treatment and prevention services.

Occupational Therapy Professionals Focus on the Whole Person

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) lists six practice areas within occupational therapy: children and youth, health and wellness, mental health, productive aging, rehabilitation and disability, and work and industry.

If you’ve been reading this blog series, you’re not surprised by this wide application of OTA knowledge. The primary difference between occupational therapy and other professions is using occupations (activities and skills) in the evaluation and treatment. An Occupational Therapist (OT) and an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) help people of all ages meet the challenges of emotional, developmental, and mental difficulties.

Occupational therapy practitioners consider the environment (context) and current and future abilities needed for desired tasks. OTAs help people of all ages meet the challenges of emotional, developmental, and mental difficulties. They often work with specialists in other fields to coordinate care.

Remember, while occupational therapists (OTs) take the lead in developing a treatment plan, OTAs work directly with the individuals to carry out the plan. OTA expertise allows them to recommend changes when needed for continued progress. (Go here for more about how the roles of Occupational Therapists and OTAs differ.)

How They Work Toward Improved Mental Health

Occupational therapy practitioners are active participants in the mental health of a community. You’ll find OTAs working with individuals in homeless and battered-women shelters, correctional facilities, group homes, workplaces, schools, and in coordination with community-based programs.

OTAs and others in occupational therapy careers work toward improving mental health in a variety of ways. Some examples:

• Not taking prescribed medications might be one reason someone is sent to an inpatient psychiatric unit. An OTA might set up a short-term plan to determine what prevents the person from taking the correct medications. If the person has a complicated med schedule, the OTA could show how to use a per-day pillbox, set up a schedule to follow, and make a pill identification chart.
• For someone not meeting standards in a work environment, OTAs might observe the person in the actual work conditions. They might talk with the employer or co-workers regarding skills needed and determine what affects job performance. They might also role-play with the person to develop productive ways to manage a situation before it becomes a significant issue.

Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career Fit Me?

Deciding to pursue an occupational therapy assistant career as an OTA is a very personal choice. OTAs love what they do because they like seeing the difference they make in people’s lives.

The career site owlgruru.com gives the OTA profession a high rating, and a 2022 report by U.S. News and World Report says an OTA position is one of the “best health care support jobs” available.

It’s also reassuring to know the outlook for occupational therapy careers is good, too. The Bureau of Labor Statistics sees OTA job growth increasing by more than 25% from 2021  to 2031.

A newly certified OTA’s salary in the Midwest typically ranges between $46,000 and $49,000 (plus benefits). Of course, states and cities with high demand for healthcare professionals often pay more. The national median wage for OTAs is $61,730.

CUKC OTA Degree: Pathway to an Occupational Therapy Career

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private university in Overland Park, Kansas. CUKC serves students seeking careers in the chiropractic and health sciences, and its mission is to educate and develop leaders in health promotion.

When you’re ready to begin an occupational therapy assistant career, discover the CUKC Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree program.

OTA courses are delivered in sequential 8-week modules year-round, allowing students to complete the degree in two years or less. The degree program includes the four-to-five months of required fieldwork experience, which is supervised by trained fieldwork evaluators.

Other features of the Cleveland University-Kansas City OTA degree program:

• Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
• Includes the latest equipment and practices, including a simulated living quarters lab
• A comprehensive curriculum to get you ready to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
• Class start options: spring and fall each year.

Connect with an advisor today to learn about the two-year OTA degree, or explore the occupational therapy assistant career by downloading the free CUKC ebook today: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.