Occupations throughout the Decades

Over the decades, occupational therapy has changed in many aspects. It started out with volunteers taking the role of occupational therapists and transitioned into a masters and doctorates program. Many pieces of legislation have been passed that affected the career and required changes/adaptations (both negatively and positively). In the occupational therapy world, there are multiple models like the reductionistic vs. holistic approach and the top-down vs. bottom-down approach that change the treatment style of a client.

However, the term "occupation" has remained constant since the beginning of occupational therapy in 1917, despite all the other changes and variations in the career. Occupation refers to any activity in which a person engages. An occupation has meaning, a goal, and a purpose that links directly to a role. Occupation is anything that occupies one's time, and it can be done alone or with others. Some occupations are required, but some occupations are a choice.

There are multiple treatment methods. For example, in the early decades of the occupational therapy career, many therapists used a reductionistic approach when treating clients. They isolated injuries/disabilities from the whole body and only treated the "problem." Recently, a holistic approach is preferred when treating clients. A holistic approach emphasizes treating the client as a whole and not only treating the specific injury/disability. Rather, the whole body is treated. A top-down treatment method starts with a client's occupations associated with his or her role. It then addresses the barriers the client is having with achieving/participating in those occupations. A bottom-down approach looks at a client's disability first and basically cuts straight to the point of the therapy treatment.

Whichever treatment method an occupation therapist decides to use, the ultimate goal of occupational therapy is to rehab clients back to doing occupations that helps them maintain their role/identity. Even though different methods may be used during the treatment, the ultimate goal of getting back to doing occupations remains constant. Whether the disability/injury is isolated or addressed last in the treatment session, the client will eventually get back to doing occupations. No matter what other changes may come to the therapy world, occupations will always be activities in which a person engages that provides meaning and purpose.