In my first year as a student Occupational Therapist I remember thinking "Oh my goodness, everyone needs this".
I'm Jo Gaffney and I've been an OT since 2004. I'd already worked in Mental Health Services as an OT assistant when I knew this was the career for me. So no, it's not just about equipment and adaptations. OT must be one of the most diverse professions in existence and that brings me to now - Styling Life OT.
The fact is not everybody can access the diversity of what an occupation-focused therapist can offer. First you need to bag yourself an injury or a long-term condition. Then you have to need ongoing healthcare support and if you're lucky this might include working with an OT. I spent many rewarding and happy years working in mental health services before progressing to team lead then professional lead then so on.......
Then I became disillusioned with my diminishing OT role as I moved into management and leadership. Corporate roles are great places for clinicians to aspire to and offer fabulous opportunities to influence change and improvement BUT it can also be frustrating as it comes with a host of other tasks that not all of us are cut out for.
I had a serious think as I hurtled toward my mid 40s about whether my future was in healthcare management and after a few years of procrastinating I made a change. I took a long look at myself, a bit like an OT might do. What made me tick? What did I enjoy? What did I want to spend the rest of my working days doing? As mum of a growing family I reflected that home and work had left me leading a predominantly productive life to the detriment of leisure and self-care. These are the three main domains of occupation so if you haven't figured it out yet I am not talking about employment here. Occupation is what you do, who you are, where you spend your time and who with. I found I had been destressing by mindlessly shopping at the end of a busy week. Having grown up with an interest in clothes and fashion I put two and two together and contemplated if there was such a career that might serve my creativity as well as my shopping habit.
Enter Jane Brook, an Image Consultant in Worcestershire. After a google I discovered there actually is such a career. Jane not only helped me 'refind' me but I loved everything about my consultations with her, so much so that I knew this was my next career step. I talked it through with my husband. Was this a possibility? With his support I took the plunge. I invested all my savings in training with House of Colour as an Image Consultant and Colour Analyst. My husband built me a studio space in the garden where I could work from and boom!!!! It started there.
But it doesn't end here. What has OT got to do with it? I have learned the fundamental links between the way you look and feel and how you perform your everyday occupations. And guess what? Anybody can access this. Yes there is an investment involved but it pays back tenfold in confidence and elimination of impulse mistake purchases.
Comments