My elevator pitch
If someone has a major medical event, such as a stroke, heart attack, or gets in a car accident, the occupational therapist will work with them to rehabilitate toward their personal goals. These goals may be related to self-care and independence, or they may be tied to rituals or routines that are meaningful to them. These rituals may seem “small,” such as their morning routine and how they make their coffee and breakfast. They could be “large” such as hosting Thanksgiving at their home each year. Whether the tasks are “small” or “large,” they contain meaning to the client.
These rituals are what ground us and help us connect to who we are.
Birth is also a major event, and often involves medical intervention. If we reframe birth to consider it from this lens, we realize how dramatic and impactful the experience of birth truly is. Many expectant mothers in modern society have established meaningful careers and work outside the home until the day they give birth. From the moment their child is born, life turns upside down. The parents have brand new roles and responsibilities, for which they received no real training, or even exposure. Their routines are at the mercy of the baby’s feeding and sleeping schedule and that lovely morning transition time you used to have to drink your coffee and make your breakfast is no more.
This experience is just as jarring as coming home from the hospital after a major medical event and not being able to engage in your routines, habits, and self-care the way you used to. In fact, it’s harder, because you also have a helpless little being you must tend to 24/7.
Add to that: your own recovery from birth (whether vaginal or cesarean), feeding (the baby and yourself), sleep deprivation, PMADs, social isolation, and the list goes on.
Occupational therapists understand that we are a product of our physical, emotional, mental, and environmental well-being. We utilize a variety of models and frameworks, as well as our therapeutic listening skills, when interviewing our clients and generating their occupational profiles.
OT’s goals are the client’s goals:
to feel like themselves again
to reengage in their meaningful routines, rituals, and hobbies
to have alone time, social time, and time to connect with their partners
to feel confident in their skills as a parent when taking care of their baby
What are your goals for yourself? How can working with an OT support you attain those goals?
Reach out via the Contact Us form on the website or by emailing hello@sevenmothersot.com to schedule
a free 15-minute consultation!
