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Revelations in Lifestyle Redesign ⟩
January 23, 2013, by Kendra

Classes What are OS/OT?

During my Lifestyle Redesign class this morning, we were instructed to get into dyads and practice coaching techniques. The specific one we were working on involved asking the client to identify complaints and then assist them to reframe that complaint or area of struggle in a positive light and/or identify strategies to help combat that complaint.

Many sessions went like this:

OTS: What is an area of complaint for you?
Client: I am not getting enough sleep. I only slept two hours last night.
OTS: Wow, you must have a lot of important things going on in your life!

It seems simple, and perhaps silly, but the student that played the part of the client in this dyad remarked that she felt validated and the stress of having not slept was more bearable when she looked at it in a different light. It made her more interested and willing to hear what the OT had to say, and more receptive to identifying and making changes in her life.

Often times these simple strategies of, basically, just listening and affirming the client make a huge difference and create a positive relationship between the client and therapist. I loved it!

So what happened in my dyad you ask? Well mine went a little differently, but it was simply amazing!

OTS: What is an area of complaint for you?
Me: This new schedule is stressing me out, I feel like I’m not organized and don’t have a grasp on everything that’s expected of me.
OTS: That sounds stressful. What are some things you’re doing to deal with that stress?
Me: Well I feel better since yesterday when I bought binders and organizing materials.
OTS: Do you have a to-do list?
Me: Yes I do. In fact it’s right here, it has everything on it, and I take it everywhere I go.
OTS: So it seems that you’re doing really well dealing with the stress and you seem to already have a system that helps you manage everything.
Me: You’re right, I do!
OTS: You do! You’re doing great, just don’t forget you already know how to handle all this!

Crazy right!? I had the list on me! I wrote everything down, crossed things out, but when I was not actively doing that the stress of everything else burdened me so much I forgot I had already taken steps to get organized and stay on top of everything. Oh how blinding stress can be!

This just calls to mind how the job of an OT can vary from complex to simple but both are meaningful, important interactions that carry the potential to change the way a person views, and interacts with, life!

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Back At It ⟩
January 17, 2013, by Ricky

Classes

Day 4 of the new semester! I hadn’t fully comprehended how I’d be putting in 11–12 hr days. Don’t be alarmed, that’s only 2 days a week. The cool thing is, I have very light days just after to recover. So far it doesn’t even matter because I’m absolutely loving my courses. That may have something to do with the fact that I got to choose them. That’s not to say that some of the courses I’ve completed to date aren’t great; I’m just saying it’s always better when you hand pick ‘em. So one of courses is a USC OT staple: Sensory Integration (SI). SI is an approach that was pioneered by USC’s own A. Jean Ayres. My professor was a student of Ayres’ and is very accomplished in her own right. So exciting! Another of my self-selected electives is the Motor Control best-practice course at a renowned local rehabilitation hospital. This class is a late one, but I don’t think I’ll have any trouble staying awake seeing as how yesterday was our first day and already we were practicing transfers. So hands-on — I love it! The instructor is very engaging as well. Well, let me see how today’s 12 hr-day goes, and I’ll check in with ya’ll shortly. Oh, also, what’s the deal with Manti Te’o? C’mon bro, really?

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Beyond Ergonomics ⟩
January 16, 2013, by Kendra

Classes What are OS/OT?

And let the semester begin!!!

So far this week I have attended Motor Control, Ergonomics, and Lifestyle Redesign and they are all fascinating courses. I am especially excited about Ergonomics, aka ‘the science of work.’

When we think about Ergonomics, we typically think of having a computer workstation designed to best fit your body so as to limit repetitive stress fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome and many other work related chronic injuries.

And while this is a perfect example of Ergonomics, its application is in everything we do, every move we make.

What especially surprised me was our professor telling us how the disks between our vertebrae begin to deteriorate by our 30s. People this is crazy! I’m nearly 30 and determined to have a life filled with adventure and the freedom to move and explore the world as I see fit. As you can see below, sometimes I just have to play on the monkey bars, and it is MUCH harder when you’re adult sized, so I want to minimize my risks as much as possible.

Another thing that blew me away was how typical movement can negatively impact our body. Let me explain. We all know to ‘lift with your knees but not with your back’ but what we don’t consider is how simple movements like bending over to plug in your phone or twisting to reach a paper or high five a friend can damage your vertebral disks. The professor explained it further, that while these movements may be harmful we do them because it’s the most efficient form of movement. So how does one find a happy medium? The best answer is always, always exercise, diet, and be kind to your body.

I’ll keep you posted as I learn more!

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Health and Wellness ⟩
January 16, 2013, by Alisa

Classes What are OS/OT?

I just came out of the Lifestyle Redesign class, and I enjoyed it! During my time as an undergraduate, I had my first exposure to Lifestyle Redesign, working as a student worker at the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice, but I never truly understood what it was all about — or what happens behind closed doors. With the class that I’m taking, I’ll get a rich experience of what Lifestyle Redesign is all about. It is based on practicum, lecture, guest speakers, and observation hours. By the end of class, our instructor, Dr. Dieterle said that we’ll be able to implement similar programs such as weight management, pain management, diabetes management, et cetera. I have always been drawn to health and wellness at a young age. When I was 13, I created an incentive workout program for my family: every 30 minutes on the treadmill equals to 1 raffle ticket, and by the end of each month, we would raffle off prizes! I remember how much fun it was and how my family would line up to use the treadmill. I even committed to using it every day for a month, and I was able to improve my mile time by a minute. Those were the glory days. Now, I enjoy hikes, yoga, and Zumba. As a resident advisor I try to plan programs that involve health and wellness as well from hikes to time and stress management workshops. It is my passion to work in this field, and I hope to own my own health and wellness center some day. 😊

The greatest wealth is health — Virgil

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Returning to school ⟩
January 11, 2013, by Kendra

Classes School/Life Balance

Happy 2013 blog readers! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday, I know I did! Below is a picture of my husband and I freezing our bums off in the Pacific Northwest!

But now it’s back to life, back to reality, and back to school. This semester will be unlike any I’ve had so far. The final semester of the MA OT program is when we get the opportunity to begin specializing and focusing on different practice areas. This spring I’m taking Ergonomics, Dysphagia, Motor Control, and Lifestyle Redesign. Each, I believe, will allow me to be a better applicant and employee for working with adults in acute care or outpatient care.

While it is very exciting, it is also terrifying. It’s as if when the ball dropped in Times Square to welcome in 2013, an alarm clock went off in my head screaming ‘real life, real career is coming, be prepared!!’ I feel this tension has settled over me and my peers as we take the final classes and final steps towards becoming certified occupational therapists. And as we near the finish line the alarm clock screams questions: are you sure you want to work with adults? You are so good with kids! Are you sure you want to learn Ergonomics what about Sensory integration? Where do I work? What setting? What side of town? It goes on and on and on.

These same questions overwhelmed me when I was in undergrad, but then I did not have the faculty and peer support and information to help me make smart choices. I know, despite the panic, that I will be supported as I make my first steps as an OT. Yet another reason why I love this school, they prepare me to be a great OT on paper and in person.

That being said, the alarm clock still chimes, but this time I’ll funnel that panic into productive preparation!

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