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OTHA-2309-001 Mental Health in Occupational Therapy
Prerequisite: OTHA 1415
Promotion of mental health and wellness through occupational therapy. Topics include theory and intervention strategies to enhance occupational performance.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:
Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:
Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me
You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.
(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)
On Campus Course
Physical Dysfunction Practice Skills for the Occupational Therapy Assistant, 4th Edition, Early
Occupation-Based Activity Analysis, 2nd Edition, Thomas
The OTA's Guide to Documentation: Writing Soap Notes, 4th Edition, Morreale, and Borcherding
Occupational Therapy Practice: FRAMEWORK: Domain & Process, 4th edition, AOTA
Supplemental Reading:
Adult Physical Conditions: Intervention Strategies for Occupational Therapy Assistants, 2nd Edition Mahle & Ward
Quick Reference to Occupational Therapy, Reed
Microsoft PowerPoint Software access
Computer access including print capability
Supplies for student preferred method for note taking
Supplies to prepare presentations, assignments as determined by student
Competencies-Given the learning methods, course textbooks, personal notes, handouts and other course materials, the student should be able to do each of the following on written examination with accuracy of not less than 74.5% as evaluated by the course instructor.
1. Discuss the OT Practice Framework as it relates to occupational therapy in the mental health setting.
2. Be knowledgeable of healthcare laws, historically and current, and how the impact on mental health care and occupational therapy services.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of mental health diagnoses, including signs and symptoms and the impact on occupational performance.
4. Be familiar with job descriptions and role delineation of OTR, COTA, aides, and volunteers in in the mental health setting.
5. Research and discuss frames of reference in occupational therapy as they relate to the mental health setting.
6. Explore assessments in the mental health setting, as well as the psychosocial components of assessment applicable to occupational therapy intervention in all settings.
7. Participate in learning activities to develop group intervention skills and therapeutic use of self for occupational therapy intervention in the mental health setting.
8. Understand the importance of effective communication skills with clients, caregivers, and other professionals.
9. Demonstrate effective communication skills during practice of implementation of therapeutic group.
10. Demonstrate knowledge of leadership styles used in facilitating an occupational therapy group intervention.
11. Understand the importance of supervision, the reciprocity of the relationship with the OTA supervisor, and the impact on the client’s progress in the mental health setting.
12. Understand the importance of and utilize evidence-based practice in the mental health setting.
Goals – Given the course textbooks, personal notes, handouts, and other course materials, the student should accomplish each of the following course goals as evaluated by the course instructor.
1. Describe the meaning and dynamics of occupation and activity, including the interaction of areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, activity demands, context(s) and environments, and client factors.
2. Understand and be able to apply the functions of activity analysis as it relates to therapeutic intervention.
3. Understand the inherent qualities of purposeful activity and be able to adapt/modify for successful performance and intervention.
4. Understand and be able to problem-solve based on the occupational performance areas of life tasks in which clients engage as an integral part of therapeutic intervention through assessment, activity analysis, problem-solving and adaptation/modification.
The student will know that these goals have been completed when he/she earns a final grade of "C" or higher as evaluated by the department faculty.
ACOTE standards (effective July 31,2020) incorporated in this course:
(B.1.3) Demonstrate knowledge of the social determinants of health for persons, groups, and populations with or at risk for disabilities and chronic health conditions. This must include an understanding of the epidemiological factors that impact the public health and welfare of populations.
(B.2.1) Apply scientific evidence, theories, models of practice, and frames of reference that underlie the practice of occupational therapy to guide and inform interventions for persons, groups, and populations in a variety of practice contexts and environments.
(B.2.1) Apply scientific evidence, theories, models of practice, and frames of reference that underlie the practice of occupational therapy to guide and inform interventions for persons, groups, and populations in a variety of practice contexts and environments.
(B.3.2) Demonstrate knowledge of and apply the interaction of occupation and activity, including areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s) and environments, and client factors.
(B.3.4) Demonstrate knowledge of scientific evidence as it relates to the importance of balancing areas of occupation; the role of occupation in the promotion of health; and the prevention of disease, illness, and dysfunction for persons, groups, and populations.
(B.3.5) Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of disease processes including heritable diseases, genetic conditions, mental illness, disability, trauma, and injury on occupational performance.
(B.4.1) Demonstrate therapeutic use of self, including one’s personality, insights, perceptions, and judgments, as part of the therapeutic process in both individual and group interaction.
(B.4.3) Utilize clinical reasoning to facilitate occupation-based interventions that address client factors. This must include interventions focused on promotion, compensation, adaptation, and prevention.
(B.4.10) Provide direct interventions and procedures to persons, groups, and populations to enhance safety, health and wellness, and performance in occupations. This must include the ability to select and deliver occupations and activities, preparatory methods and tasks (including therapeutic exercise), education and training, and advocacy
(B.4.29) Demonstrate knowledge of various reimbursement systems and funding mechanisms (e.g., federal, state, third party, private payer), treatment/diagnosis codes (e.g., CPT®, ICD, DSM® codes), and coding and documentation requirements that affect consumers and the practice of occupational therapy.
Documentation must effectively communicate the need and rationale for occupational therapy services.
Consistency with and connection to the OTA curriculum
The curriculum design of the OTA program incorporates both developmental and adult education models of learning. In planning and implementing the curriculum, courses progress from easier to harder, general to specific, limited time observing to full time practicing. The program focuses on adult education concepts of self-directed learning, an increasing responsibility for one’s own learning, as well as establishing one’s own learning goals and objectives. The curriculum design incorporates the philosophy of the profession in that human are active beings and so students enrolled in OTA courses are actively learning not passively listening to lecture or viewing power point presentations. OTA students create the power point presentations from which they learn.
Therapeutic Use of Occupation I is a first semester course. This course builds knowledge of the student in the form of language which will be used across all courses and increases in complexity between Therapeutic Use of Occupation I and the next semester course Therapeutic Use of Occupation II. Students begin learning abbreviations in the first course and those abbreviations are utilized again in the next semester in written notes based on the first clinical course observations. Basic healthcare concepts are taught in course I such as hand washing, protective equipment use, and workplace safety. The second course in the second semester builds on knowledge from the first course by requiring treatment plans which include safety and precautions.
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
1. Dishonesty will not be tolerated. Refer to the “Student’s Rights and Responsibilities” pamphlet for details on handling of dishonesty.
2. There will be no use of cell phones or pagers in the classroom during class time. All devices must be put on silent during class and lab hours.
3. Class facilities (phone, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen) are to be used only for learning experience.
4. Courtesy and respect are expected between the student and instructor. Students are expected to be attentive to the instructor, guest lecturers, and oral presentations of peers.
5. Students will abide by department dress code. If professional dress is not followed, student will not be allowed on the outing and will receive a zero for that class. Makeup of that outing will not be allowed.
6. Students are expected to demonstrate high regard and respect for all persons during off-campus visits. Lack of respect for anyone by any student will result in immediate dismissal of the student/s from the situation and a grade of zero for that day.
Grading Policies: Any grade disputes must be addressed within one week of receiving the grade; otherwise, the grade stands and will not be changed. Grades will not be given over the telephone. An appointment must be made with the instructor for a conference if a question over a grade arises. The issue will not be discussed during class time.
Evaluation: The final course grade will be computed as follows:
Content Exams 30%
Lab Activities 20%
Portfolio 20%
Final Examination 30%
100%
The following grade scale applies throughout this course:
A = 92.5 – 100
B = 83.5 - 92.4
C = 74.5 – 83.4
F = 74.4 and below
Note: A grade of “D” is not possible in this course. A student receiving a final grade of less than a “C” will be required to repeat this course and may not continue the next curriculum courses. This course may only be repeated once and must be done in curriculum sequence.
The following information details the policies of expectations and missed exams/ assignments:
A. Content Exams –Each exam will cover the information presented since the previous exam (or the start of the semester for the first exam) and will be announced in advance. If an exam is missed, for any reason, that exam will be made up during the week of final examinations. Detailed information for the make-up time and place will be given out the week before finals. The format for the make-up exam will be at the discretion of the instructor and may differ from original exam format. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain test information –no review will be given. The maximum achievable score will be 95. Bonuses will be answered but will not be factored into the exam grade.
B. Quizzes- Quizzes will test knowledge of any/all previous lectures/readings. They may or may not be announced and may be given at anytime during the course of the class. A quiz cannot be made up for any reason.
C. Portfolio Assignments – All in-class, out-of-class, or presentations must be completed on time. They will not be accepted late for any reason. Any written portion of an assignment may be handwritten as long as it is legible.
D. Lab Activities – All effort will be made to keep assignments to a level that can be completed during lab times. Assignments given for each lab will be turned in at the end of lab, unless the instructor gives approval to complete it outside of lab. In the event of lab homework, it will be due at the beginning of the next lab. There will be no make-up of lab assignments.
E. Final Examination – One final exam will be given and will cover any/all material presented throughout the course. The date and time of the final will follow the schedule set forth by the occupational therapy assistant instructor.
Attendance Policy:
At the beginning of each lecture and lab, students will be expected to sign the roster provided by the instructor. Failure to sign in will result in the student being marked absent for attendance purposes even if a student is present in class and seen by the instructor.
Each student will be allowed only one absence for lecture or one for lab in the course. After the first absence, a penalty of three (3) points will be deducted from the student's final course grade for each subsequent absence. For example, a student who misses three (3) lectures will have six (6) points deducted from the final grade for the course.
Full attendance of class time is also expected. A student will be counted as "absent" if the student is out of class more than 20 minutes of a class time. For example, if in a given day a student arrives 10 minutes late to class, takes an extra 5 minutes for break and leaves class for 5 minutes for any reason (phone calls, appointments, bathroom breaks, illness), that student is then considered "absent" for the day. This type of absence counts in the total number of absences resulting in lowering of the final course grade.
Week 1 - Class and Text Overview; Scope of Practice in Mental Health OT; Standards of Practice in Mental Health OT
Week 2 - OT Intervention: Promoting Occupational Participation; Understanding Group Dynamics
Week 3 - Developing Cultural Competence; Therapeutic Rapport and Use of IRM
Week 4 - PARC Site Visit; 8 Dimensions of Wellness in Action; Exam 1
Week 5 - Client Centered Groups; Intervention Strategies
Week 6 - Client Centered Groups; Intervention Strategies, cont.
Week 7 - Use of Therapeutic Groups in OT; The Group Leader
Week 8 - Writing a Group Protocol: 6 Thinking Hats; Exam 2
SPRING BREAK
Week 9 - Group Practicals/Feedback
Week 10 - Group Practicals/Feedback; Experiential Learning in the Community
Week 11 - Experiential Learning Synthesis; The Early Lifespan (Development, MH Diagnoses, Assessment)
Week 12 - Occupational Environment Mid-Lifespan; Mid-Life (Occupational Participation and MH Diagnoses)
Week 13 - Mental Health Diagnoses, Assessment, Intervention
Week 14 - Emerging Practice and Documentation in Mental Health Occupational Therapy; Exam 3
Week 15 - Clinical Off Campus PLUS debriefing; schedule TBA
Week 16 - Final Exam Week
One final exam will be given and will cover any/all material presented throughout the course. The date and time of the final will follow the schedule set forth by the occupational therapy assistant instructor.
THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR DEEMS NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE COURSE OBJECTIVES.
01/17/23 9:05 AM
01/10/25 1:32 PM