Cultural sensitivity in context
Personal narrative Ah Seng was a frequent visitor around our neighbourhood, and he would often be found asking for money or small jobs to do in return for some financial…
Future prospects for occupational therapy in mental health
Personal narrative My career as an occupational therapist in mental health has several links with the earliest days of the profession in the UK. It has continued through my practising…
Occupational, social and intrapersonal alienation explored in the community
Personal narrative My dream was to be an artist; however, this was seen by my family as indulgent and economically risky. So I became an occupational therapist, bringing with me…
Researching within mental health
Personal narrative The journey to my current position has been rather tortoise like, just slow and steady. It began in the summer before my last year in high school with…
The art of occupation
Personal narrative Living and working in East London, in the UK, it is hard for me to ignore the influence of Walthamstow’s William Morris, the nineteenth-century social pioneer and founder…
What have we been ‘doing’?
Personal narrative Before I address the question of how occupational therapists got here, I will answer the question: how did I get here? What has influenced my knowledge and practice…
Engaging the disengaged
Personal narrative For many occupational therapists, on graduating and wanting to work within mental health services, we find ourselves working within a hospital-based, acute in-patient unit – a place where…
‘Doing’ in secure settings
Personal narrative My work as an occupational therapist began when I was a student in York. I qualified in 1985 and then began practising in Edinburgh. Throughout my career I…
Twists and turns
Personal narrative My entry into occupational therapy was completely serendipitous. I had left school at 17 years of age, having failed to achieve anything of academic significance. After 3 years…
Broadening horizons
Personal narratives As occupational therapists, we both have been involved in acute mental health practice for the majority of our professional careers. Our journeys have been very different, but we…
