Occupational therapy is one of the remedies, such as physical therapy or voice-speech therapy (logotherapy). Remedies are all measures and treatments that are personally provided by a therapist. The term ergotherapy is derived from the Greek words “Ergon” and “Therapeia”.
“Ergon” means work, action, performance, occupation or work of art and “Therapeia” can be translated as service, cure or treatment. Accordingly, occupational therapy defines itself as supporting and accompanying people of all ages in their capacity to act, which is either limited or threatened by limitations. Particular attention is paid to the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure time.
Goals of occupational therapy
The main goal of occupational therapy is to maintain or restore the ability of people with disabilities to act. Specific activities, environmental adjustments and consultations by the therapist serve this purpose. Special attention is paid to personally meaningful activities: Independent self-care, working life and the pursuit of hobbies. In this way, a further goal can be achieved: to enable the client’s ability to act in everyday life, to participate in society and thus to improve their quality of life.
Fields of application of occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is used in very different areas, which are listed below.
- Occupational therapy is often known in the field of pediatrics. Thereby children between the ages of 0 and 18 years are treated. Often cognitive, reading, perception or social competence training is carried out with the clients. This can take place in occupational therapy practices as well as in kindergartens, elementary school or early intervention centers.
Training/Study
In comparison to other countries, it is only possible to become an occupational therapist in Germany, both by training and by studying. In all other countries, training as an occupational therapist takes place in the form of a course of study. It was not until much later that the first bachelor’s degree programs in occupational therapy were also offered in Germany.
Currently, the academization of occupational therapy training is still being tested and is scientifically monitored. About 20% of the prospective occupational therapists study occupational therapy and the remaining 80% learn the profession through vocational training. The training is a school-based training, which usually takes place at private schools and costs corresponding school fees.
The training schedule provides for 18 months of instruction, i.e. theory and practice in school, 12 months of practical training in external institutions, which can be divided into four different sections, and about 3 months of exam preparation and repetition, which culminates in a state examination. The training therefore takes 3 years and requires at least a secondary school leaving certificate. Just as with the training, the study program for occupational therapy offers a choice between private and state institutions, with the private institutions predominant.
The course of studies takes 4-9 semesters and, compared to the training, includes a more theoretically oriented knowledge transfer. After the bachelor’s degree, it is possible to do the master’s degree part-time. Prerequisite for the studies is the Abitur or the Fachabitur.
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