Proactive Approaches in Psychological Occupational Therapy

Proactive Approaches in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy is an exciting text that describes the broad spectrum of current and emerging occupational therapy practice in mental health. The authors are recognized leaders in the field who have met the challenges of psychosocial occupational therapy practice to design and present programs that can be readily modeled by students and practitioners. Their practical and reality-based writings provide the reader with a solid foundation in the sociopolitical issues and health care market trends that effect current and future occupational therapy practice.

Strategies for program development, management, and evaluation are presented with over 30 chapters devoted to occupational therapy intervention programs across the mental health continuum of care—from acute care to day treatment to transitional living to vocational rehabilitation to psychogeriatrics. All programs are clearly described to facilitate effective implementation. Individual, group, and population-based programming is also included.

An extensive section on contemporary areas of practice includes multiple chapters on forensic psychiatry, school-based psychosocial practice, case management, wellness and prevention, home health, employee assistance programs, and programs for individuals who are homeless or victims of domestic violence. This essential content is often relegated to mere paragraphs or single chapters in other OT textbooks, but the authors of Proactive Approaches in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy have recognized the need for comprehensive and practical guidelines for expanding the occupational therapist’s role in community systems of care. The text also includes Clark’s et al’s landmark research on the role of OT with the well elderly.

Sections on the personal perspective of mental illness from consumers and family members present the reader with humanistic and diverse cultural viewpoints while providing solid guidance for holistic collaboration. Fine’s inspiring Eleanor Clark Slagle lecture on resilience, which is viewed as a literary gift to the OT profession, is also included.

The sociopolitical and cultural contexts of mental illness and the realities of external forces on the practice of psychosocial OT are clearly addressed. There are detailed figures, comprehensive case studies, evaluation and program protocols, tables, and marketing and promotion strategies including a comprehensive list of 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Promote OT in Mental Health.

The text is organized into thematic sections with clearly written introductions, providing continuity between chapters and thought-provoking questions for class discussion, lab activities, and course assignments making it an excellent textbook for OT and OTA coursework. Proactive Approaches for Psychosocial Occupational Therapy provides an “at your fingertips” library of excellent primary resources for students, educators, and practitioners. The text concludes with a comprehensive section on professional development and the attainment, maintenance, and promotion of excellence.

Practitioners will find this text to be reaffirming of their commitment to mental health while providing them with new ideas for best practice. Students will be inspired by the role models for excellence and practice opportunities presented through this dynamic text.

Dominican College, Orangeburg, NY