OT Placement Student Spotlight: Roger Crowley

Roger Crowley is a second-year master of science student in occupational therapy who enjoys working one-on-one with individuals to support them in making positive impacts in their lives. With compassion and human connection at the heart of OT, he feels the profession aligns with his core values and believes a career in this field promises tremendous professional fulfilment. 

Tell us about your recent placement.
I completed my first placement at the Carnat Centre for Mental Health Rehabilitation in Calgary, an AHS outpatient facility that supports individuals living with psychosis and schizophrenia.

My experience was incredibly rewarding and insightful. The Carnat Centre’s multidisciplinary team was small but dedicated, and they welcomed me into their group immediately. Under the guidance of my preceptor, I had the opportunity to build relationships and support individuals living with psychosis and schizophrenia to progress their goals through group education, individual sessions and one-on-one skill building.

What did you learn and/or what impacted you the most?
This experience brought a reality to the mental health lectures I had attended in class in the eight months leading to the placement. The lectures were invaluable in providing core knowledge, but they couldn’t convey the complexity of clients' lives, how diverse the presentation of schizophrenia is, and how resilient these individuals can be.

How will you apply what you learned to your professional and student life?
A fundamental learning I will apply in my professional life is how critical it is to build relationships and understand a client’s history to effectively support their recovery. A similar diagnosis can present entirely differently in two individuals, and understanding their unique life experiences leading up to their diagnosis can dramatically shape their recovery journey and the support required from the clinician. While this message was highlighted in the classroom, its impact really didn't hit home until I began to work with real individuals seeking support.

Where did you experience the most personal growth through this experience?
I experienced the most growth in the individual productivity skill-building sessions I conducted with clients who were working towards returning to the volunteer workforce. These sessions allowed me to develop my strength-based interviewing skills to help clients consider past experiences and strengths they could use to promote themselves to prospective employers. It was incredibly rewarding to see clients begin to speak with pride about experiences and qualities they hadn’t previously considered as strengths, and really highlighted the impact that a strength-based approach can have on a client’s confidence and motivation.

How has this experience impacted you as an occupational therapist?
This experience had a tremendous impact on my understanding of how critical it is to build relationships with clients through compassion and careful understanding of their histories. It highlighted to me areas of strength I bring into practice and areas in which I need to develop further. It also highlighted the demands of a professional occupational therapist and the need to work efficiently and carefully to deliver quality service to the clients being served.

What do you see in your future as an occupational therapist?
In my future as an occupational therapist, I see a dynamic career filled with constant evolution in my knowledge and continual learning. I see the opportunity to practice in a variety of settings with different populations, and the ability to move around the country and the world while bringing my skills with me. And most importantly, I see the opportunity to make a tremendous impact in the lives of individuals seeking a better quality of life.

Would you recommend that students take part in placements?
I would absolutely recommend students take part in placements and take advantage of the opportunities within those placements. They are an incredible way to learn under the careful guidance of an experienced clinician and provide a real but safe space for applying the skills learned in the classroom. They also provide an invaluable opportunity to gain exposure to different practice settings and insight into a preceptor’s clinical reasoning, which can, in turn, support your own future practice.

What advice would you like to share with future students in this program?
Take advantage of every opportunity presented to you within your placements, especially those that push you outside of your comfort zone. Taking risks will mean you make mistakes, but doing so while actively supported by your preceptors and gaining insight from their feedback is invaluable to your learning, and will support your confidence in future efforts. These moments of discomfort are when you’ll learn the most!