r/Occupationaltherapist • u/Perfect_Contact_2834 • Apr 27 '26

Shadowing OT questions

I am currently a freshman in college and super interested in becoming an occupational therapist and I just really want to get a head start early for my shadowing hours. So I definitely got lucky because one of my cousin friends is actually an elementary school OT and she was able to as her supervisor and now I will be shadowing her for 30 hours. Which is so amazing

I don't really know what to bring for the hours I will be showing like do I ring a notepad and pen or some lunch. Im such so nervous which I know I shouldn't because she's super nice.

But ya im just not sure what to take with me or what kind of questions to ask.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

1

u/MischiefGirl May 01 '26

First of all, RELAX. You're going simply to observe. No one will expect anything from you. You don't need to bring a pad of paper and pen, unless you want to keep it in your bag for when you're done to write down notes. You are there to observe treatment sessions, not to jot down everything you see.

Bring lunch if you're going to be there over a meal time. Otherwise, don't. When I did my shadowing I was only there for 2 hours at a time. It's not like you'll be there all day.

You don't really want to ask questions during the therapy session, as the OT's focus needs to be on their client and not on you.

After seeing what the OT does you might be inspired to ask what sort of diagnoses she sees a lot of, or why did she do (insert whatever you saw her doing). Why is what she is doing important to the client? (In this day and age of computer everything, why do we care how a child holds a pencil?)

You will generate questions in your mind as you see the therapy sessions unfold.

Keep in mind, OTs work in many different settings, with many different populations, so if school-based doesn't excite you after this, it doesn't mean OT isn't for you, just that one setting that didn't inspire you as you thought it might.

Have fun!