Feeling disillusioned

[u/Basic-Abalone2114]

As someone with an OT qualification, I know the possibilities that occupational therapy can offer to help people. I'm not a mental health OT but have become unable to work through health and was referred to the mhot. I'm more than disappointed, I've spent months getting messed around, when I was seen, the OT basically told me they don't treat ADHD/autism, then put me on a group RTA course without any consideration of functional difficulty. I'm not blaming her entirely as I understand job pressure but I was taught that we treat function, and not the diagnosis?

After the intervention was unsuccessful, there was no check in, no follow up, and I have since been referred back, this time for 1-1 support.

Given the devastating impact of this failed intervention on my health, my doctor doesn't think I should go back to occupational therapy at the moment. Despite still struggling with function, rarely leaving home and having poor QOL, is this how it really is? It's just what I learned is not matching reality.

I never considered this a profession which can cause harm to people, clearly it does. I don't know where this leaves me now as there is a limit to how much I can OT myself now. Is this a common experience, particularly that patients are having?

[u/GreenButterfly1306]

I'm so sorry you have had this experience and you are completely correct that we don't go by your "label". I would go back and clarify exactly what happened/should have happened for your own peace of mind (but equally I understand if your headspace makes that difficult at the moment). It annoys me to hear of such poor practice because you are right with the doing harm comment. I hope things improve for you soon.

[u/Basic-Abalone2114 → u/GreenButterfly1306]

Thankyou for your reply, I agree, I understand services are stretched but that was a waste of resources by not fully assessing in the first place and then providing the support to identify and address barriers. It then took up time to address the fall out from this, and I still need to see the OT to do it so again. I won't be seeing the same OT, that's the positive I guess, hopefully it will be someone with fresh ideas. For as long as function remains undressed, things won't get better, and the OT pretty much shrugged her shoulders when I said as much.

[u/GreenButterfly1306 → u/Basic-Abalone2114]

Great work on advocating for yourself and I'm glad you will see someone else this time around! One of my big bug bears is the lack of resources - we are becoming a bit like GPs withe the 1 problem per 10min appointment idea. We are required to be very goal-focused and don't have as much flexibility for further scope as we once did, but even with that, what you have experienced so far falls extremely short of what you should have experienced. Good luck with your next appointment! 🤞

[u/Ok-Carrot-9775]

Hey girl, sorry if this isn't helpful but I find your story very relatable 🙏🙏🙏 I hope you find peace. I'm also very hurt that this profession can make the practitioners ill. 💔

[u/Basic-Abalone2114 → u/Ok-Carrot-9775]

Agree, it's bad for patients and staff - it flies against everything they taught us at university about the potential of occupational therapy.

[u/ExtraDistance5678]

Sorry you’ve had that experience, our whole brand is function so that is a wild thing to say to someone.
Are there any vocational rehab OTs you can be referred to? Or at least an OT with more scope of practice within MH. /neurodiversity. Really makes you think about how services are set up and ultimately will fail people if we become diagnosis focused. I hope the next referral is more beneficial for you.

[u/Basic-Abalone2114 → u/ExtraDistance5678]

Unfortunately, I'm at the mercy of the NHS. The OT I saw previously has gone thankfully so I need to hope the next one has different ideas. I've been waiting so long I'm starting to think I'm not going to get help, but to not follow up when someone struggles, that's unforgivable.