Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute Occupational Therapy
Opening the Door to Independence.
MWI OT’s are within the following teams: Community Mental Health Rehabilitation Team, Acute Community Mental Health Team, Adult Mental Health In-patient services, Elderly in-patient services, Child and adolescent and Learning Disabilities Services.
Occupational Therapists assist people to live more productive and enjoyable lives through achieving and maintaining the necessary skills.
Occupational therapy interventions, individual and/or group work and focus on the areas of work, rest and leisure.
An Occupational Therapist begins with using a comprehensive assessment to identify with the person their abilities and limitations. This enables them to identify any issues caused by their own experience of mental health problems that may be preventing them from fully engaging in their chosen occupations.
A program is agreed between the OT and the service user and is designed to meet their needs. A program may include many different activities and could include; assistance in gaining or maintaining independent living skills such as budgeting, shopping or cooking, placement within sheltered employment (Voc Rehab), assistance in accessing employment within the community, assistance in gaining and maintaining a wide range of living opportunities such as leisure activities or volunteering, assistance to engage in other community resources, and assistance to link to other/educational and recreational activities.
Projects unique to MWI that OT’s are involved include: Mind Frame and Photo Voice exhibition.
Mind Frame started as an art exhibit in 2007. Photo Voice was introduced in 2009 and encouraged service users to express themselves through photography and provided them with photographic training and field trips. Follow-up sessions gave the photographers a chance to discuss their pictures and what they meant. Both photos and commentary were included at the exhibition. We are presently on our second year of running this group as it was such a success last year.
Stronger Living Group
The Stronger Living Group allows our service users to participate in Community Activities on a regular basis. Service users meet once a month at Rock Island to make plans for activities they would like to do. Activities to date include rock climbing, salsa dancing, middle to end walk, kayaking, golf, tennis, fishing, movies, and concerts. The group helps service users to develop social skills, confidence, and improved self esteem and try activities they may not engage in by themselves. It is hoped that service users in this Group will develop the skills and confidence necessary to engage in community activities independently.
