I’m not interested in the therapist
who reduces a person to their pathology, injury or illness,
but the one who zooms out to see the whole person,
to understand that healing begins
where the paperwork ends,
where the protocols fall short,
where the metrics no longer matter –
in the rhythm of connection,
in the depth of empathy
in the heartbeat of hope,
and in the dignity found through meaningful occupation.
Take me to the occupational therapist who, though bound by broken systems,
still yearns for more.
The one who works in alignment with their moral compass,
despite the suffocating constraints of insurance schemes
and profit-driven models.
The one who returns to the true spirit of occupational therapy,
and being whole in a fractured system.
I’m not interested in the therapist
who pushes through the therapeutic process,
who seeks to achieve ‘compliance’
as if it were the gold standard measure of success.
I want the occupational therapist who takes the time to listen to someone’s story,
to sit with their narrative, openly and without assumption,
creating a sense of safety in every word, and every silence.
The one who sets goals with others, not for them—
who is curious to understand, not quick to impose judgment.
I’m not interested in the therapist
who walks with absolute certainty,
in the polished exterior that hides vulnerability—
but in the one who questions their own assumptions,
who is curious about others’ wild and untamed lives,
and who acknowledges that beliefs are both true and partial.
Take me to the OT who steps down from the pedestal,
who meets people not as “the expert,”
but as a fellow traveler on the same winding road,
who knows that occupational therapy isn’t about fixing,
but about reimagining environments, reshaping tasks, and removing barriers,
while unlocking the reservoir of potential in every person,
fostering growth, and enabling life flow.
I have no interest in a flawless therapist —
Take me to the one who embraces their humanness,
not the robotic, cold, clinical approach,
but the OT who can laugh with me, hold space for my struggles,
and navigate the messy raw edges of life with me.
Who knows that fulfilment in life comes not from a procedure or prescription,
but a dance between presence and possibility—
where every moment of well-doing reveals the beauty of well-being.
I’m not interested in their title,
or how many certificates line their walls—
I want the OT who lives out what they teach,
the one who invests in their own growth,
not because they must for professional development,
but because they are committed to enriching and evolving their own life,
to truly make a difference in the world.
It’s not enough to study the science of occupation—
I want to know if they feel the pulse of occupational medicine in their own life,
if they live authentically.
Take me to the OT who knows with every fiber of their being, that –
every occupation is a bridge between who we are now,
and who we can become.
The one who understands
that the occupation of living,
is the most powerful medicine of all.
Written by
This poem was inspired by my favourite poem – “The Invitation” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
