Personal Philosophy

The basis of my personal philosophy of occupational therapy is rooted in the foundation

set forth in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process—Fourth

Edition. As stated in this framework: “A core philosophical assumption of the profession,

therefore, is that…people of all ages and abilities require occupation to grow and thrive; in

pursuing occupation, humans express the totality of their being, a mind–body–spirit union”

(Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 2020). Therefore, as an occupational therapist, I

strive to make my personal philosophy match that of our framework.

While my personal philosophy of occupational therapy is based on the premise that

occupational participation increases personal health and well-being, I am aware of social,

political, and environmental barriers that directly impact occupational participation. Therefore,

my personal philosophy is, also, rooted in the standards set forth in the AOTA 2020

Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics which help address these barriers. As such, I plan on

practicing “…seven longstanding Core Values: Altruism, Equality, Freedom, Justice, Dignity,

Truth, and Prudence” (AOTA Code of Ethics, 2020). This will provide my patients with the

occupational justice they need and deserve.

Since the field of occupational therapy is so broad, however, it is easily confused and

misunderstood. Therefore, it important for me to advocate for my profession. In order to

advocate for the profession of occupational therapy, one needs to have an abundance of

resources. Therefore, as part of my personal philosophy, I believe that formal and informal

involvement as a member of state and/or national occupational therapy organizations is vital. In

harmony with this belief, I am a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association

(AOTA). This association “…represents more than 230,000 occupational therapists, occupational
therapy assistants, and occupational therapy students in the United States and beyond, to advance

occupational therapy practice, education, and research” (American Occupational Therapy

Association, 2022). AOTA provides resources, educational articles, community resources,

events, and advocacy opportunities (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2022).

Therefore, through the combination of my personal philosophy and the resources provided

through membership with AOTA, I am confident that I will become a skilled occupational

therapist who will be devoted to my patients and will be an advocate for advances in

occupational therapy.
 References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2022). https://www.aota.org/about

AOTA 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. (2020). American Journal of Occupational

Therapy, 74(Sup3), 1-13. https://0-doi-org.catalog.llu.edu/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S3006

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process—Fourth Edition. (2020).

American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Sup2), 1-87. https://0-doi-org.catalog.

llu.edu/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001