Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen
Kleinhoefstraat 4, B - 2440 Geel
014 56 23 10
URL: http://www.khkempen.be/khk04/eng/opleidingen/bachelor/OccupationalTherapy.asp
Datum: 20 mei 2012
Kleinhoefstraat 4
2440 Geel
014 56 23 10
info@khk.be
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Occupational Therapy (Campus Geel)
Occupational Therapy
About Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a young discipline in health care. It is a paramedical profession, aimed at the rehabilitation of people with a temporary or permanent physical, mental and/or social handicap. The therapist will draw up a plan to try and increase the patients’ self-reliance while living, working and spending their free time. As each client has his own specific disabilities and needs, the therapist will always have to organise his approach with the wishes and needs of that one client in mind. The activities chosen may have to be creative, artistic, intellectual, or purely professional. They may contain playful elements, or just consist of daily-life activities such as washing, getting dressed or cooking. The therapist constantly has to consider technical devices that can make the client’s life more convenient. He therefore has to be versatile: medically, psycho-socially and didactically trained, communication minded, technically skilled and creative. Practical experience results from work placements.
Occupational Therapy
Course content
- Occupational Therapy: You will gain insight of occupational therapeutic work (vision and therapeutic strategies), in geriatrics, psychiatry, development problems and physical revalidation.
- Personal Skills: You will learn communication skills, handicrafts, expression techniques, guiding techniques, therapeutic skills fur different target groups.
- Sciences: You will learn anatomy, biomechanics and pathology
Work placement
From the second year onwards students ‘go to work’ in each of the four fields: geriatrics, physical rehabilitation, development and psychiatry. Over the four years, more than 1,000 work placement hours are scheduled.
Job opportunities
Rehab centres, hospitals, homes for the aged and handicapped, sheltered workshops and day care centres are the places of employment for most occupational therapists. Psychiatric hospitals are in need of them too, although the emphasis here is on different skills and attitudes, which is also true for special education and home care. Most therapists work in teams, providing individual and group therapy. The paramedical team draws up a treatment plan, specially devised for the patient(s). Treatment includes dealing with patients and their families, and giving advice on aids and services that may increase the quality of life.