Success was bitter sweet as I learned once licensed that there were no additional positions with my agency for occupational therapists and had to move on to another agency to obtain employment. When I did so I had to leave my clients behind. I had worked with some of my clients for longer than two years and I considered many to be my friends. I left my position as a rehab coach in good standing and asked that they keep me in mind for any future occupational therapist positions.
Some of the most difficult situations I have encountered as an occupational therapist and in the past as a rehab coach have been associated with unreasonable expectations. In some cases employers seek to employ clients served simply because of the benefits of the service, as a portion of the employees pay is provided by the state and therefore the employer has only limited expenditure. My perception is that employers don't...
The most difficult of these situations is when the situation cannot be averted and the client is let go from a job. Explaining to clients that the job loss is not personal is frequently difficult and can effect future performance and establish unnecessary fear for the client with regard to new jobs. The most difficult of these situations is when the employer does not follow protocol but instead informs the client directly, without the rehab specialist or the occupational therapist present of their termination of employment. In the past I have referred the employer to the occupational therapist or been referred to by other rehab coaches and then met with the client to help alleviate their fears of future performance fears and to help alleviate their desire to return and try to do a better job for the employer.
