Physical and occupational therapy is a skill approach model. This model can be used for the therapist and the patient. The last eight months I have been in physical and occupational therapy from an auto accident. As the therapist evaluates the patient the ending goal is to have the patient be able to perform daily activities again. This requires motivation from the therapist, self-determination and self-control from the patient.
At the beginning of therapy, a patient is turning to his or her therapist for directions. The therapist will schedule different exercises for the patient. Williams (2019) mentioned motivation is the yearning to lead. As the therapist explains each exercise and he or she will observe the patient completing the task. Northouse (2019) mentioned the three characteristics of motivation are preparedness, domination and social moral for a leader. A patient is retraining his or her body to move in directions that it does not feel comfortable doing any more. The therapist will recognize if there is a problem with performing a certain exercise. He or she may need to adjust the exercise or identify a new problem to be addressed. The first characteristic for motivation is readiness to attack a problem (Northouse, 2019). As the patient continues to increase his or her level of therapy the therapist becomes a private cheerleader. The next characteristic for motivation is a leader’s impact is important to the follower (Northouse, 2019). As the patient and therapist work to together to accomplish the goals the patient is getting stronger. The last characteristic for motivation is accountability a leader incorporates towards increasing the behavior of others and the organization (Northouse, 2019). This benefits the therapist, the patient and the rehabilitation facility.
The patient’s outlooks on his or her physical and mental recovery needs to change to self-determination for the benefits results to be a positive. Brooks et al (2018) cited self-determination is connected to physical activity and exercise despite chronic pain with daily activities. A patient made have pain while his or her body continues to heal, and it becomes more flexible with each new activity. Douglas, Driver, Callender and Woolsey (2019) mentioned a traumatic brain injury patient may need to change goals, because they are unrealistic. Therapy causes hardship, pain and emotions to increase and decrease. The patient recognizes an activity and instantly thinks that activity was easy before the accident. Later the patient is struggling to accomplish that same activity. Then he or she has no choice, but to face reality. The therapist and the patient will discuss a new plan with new goals. As these new goals are completed self-determination for the patient will increase with each completed exercise that is tackled. The patient has a positive feeling of making progress and his or her body is becoming more flexible. The patient will start to have some independence and self-control back into his or her lifestyle.
Therapy requires a large amount of motivation, self-determination and self-control. The patient will need to perform exercises in therapy and out of therapy to heal correctly. Converse, Juarez and Hennecke (2018) mentioned higher levels of self-control can accomplish goals. A positive outlook will allow the patient to heal faster, support others, and accomplish the ending goal. Self-control and motivation work together in a positive well-being (Converse, Juarez and Hennecke, 2018). As the patient feels comfortable about his or her self-control, they will start to motivate other patients in the facility.
The amazing surprise is the leadership roles eventually shift gears for some patients. The therapist starts as the leader, but the patient ends as the leader. As I look around the room I wonder if I am motivating other patients or are they motivating me? A patient will find others in therapy that are suffering from the same injury. Some are worse than others, but the ending goals is same. Patients will acknowledge other patients completing a task that is desired and this motivates the patient to have self-determination and self-control to complete the same task. It is great how a skill approach model could cause such an effect on the therapist and the patient in a leadership role.
References
Brooks, J. M., Huck, G., Iwanaga, K., Chan, F., Wu, J., Finnicum, C. A., Estala-Gutierrez, V. (2018). Towards an integration of the health promotion models of self-determination theory and theory of planned behavior among people with chronic pain.
Rehabilitation Psychology, 63(4), 553-562. Converse, B. A., Juarez, L., & Hennecke, M. (2018). Self-control and the reasons behind our goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1037/pspp0000188
Douglas, M., Driver, S., Callender, L., & Woolsey, A. (2019). Evaluation of a 12-month lifestyle intervention by individuals with traumatic brain injury. Rehabilitation Psychology, 64(1), 25-36. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1037/rep0000253
Northouse, P. (2019). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Retrieved from:
https://reader.yuzu.com/#/books/9781506362298/cfi/6/26!/4/2/4/2@0:0
Williams, J. (2019). PSYCH 485: Contingency and Path Theories: Lessons 6 [Power Point Slides]. Pennsylvania State University: World Campus. Retrieved from:
https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1972967/modules/items/25704899