Season 6 Episode 4: Becoming the OT You Already Are: Finding Confidence, Language and Direction

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I'm joined by Harry, an occupational therapist working in paediatrics while also holding a pastoral leadership role within his church community.

After taking seven years to complete his occupational therapy degree and spending much of his early adulthood mentoring young people, Harry reflects on the transition into professional practice and the challenge many early career therapists face: knowing they are helping clients, but not yet feeling confident explaining exactly why what they are doing works.

Two years into practice, Harry is beginning to recognise that many of the relational skills, instincts, and experiences he brings to therapy are not separate from occupational therapy, they are part of it. Together, we explore what happens when lived experience, therapeutic use of self, and professional frameworks start to come together, and how confidence often grows from learning the language behind work you are already doing well.

In this conversation, we explore:

Bringing previous mentoring, youth work, and pastoral experiences into occupational therapy practice

Understanding therapeutic use of self as a genuine clinical skill

Clarifying intervention approaches and helping families understand why particular strategies are being chosen

Moving beyond one-off supervision questions and towards intentional three-month therapy planning

Identifying how you learn best and seeking supervision and professional development opportunities that align with your learning style

Navigating uncertainty about future career pathways, including paediatrics, assistive technology, home modifications, and assessment-focused roles

Key takeaways

Confidence often develops from recognising and naming skills you already possess