Restoring the quality of life

Heather Ainsley
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Everyone struggles with daily tasks sometimes. But for some individuals, that struggle can encompass a wide area of life, making even seemingly routine tasks difficult or impossible to achieve easily. For some, the struggle could be a result of an injury or illness that has impacted their motor functions. For others, conditions like autism, arthritis, birth defects or sensory processing disorders create obstacles that hinder mobility and function. There are dozens of catalysts that may create a physical, cognitive, developmental or emotional challenge to someone, making daily tasks arduous ones, and these challenges can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race or status. Those struggling with daily activities may seek a type of therapy called Occupational Therapy.
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a healthcare field that works with individuals of all ages; from birth to geriatrics, and from all different walks of life. Local occupational therapist, Whitney McKnight, describes “occupations” as any kind of life activity in which people engage. This can include activities of daily living, like eating, getting dressed or bathing, activities of play or leisure, activities with others in social situations, as well as rest and sleep activities. Basically, if an activity can occupy a person, it's an occupation. OT helps individuals improve or obtain the necessary skills needed to perform daily activities and the “occupations” that are most meaningful or important to them. This greatly improves morale and quality of life for patients who struggle with performing these functions.
McKnight works for Lori McCoy Therapy, LLC., which serves the communities of Tallahassee, Monticello, Madison and Perry. She has spent the last two and a half years specializing in pediatrics, working with children from the ages of birth to 18 years old. Her work provides therapy services to these children in their natural environments, like homes, daycares and school settings, where the children are already comfortable.
“In pediatrics, a child's main occupation is play,” she explains, “so in therapy, we focus on providing fun and meaningful activities through play in order to help them improve or obtain the skills needed to be successful in life.”
McKnight was born and raised in Monticello, and graduated from Aucilla Christian Academy in 2013. From there, she attended North Florida Community College, where she earned her AA degree before moving on to Florida A&M University, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Health Science in 2017 and later her Master's in Occupational Therapy in 2020.
Her educational background has given her the knowledge and expertise to serve her patients well, but could not prepare her for the emotional aspect of the job, something she describes as the most difficult part of her line of work.
“When working with children or parents who are facing really challenging and vulnerable times in their lives, it can sometimes take an emotional toll,” admits McKnight, adding that the best way to overcome this is to try not to take work home with her. “I try to have a good work and personal life balance. Focusing on spending time with family and friends, and doing things I enjoy on days I am not working definitely helps.”
The highlight of her work comes from getting to know her patients, and building a relationship with them.
“In pediatrics, we often work with our patients for an extended time period,” she says. “Each patient is so special and they all have their own stories. Getting to know each one of them and their families is a really special part of my job. The most rewarding part of my career so far has been getting to work with the children (and their families), and watch as they often progress and improve, and being alongside them to celebrate all their successes, no matter how big or small!”
Occupational therapy focuses on improving the daily functions of an individual, and for a child, that can include sensory motor skills, self-help, play, socialization, school readiness, fine motor skills and cognitive development. While OT can have a significant physical effect on children and their abilities, it also plays a large role in their self esteem and sense of accomplishment. This can greatly improve a patient's quality of life and independence later in life, setting them up for success.
A common misconception about Occupational Therapy is that it is the same as Physical Therapy. Although the two therapy fields often work hand-in-hand to help patients, there are some key differences that McKnight says are often misunderstood.
“Both types of therapies are equally important,” she says, “and patients will often receive both when receiving rehabilitative therapies. The general focus of both is to help improve or prevent the worsening of a condition of quality of life due to a diagnosis, injury, surgery or illness. However, physical therapy often focuses on helping improve a patient's movement, mobility and function through the use of a variety of exercises, stretches and other physical activities, while occupational therapy focuses on helping improve a patient's quality of life and their ability to perform daily and meaningful tasks more easily.”
“Occupational therapists often work to help a patient learn or relearn how to perform the tasks associated with living, such as dressing, bathing and eating, as well as activities that are important to each individual patient, to help restore patient independence and enhance their quality of life.”
Through the challenges of the field, occupational therapy is a career that is exceptionally rewarding, but it isn't for everyone. McKnight recommends anyone who is interested in a job as an occupational therapist to find a therapist or facility to shadow or volunteer with, so that they can see first-hand all that the job entails.
“During that time,” she advises, “make sure to ask lots of questions and do research about the field of occupational therapy. OT is such a rewarding career, but it is one that can also be challenging, like any position in the healthcare field. Volunteering or shadowing helps to give good insight as to whether it is a profession that someone truly wants to pursue.”
When she isn't working with patients, McKnight enjoys baking, fishing, hunting and spending as much time with her friends and family as she can, including her beloved dog, Ivy. Although her work sometimes takes her to neighboring cities, she still lives in Monticello, where she says she has multiple family members who also live locally, including her parents, sister and brother-in-law.