Getting Started with OT
Occupations are how you "occupy" your time including classes, research, sleep, leisure, self-care, and more!
Popular topics include:
- Time management and productivity
- Planning and organization
- Study strategies
- Procrastination
- Getting better sleep
- Low motivation
Occupational therapy focuses on:
- Implementing practical strategies
- Finding routines that work for you
- Feeling capable about what you do
An occupational therapist offers guidance by:
- Creating beneficial habits and routines
- Implementing data-driven strategies to meet your goals
- Setting realistic goals
A counselor, on the other hand, can help you:
- Learn how to cope with stressful situations and difficult emotions
- Become more flexible and responsive in how you see yourself and others
- Understand yourself better
What we have in common:
- Individualized and client-centered
- Scientifically driven, evidence-based
- Defined goals
Remember, you are not limited to one therapy or the other. You may utilize both services to address the same problem as the different frameworks and methodologies of each profession can complement each other. We encourage students to take advantage of all the resources Caltech has to offer!
Students who are new to occupational therapy should enroll in the OT Foundations Canvas course which contains modules on the most requested topics in occupational therapy:
- Stress and time management
- Getting better sleep
- Building better habits
1) Enroll in the OT Foundations Course
You will get access to all the modules to complete at your own pace. You can also use the Canvas Inbox feature to message Grace Wong, the occupational therapist, for any questions you have about the material.
2) Complete the relevant module(s) and quiz(zes)
Please complete the module(s) relevant to your goals and submit the corresponding quiz(zes). Quizzes are intended to check your understanding of the material and serve as a space to reflect on the changes you want to make. You may find that completing the self-paced modules and trying the corresponding strategies are sufficient to meet your goals!
If your goals are not related to one of the OT Foundations modules, please note your reason for visit when booking your OT appointment. Examples include (but are not limited to): setting up organizational systems, study/learning strategies, long-term planning toward graduation milestones, financial literacy, etc.
3) Book your OT appointment
Occupational therapy meetings are currently available through Zoom only. Individual OT meetings are focused on individualizing strategies to your personal goals, habits, and routines.
Online
- Log onto the Student Health Portal.
- Select Appointments.
- Select Schedule an Appointment and Productivity and Habits with OT when prompted.
Phone
Call (626) 395-8331 to request an appointment during business hours.
In-Person
Visit 1239 Arden Rd. (Student Wellness Services South) during business hours.
What to Expect
Please check the Appointments section of your Student Health Portal on the day of your appointment. Click the "Appointment Check In" button found underneath your appointment details and complete any forms as prompted. At the time of your appointment, click the "Join Meeting" link. You may need to refresh the page.
Goal Design and Planning Session (50 minutes)
- Discuss goals for OT
- Review relevant strategies from OT Foundations
- Explore modifications to strategies to help meet goals
Follow-up OT Session (50 minutes)
- Check-in to review progress
- Reflect on and troubleshoot strategies as needed
- Discuss additional topics and strategies to sustain healthy change