Summer Spotlight: Katherine Posillico '23
As an Occupational Therapy Intern at a hospital, Katherine Posillico '23 talks about her experience helping therapists prepare to run small groups, applying occupational therapy needs to a mental health setting, and forming relationships with clients through simple conversation and listening.Katherine Posillico '23 is an occupational therapy major who completed a 40-hour fieldwork assignment as an OT intern at Summit Oaks Hospital in Summit, NJ.
Here, she answers questions about her experience.
What were your everyday responsibilities?
The everyday responsibilities for Level 1 fieldwork included observing a different therapist each day while they conducted their group activities and one-on-one assessments. I was responsible for helping therapists prepare materials to run their groups and write progress notes based on participation of group members.
What is the goal of fieldwork for occupational therapy students?
The goal of fieldwork for occupational therapy students is to learn how occupational therapy is practiced in a clinical setting. However, the fieldwork site I was placed in did not have an occupational therapist, so the goal was geared more toward figuring out how occupational therapy can be applied in a mental health setting.
What did you enjoy most about the job?
My favorite part of the job was actually being able to talk with and get to know the clients. They all have a story and most of them just want to talk to someone about their interests and experiences.
How do you think this prepared you for your future as an occupational therapist?
The fieldwork experience prepared me as a future occupational therapist because I was able to become more familiar with the mental health population and can use my experience if I decide to work with this population in the future.
How do you think your courses at the university prepared you for your fieldwork?
I think the mental health courses at the university helped prepare me for fieldwork because they taught us how different mental illnesses can impact clients as well as practicing running group sessions.
How does this connect to the university's Jesuit ideals of being men and women for others?
The fieldwork experience connects to the university’s Jesuit ideals of being men and women for others because the therapy is client-centered and focuses on the clients’ interests when deciding on purposeful activities for group sessions.
