FOR YOUNG ADULTS
BUILDING INDEPENDENCE.
DOING THINGS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL
How can we help?
IN PRETTY INDIVIDUAL WAYS, REALLY
Young adults have a bit [a lot] going on. It's one of the biggest periods of transition in our life - between establishing your key roles and identity [like what is expected of us], figuring out some of the essentials to manage basic life admin and developing your own daily routine.
What to expect?
OR WHAT NOT TO EXPECT, MORE IMPORTANTLY.
Meeting new people and being asked lots of questions can be intimidating. Same for us [honest]. But we will try *really* hard to make our time together different to that...and we're pretty good at it, too [in our humble opinion!].
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Is OT what we actually need?
ALWAYS A DIFFICULT ONE
Not everyone is the same [thank goodness - the world would be a very boring place], so just comparing your performance with what peers are doing well at is not the solution. While this isn't a clear cut answer a *lot* of the time, the chances are that if you are looking for something [support for you, help to "problem solve" a challenge, ideas on ways to increase your independence]? Then maybe it's worth having an initial appointment. Worst case scenario: you don't need OT.
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IN PRETTY INDIVIDUAL WAYS, REALLY
Young adults have a bit [a lot] going on. It's one of the biggest periods of transition in our life - between establishing your key roles and identity [like what is expected of us], figuring out some of the essentials to manage basic life admin and developing your own daily routine.
The range of occupations that you're doing are *huge* [real big]... so the activities where we come in could be pretty broad ['cause it could be any of the ones you're having trouble with, really]. Now add to that any extra level of difficulty that you might be contending with - be it disability, mental illness, social challenges etc. It's not all smooth sailing.
So that you're not left wondering - here are some examples [we can't list them all here!] of the activities which we often work on with our younger adult clients;
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Taking public transport - planning to catch it, finding your way, managing the logistics (myki card, social interactions), safety...
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Looking after yourself - managing dressing, figuring out a daily routine, eating and drinking (and having a schedule on this), personal care
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Relationships - interpersonal, social skills, safety, self-regulation
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Domestic tasks - like cooking and cleaning.
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Sleep. Getting to sleep. Staying asleep. Not sleeping *all* the time.
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This not everything though...the list goes on forever really [because, life].
If you don't see what you're looking for on the list? Or maybe you're wondering if you're the *only* one with that challenge? [Hint: you're not]. Don't let that stop you getting in touch. Ask us the question and you'll be one step closer to what you're after [#progress].
How can we help?
What to expect?
OR WHAT NOT TO EXPECT, MORE IMPORTANTLY
Meeting new people and being asked lots of questions can be intimidating. Same for us [honest]. But we will try *really* hard to make our time together different to that...and we're pretty good at it, too [in our humble opinion!].
Before we get started, you'll be asked to fill in some forms so we know a bit more about why you're coming to see us. It also helps us get some context so that the session is not *all* questions. We are professionals, yes, but don't let that trick you into thinking our sessions are boring [not so much..]. Having some info beforehand means we can keep up that promise.
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It's a great idea to have someone join you for support in your first appointment [could be a parent - a guardian - someone who keeps you 'on track' in life] - not at all mandatory, but a big support, especially while you are meeting someone new. Something to keep in mind as an option we are open to.
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The first appointment is when we are starting to get a picture of your life - and we want to make it a clear one that we really understand [which includes all the shades of life]. You can help fill some of the gaps in the picture that might be there #details. The first appointment is normally an hour [*but we allow 1.5 hours, incase we're on a roll*]. It will be a mix of questions, chatting and some [intro] activities - mostly for fun [and also to help us get a feel for what makes you tick #tricky].
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We also start to think about goals.
You might already have some...or maybe you're feeling unsure about where to start. We'll guide you through this process and it won't all be done in one shot. For piece of mind; the type of goals we work on are *functional* ones [Translation: things in life that actually count. Not just superficial stuff that has no impact #outrageous].
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You might be getting the picture that we're not the experts [and you'd be right, kind of]. You know yourself the best. And in terms of being the expert...that's you. Our role? [*expertise?*]. Straddling the [metaphorical] fence between all the different parts; of your life, family, goals, what makes you tick. And helping the different bits talk [like *really* communicate] with each other. To get some progress that will count.