cOnnecT with Brianne Samson

What made you choose OT as a career?

Well, it all started back in my hometown of Calgary, Alberta. I had finished my undergraduate degree in kinesiology at the University of Calgary and quickly discovered that I had no idea what to do next. So, while I was working on figuring out my next steps, I took a job as a 1:1 support worker for children with autism. While in this position, I met the program’s consulting occupational therapist and was immediately drawn to what she did with the kids. My fascination with her work lead me to start planning my schedule around her schedule to ensure I didn’t miss her occupational therapy sessions. After some time, it occurred to me that occupational therapy could be the profession I had been searching for all along. I completed my occupational therapy training at the University of British Columbia and have been working in the field ever since.

Where have you worked over your career? Where do you work now?

Actually my career hasn’t been as varied as many of my colleagues’. I began working as a casual in hospitals (mostly in acute care). From there, I spent some time working at an outpatient osteoarthritis program but decided to shift into the realm of mental health. So, I took a temporary, part-time position at the Provincial Assessment Centre (PAC). During my part-time stint at PAC, the management started to realize the importance of developing the occupational therapy program and offered me a full-time position to assist with the growth of the occupational therapy program. The rest is history and I have been at PAC ever since!

Tell me a little about the Provincial Assessment Centre:

We are tertiary, inpatient mental health facility, serving the dual diagnosis population; individuals with developmental disabilities AND either mental health issues or a behavioural issues. Examples may be someone with Down Syndrome AND Bipolar disorder, or Intellectual disability and Anxiety disorder. PAC provides services for people over the age of 14, so because of the wide age span of the clients we serve (technically both youth and adults), we serve two different organizations: The Ministry of Children and Family Development and Community Living British Columbia. Because of the complexity of the cases we see, PAC has a robust multi-disciplinary team who work very closely together, including nurses, a behaviourist, psychologists, psychiatrists, a geneticist/developmental pediatrician, a social worker and two occupational therapists. PAC clients are incredibly diverse in their diagnoses, ages and backgrounds but the interesting thing is developmentally most are very similar.

What has been your most interesting job?

Definitely PAC! My personal motto for it is “there is never a dull moment!” The people I work with constantly fascinate me and I get to learn about so many interesting genetic diagnoses that I would probably never even hear about in a different setting. And everyday is different. One day I could be out in the community with a client assessing safety awareness; the next day I could be in our sensory room with a client assessing reactions to various stimuli; and the day after that I could be assessing a client’s executive function by observing them prepare a meal in our kitchen or by administering a standardized assessment. I love the diversity. I also appreciate the fact that I get to work closely with another occupational therapist. Though we have separate case-loads, having someone who views things through the same lens to problem-solve with or to debrief with after a challenging session is a huge perk and one that greatly enhances the level of care we are able to provide to clients.

What do you like about Occupational Therapy?

I love the variety of it, I love that occupational therapists are passionate about what they do and I love the practicality of our work. Also, the lens through which we view the world is so applicable to all aspects of life. Over the years, my personal confidence has grown in having a profession that I’m proud to be a part of.

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming an occupational therapist?

I would tell them that it’s a good choice if they like working with people. When I was thinking about it, I shadowed a couple of occupational therapists in different areas and I found doing this valuable because it gives you a feel of what it’s all about – I think it’s nice to know what the possibilities are before you pursue the education required.  Talking to someone who’s actually working in the profession is really the best thing. That would be my advice.

How would someone describe you?

I think they would say that I’m energetic, that I try to maintain a positive outlook and that I’m pretty easygoing (though my fiancée may disagree with the last point as I am madly trying to organize our wedding at the moment).  They would probably also say that I’m very organized…even though you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at my desk!

What do you do when you aren’t working?

I believe in work life balance so I try to integrate lots of non-work related activities into my life. One way I do this is by staying active. Having grown up in Calgary, I’m still in awe of Vancouver and all of the activities you can do here…even in January! So, I enjoy taking my dog out for walks, running, and taking dance classes. I also enjoy eating good food (and drinking good wine), spending time with my friends, reading, and travelling whenever I get the chance to.

-Interview conducted by Lara Belagamage, UBC MOTII student (class of 2014)