Presenter Bio: Dr. Lynn Farley OTD, OTR/L, is the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) and Assistant Professor for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Baccalaureate (OTA-B) program at Utah Valley University (UVU). Lynn’s clinical background is in mental health and forensics where she worked with interdisciplinary teams to restore competency and increase health and wellness with her patients. In her roles in academia, Lynn strives to facilitate learning opportunities that will challenge her student’s thinking, encourage problem-solving, and help students build upon concepts, ultimately turning concepts into clinical skills. She is excited to serve as the Vice President of UOTA and work with other practitioners across the state to promote and advocate for occupational therapy practitioners in Utah.
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Financial Disclosure: Utah Valley University
Non-Financial Disclosure: No financial disclosures
Empowering Parents with Mental Illness: Occupational Therapy Interventions for Enhanced Parenting Engagement
Saturday, October 18th, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Assigned Continuing Education: 1 hour
Intended Audience: Introductory
Presentation Description:
Parenting is an integral meaningful occupation that has been shown to be tightly entwined with a person’s identity. Success or failure in this occupation can, respectively, either contribute to or diminish a parent’s connections with children and family, which may then directly impact their sense of competence and overall quality of life. Parenting can be challenging under the best of circumstances, and when combined with mental health issues, these challenges can become significantly more complex. While recent literature related to occupational therapy and parenting with a mental illness is extremely limited, this course will provide an overview of current research on parenting with mental illness, delving into the unique risks and obstacles these parents face including increased stress, decreased confidence in their parenting abilities, and limited access to valuable resources. We will also explore current literature on best practices that have been shown to elicit positive outcomes in children.
Included in this course is information on the capstone research and development of a peer-reviewed, hands-on, evidence-based, occupation-centered, group intervention program. The program was specifically designed, based on available research, to be an open resource tool to meet the unique needs of this population by teaching essential skills that will allow parents to engage in their challenging, but highly rewarding occupation of parenting with decreased stress and increased confidence. Attendees will reflect on comprehensive insights into the profound impacts of mental illness on parenting occupations and engage in activities that will help them gain valuable tools and strategies on how to clinically apply this knowledge aimed at bolstering parents who are also navigating mental health challenges. This will ultimately allow practitioners to improve their clients’ engagement in parenting occupations, thereby enhancing family dynamics and overall well-being.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to understand the Impacts of Mental Illness on Parenting Occupations.
- Participants will be able to learn interventions that bolster parenting self-efficacy, alleviate parenting-related stress, and empower parents to access needed supports.
Educational Value:
Impacts of parenting are far reaching and multi-generational. Many practitioners report needing additional tools and intervention for parents who are struggling. While parenting is so integral in every culture, it is often ignored. Additional research is needed to inform and assist parents. Focusing on parenting will ultimately allow practitioners to improve their clients’ engagement in parenting occupations, thereby enhancing family dynamics and overall well-being.
Method of Presentation: Lecture with group discussion.
PRIMARY Presentation Category: Mental Health
SECONDARY Presentation Category: Pediatrics