A group approach to mental health fieldwork

Fieldwork opportunities in mental health settings are limited and difficult to find. There is increased pressure for occupational therapy supervisors to accept more students although they have less time to devote to them. This article describes a group approach to training occupational therapy students that was used at one fieldwork site. The occupational therapy staff members were each responsible for specific teaching assignments that allowed them to work with a number of students simultaneously. Program development and evaluation meetings created an alternative forum for exploring ideas and practice issues and for providing guidance and supervision. This approach reduced the amount of time each therapist spent with students, provided students with several role models, and encouraged independent thinking in students.