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Welcome Students! |
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| The occupational therapy student program at Way Station provides a challenging and rewarding learning experience. Working in community mental health allows you, the student to gain an in-depth understanding of the complex relationship between the person, environment and occupational performance. Occupational therapy students participate in interdisciplinary collaboration, program consultation, research and program development. | |
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| We use a problem-based model of fieldwork education to guide you in your learning process. Students are expected to be highly self motivated and self-directed in all aspects of their fieldwork experience. This includes their time management, supervision and application of the OT process. | |
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| OT Philosophy | |
| The occupational therapy student program at Way Station is designed to prepare students to meet current and evolving needs of client populations and the health care service delivery system. The challenging experience of students at Way Station emphasizes: • Interdisciplinary model • Program consultation • Program development • Empowerment • Understanding of service delivery systems • Direct Service This introduces entry-level therapists to broader roles of service provision, which will be expected of them in the future of health care. |
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| Occupational therapy students work along side Way Station staff to support, educate, and train clients in selecting goal-directed activity for the purpose of skill development, which facilitates transition and integration into the community. | |
Students work with clients in the broader context of the community and service delivery system. With the rehabilitative focus on empowerment, students assist clients in utilization of community services, goal identification and skill development, leading by example and providing guidance and education. Each client's specific goals, needs, desires, and motivations are explored. Students also develop skills in program planning through consultation with direct service staff and design of programmatic systems for all populations, which meet the needs of Way Station and its clients. Occupational therapists and students work closely with other disciplines within the framework of WSI to promote clients' growth and development. The interdisciplinary team structure of Way |
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| Student Placements | |
| Students are assigned to one of the two counties that Way Station serves based on the student’s interests and skills and program needs. | |
Frederick County Day Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs Residential Rehabilitation Programs Developmental Disabilities Programs
Day Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs Residential Rehabilitation Programs Supported Housing Programs Request a list of housing options for these locations. |
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| Occupational Therapists at Way Station | |
 Cathy Clark, MS, OTR/L, Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator “I have been an occupational therapist for 20 years. I have always been fascinated with the psychosocial aspects of human nature and occupational functioning. While I have worked in a variety of practice areas, my devotion continues to be in the field of mental health. |
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 Georgia A. Ecker, COTA/L, WSI Training Coordinator
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 Victoria Oakley, MOT, OTR/L, Student Supervisor "I knew from the moment I was in graduate school and had the opportunity to hear an OT practitioner share her knowledge, experience and involvement with the mental health field, this was the direction I wanted to pursue. After completing a Level II internship in a short-term psychiatric hospital I knew for a fact that this would be my persuasion and would provide direction. Way Station has given me the opportunity to share in the multitudes of successes of our participants and in their ongoing recovery and confirmed my choice of practice." |
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Way Station has a limited number of fieldwork placement slots available throughout the year. To help determine whether our site is a good match for you, we require that all students complete the following:
Download Forms:
Listed below are some items that we must have on file before you start your fieldwork. PAPERWORK: In addition to these forms, please send these items to HR:
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| FAQ | |
| With this population, what are the most common diagnoses I can expect to work with during my fieldwork placement?
Most members of Way Station are diagnosed with a DSM-IV Axis 1 diagnosis. Students are encouraged to get to know a member prior to knowing his/her diagnosis in order to fully appreciate the person and his/her own experience of a particular illness. Members typically have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Major Depression or Bipolar Disorder, as well as, Axis II diagnoses such as, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders. What texts do you recommend I read or bring with me in order to prepare for my fieldwork placement? It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with Practice Framework, DSM-IV, Concepts of Occupational Therapy, Group Dynamics and frames of reference such as Person-Environment-Occupation, Model of Human Occupation, and the Recovery Model. Will I spend time with other students at Way Station during my fieldwork? Yes. Students from all over the country complete fieldwork placements at Way Station. Typically there are 5-10 students at one time which provides the opportunity for you to work together and establish new friendships. What hours can I expect to be at my program during my fieldwork placement? Your hours will be established depending on the program you are assigned to and the program needs. Program hours range from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM. You will be assigned a regular 8 hour shift based on the program needs and may work an occasional weekend. What is the supervision style for students at Way Station? The purpose of Level II fieldwork is to build your professional skills and confidence. To facilitate this, our supervision is basically indirect. Your OT supervisors and other WS staff give you support, but the ultimate responsibility is yours. Remember, you are training to become an independent therapist; the best way to become one is to practice it! What is a typical day like at Way Station for a student? No two days are alike during your fieldwork placement at Way Station! You are responsible for creating a daily schedule but the key is to be flexible. Each day may be divided up by individual meeting times with clients, spending time with clients in their assigned programs, attending treatment team meetings and onsite staff development trainings, participating in group supervision with other students or individual supervision with supervisor, and working on student assignments. It is important to collaborate with your supervisor when establishing a daily schedule that will work for you and your clients. |
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| Community Attractions | |
| Frederick County, Maryland | |
Frederick, Maryland is the second largest city in Maryland. The downtown historic district has over 100 specialty shops, 40 eateries, and museums for everyone in the family to enjoy. Our history boasts of many turning points in this nation's history, such as the meeting between George  Washington and Benjamin Franklin to embark on a major military journey. Lush mountains and parks surround the City of Frederick, including Baker Park, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. If you are a sports fan, come to a Frederick Keys minor league game at Harry Grove Stadium. The City of Frederick is a host to several outlets of entertainment; for instance, the Weinberg Center for the Arts and the Frederick Cultural Arts Center. |
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Helpful Links: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Frederick,+MD&ie=UTF8&z=13&om=1&iwloc=addr |
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| Washington County | |
Hagerstown is a city located in Washington County,
Helpful Links: |
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Station requires that the student develop high level communication skills. Within this interdisciplinary model, students can look to staff from many backgrounds to model therapeutic relationships and to add to their knowledge of mental illness.
Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 36,687. It is the county seat of Washington County. It is a city on the edge of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.