The Role of the Occupational Therapist as a Community Consultant

Concern for health development has been in the forefront of occupational therapy practice and training for many years. However, consultation in this area to community agencies and grass roots programs is a relatively new endeavor for occupational therapists. This article describes community consultation in a demonstration project emphasizing the concept of preventive mental health. Steps in establishing the consultation role are discussed using the theoretical constructs of systems consultation. Discussion of the educational objectives for field training in community mental health, community experience during the field training, and the supervisory and communication networks essential to such a program are presented as a model in developing the role of the occupational therapist as a community consultant.