Characteristics of a good OT 4

Too often, we listen just to respond, or we don't listen at all because our minds are on 2940 other things at any given moment. Guilty as charged.
Good listening is crucial, though. Being a good listener might be a more important quality than being a skilled conversationalist, or an absolute genius. Being able to listen, really listen, to our clients will not only help us build the trust necessary for the therapeutic relationship, but also help us figure out what treatments are or aren't working for them; they will tell us if we ask the right questions and really listen to them. The same thing goes for our superiors and co-workers. If the physical therapist tells us that they really worked a client hard in their therapy session, we probably should take it easier on the client when we see him or her. We wouldn't know that, however, if we were distracted and not listening. In the world of unlimited distraction, we have the focus on our clients, and to do that we must be intentional.