Implicit Bias

Implicit bias is when a person has unrealized harbored stereotypes about a race, gender, culture, or any grouping of people. It is subconscious and can sometimes be in contention with that person's belief system or values. It is important to learn about implicit bias because we need to be aware of others and their backgrounds. A therapist needs to be exposed to a diverse group of people in order to remain client-centered. A therapist needs to understand that people will come from many different places and cultures. This is vital in understanding the population that may attend the hospital, clinic, or school in which a therapist works.
A therapist or OT student needs to adapt to a population in order to remain effective and client-centered. OT is an ever-evolving field, and one cannot become stagnant. Part of this profession is understanding people and where they come from. An OT cannot be proficient in the therapeutic use-of-self, if they are unwilling or unable to connect to a person very different from themselves. It is imperative to remain open-minded to another person, and to, above all, desire the best for their client.
When I began to think about how to address or examine my own biases, I was a little befuddled. How can I examine biases if I don't know I have them? Well obviously, I can participate in studies that address that very issue. I participated in the Harvard survey about implicit bias, which shed some light on what I instinctively think about groups of people. I also can take part in COTAD, and explore the organization and how I might challenge myself. I can also be cognizant of how I speak about others, and form a habit to translate into how I will document clients and their sessions. 
From this session, I have learned that implicit bias can affect even the best OTs. But, they try to not let it affect their practice and there are tools to curb our biases. It is important to always keep learning from others about their lives and their culture. Adapting is so important in occupational therapy. It is also necessary to self-reflect on jerk reactions one may have or involuntary trains of thought because of a person who is different. Always try to do what is best for a client regardless of who they are and where they come from. It is important to do all of these things in order to treat clients equally and with the same level of care.

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