Restoring Meaning After Trauma: Identity Reconstruction Through Occupations

Speaker: Abby Hill, OTS

Abby Hill, OTS is a third-year occupational therapy student at Belmont University with a focused interest in mental health occupational therapy. She is currently completing her capstone project through the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association (TNOTA) under the mentorship of Dr. Kimberly Jessee Chair of Mental Health at Belmont University. Abby holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance from McNeese State University, providing a strong foundation in the relationship between physical health, psychosocial well-being, and occupational engagement. Her academic training and capstone work emphasize evidence-informed, occupation-centered approaches to mental health practice across settings.

Course Description:

Many patients who experience a traumatic event or mental health issues experience identity disruption and decreased social identification negatively impacting the patients ability to participate in their meaningful occupations. While identity reconstruction is not a new term for the mental health realm, it is a fairly new area for occupational therapists to be able to further assist their patients to improve their quality of life and occupational performance in a variety of settings. In this session, the definition of identity reconstruction, the importance of addressing identity for increased occupational performance, and potential steps/interventions to address identity disruption will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

After the presentation, leaners will be able to:

• Define the concept of identity reconstruction and explain its relevance to mental health and psychosocial well‑being.
• Identify at least two clinical or community-based settings in which identity reconstruction can be effectively addressed.
• Explore practical strategies for integrating identity reconstruction principles into their own professional practice.