Top 10 Therapy Jobs

The work of therapists, whether for respiratory, occupational or speech, is a wide-ranging part of the health care industry. The aging of the Baby Boom generation has increased the need for age-related therapy for cardiac and other types of physical rehabilitation. At the other end of the age spectrum, advances in medical technology have helped therapists improve the survival rate for newborns with birth defects and their rehabilitative care.

In the coming decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 30 percent job growth for physical therapists (PT), as well as substantial job growth in other therapy fields. A graduate degree is the norm for today's physical therapists and professional licensing is required.

But with the substantial growth in the profession, and the increasing cost of health care, physical therapists are expected to rely more on assistants and aides to lower the cost of services. Once the therapist determines a patient's treatment plan, an assistant is able to provide much of the treatment under the therapist's direction. Most states require PT assistants to have an associate degree and licensing, while physical therapy aides generally learn their skills on the job and aren't required to be licensed.

Physical therapist: Patients with chronic conditions, injuries, amputations, burns and illnesses that impair movement, such as cerebral palsy, are treated by physical therapists and their assistants. Physical therapists, who may specialize in such areas as geriatrics, often move up to supervisory positions within hospitals and other health care organizations.

Occupational therapist: These professionals help patients improve daily living and working skills, such as motor functions and reasoning abilities, and may work on ways to compensate when an individual has suffered permanent loss of a function. Some occupational therapists treat patients strictly on workplace skills by evaluating their work activities, modifying their work space as needed and keeping track of their progress.

School-based therapy: In addition to clinical settings, therapists may work in schools where children receive a variety of therapies. The federal Disabilities Education Act guarantees access to rehabilitative services for students in need of physical and related therapies, which may take place individually, in small groups or in the classroom. Early intervention therapy also is available to babies who are at risk of having developmental delays.

Respiratory therapist: Also known as respiratory care practitioners, they provide treatment to patients who have breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems. The care they provide often includes administering oxygen, using mechanical ventilators, administering drugs to the lungs, monitoring cardiopulmonary systems and measuring lung function. Respiratory therapists treat patients of all ages, from premature infants with underdeveloped lungs to seniors with lung disease.

Radiation therapist: As part of an oncology team, radiation therapists develop a treatment plan for cancer patients and apply the treatment by using linear accelerators that direct high energy x-rays at cancer cells in a patient's body. They monitor the patient's condition, check for adverse reactions and keep the patient informed of their progress.

Speech therapist: Speech, voice and language disorders are the focus of this therapy. Speech therapists often work with people who stutter, have fluency problems and are unable to make speech sounds or pronounce them clearly. Exercises help reduce the speech problems, which also may occur from hearing loss, stroke, mental disability or brain injury.

Massage therapist: Massage can be used effectively in the treatment of many chronic ailments, including arthritis, back pain, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression. Therapists massage soft tissue to reduce stress and improve circulation and perform "body work" that manipulates and repatterns structural changes in the body. They also address "somatic" issues, or the body-mind connection, to improve a patient's well-being.

Behavioral health therapist: In addition to psychotherapy within the mental health field, there are behavioral health therapists who work with individuals, families, and groups to treat emotional disorders. They often work closely with mental health specialists including psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors.

Recreational therapist: Patients will chronic illnesses and disabilities may improve their functional abilities with therapeutic treatments administered by recreational therapists. By using leisure activities such as sports, dance, crafts work and games, therapists help reduce depression and stress, as well as help their patients recover motor skills and cognitive ability.

Art therapist: As part of a medical team, art therapists address both the physical and psychological well-being of their patients, who may have disabilities, suffer from emotional problems or have experienced trauma. They work with all ages in hospitals, schools and community settings. Some art therapists work as independent consultants.

http://www.stlherc.org/c/job.cfm?site_id=1916&jb=6861245

http://www.arttherapy.org/

http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/resp-career.html

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm\

http://www.braintrack.com/colleges-by-career/radiation-therapists

http://www.massagetherapy.com/home/index.php

http://www.princetonreview.com/Careers.aspx?cid=147