The lifelong passion of an Occupational Therapist

Posted in Blog

The lifelong passion of an Occupational Therapist

Introducing Anna Finlay, a seasoned Occupational Therapist with a rich career in people-centred practice spanning over 20 years.

 

Since beginning her career in 1995, Anna has dedicated herself to improving the lives of her clients through a holistic approach.

In 2022, she joined Krysalis, bringing her expertise and passion to the organisation.

She talks about her journey from discovering occupational therapy to how her extensive and inspirational career lead her to Krysalis.

“I love the arts, and I did work experience in London, but I found it so boring – it was all office work and not much to do with people,” Anna shares, reflecting on navigating her career path during her younger years.

“And then I came away from that and went to sixth form, where my best friend’s mum was a mental health Occupational Therapist. That’s how I discovered it.

“I did a week’s work experience with her, and I loved it. From there I studied at St Loye's College of Occupational Therapy and did my undergraduate degree there, which I really enjoyed.”

 

orange quote   I always say I think I was born in green trousers. I was born to be an Occupational Therapist.   orange quote close

 

 

The journey of Occupational Therapy

“I did a variety of placements, including medicine, neurology, stroke and learning disabilities.” Anna says.

And after graduating from university in 1995, Anna completed a mixed rotational Basic Grade post, spending nine months in mental health and six months in physical health.

She then engaged in hospital and community work across various London communities, primarily assisting first-generation immigrants, with help from their interpreters. “It was really interesting work,” Anna says, “I did that for a couple of years, being within a rich multicultural environment.”

Following this, she undertook locum work in Inverness, Worcester, and Cheltenham, covering roles in rapid assessment, a head injury and orthopaedic unit, and in acute medicine and stroke services.

Anna reflects on her time in Cheltenham, “I did a locum post in Cheltenham and then liked it. It was near my mum and dad, so I decided that I’d stay.

“Before, I’d been quite nomadic.” Anna adds, laughing.

 

 

Anna’s already extensive career then took her to Cirencester, where she worked in rehabilitation for a couple of years. From there she moved back to Cheltenham Hospital and was a senior therapist leading the acute stroke and medicine Occupational Therapy Service.

“There’s kind of been a theme of stroke and neuro through all my work, really. I’ve always been interested, always loved the very multidisciplinary, client-centred approach to neuro work.” Anna reflects.

Anna worked in this role for seven years before taking a career break.

“My father had cancer, and I was just struggling to manage caring for him with my mum and going to work at the hospital as well.

“So, I went off and I trained as a gardener with the National Trust. But it was a great experience because for the last three years of the role I was Head Gardener. I ended up doing lots of work with volunteers and looking at horticultural therapy input.”

 

orange quote   With the benefits of being out in nature, it all felt like it interlinked with what I’d done as an Occupational Therapist.   orange quote close

 

Aside from her horticultural interest, Anna also took up interest in sound therapy. Over a period of five years, she undertook part-time training at the College of Sound Healing. 

There, Anna mastered the use of:

  • the voice
  • gongs
  • biosonic tuning forks
  • sound baths

Her expertise now encompasses both sound and voice therapy, which she practices in group settings as well as on a one-to-one basis, complementing her occupational therapy work.

“I’ve always been a bit of a hippie,” Anna laughs, “I’ve always been musical and always sung. I got really interested in the sensory benefits of it all.”

 

orange quote   Between the sound work and the horticultural therapy, it’s clear that I’ve always had a huge interest in sensory integration.   orange quote close

 

 

Going back to her roots

When Anna’s father passed, she looked at moving back into occupational therapy.

“I did a day a week at a private occupational therapy company doing some re-motivation horticulture with people experiencing dementia. This complemented my four days a week working as an NHS Occupational Therapist in respiratory.

“I did that for a couple of years before getting a senior role setting up a palliative care occupational therapy service. I was the only Specialist Palliative Care Occupational Therapist on the Palliative Care Team in the hospital at the time, and I did a lot of educational work in the hospital surrounding supporting people with end of life and palliative care.”

Then, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Anna decided to move back to her family home near Salisbury.

After her move, Anna took a job in the hospital that she thought would suit her and get her established.

Anna took up work in the older person’s assessment and liaison team, but after two years she felt it was time to move on and find a way of using her occupational therapy skills and knowledge more fully to help people.

 

 

orange quote   Before, I felt that I was using a tiny percentage of my skillset and not really helping people as much as I could. Whereas at Krysalis, I feel like I’m really flexing my occupational therapy muscles and growing them.   orange quote close

 

 Finding Krysalis

Taking the leap into private work can be daunting – “I think it’s quite a scary thing for lots of Occupational Therapists to think about moving out of the NHS”, Anna says – but that’s where Krysalis can help, with welcoming arms!

“I was keen to look at moving out of the NHS and try to find a place of work that would use my skills better,” Anna recalls.

“I was 49 and I was finding the NHS work pressures were exhausting me. I wanted to find a role that better suited me at this point in my career. And that’s when I found Krysalis.

“I contacted them and went through the interview process. I was absolutely delighted to be accepted. It’s been really professionally and personally life enhancing to join Krysalis.”

 

 

Now, Anna works three days a week for Krysalis, while also maintaining hours for her family farm, her sound therapy practices and more recently, her return to university.

“I’ve started my master’s level training in sensory integration, so at 51 I’ve gone back to university, which is a bit of a surprise, but a good surprise.” Anna says with a smile.

Anna recalls the transition into the independent practice sector, and the support she’s been given since, “The Krysalis team have been so encouraging to help me develop as a professional and expand my knowledge and experience. I’m still learning every day, which I love.”

Anna goes on to state how the more people talk about occupational therapy and raise the profile of the valuable work occupational therapy can offer people, the more it will be understood, which is massively important to her.

She states, “I love talking to people about the work we do at Krysalis. We bring a positive approach to helping people live their best lives, which is what it’s all about.”

 

 

orange quote   The way a therapist practises is very individual, and what is really nice about our team at Krysalis is that everyone is super experienced and knowledgeable. Everyone brings their own gifts to the table.   orange quote close

 

If Anna’s commitment to occupational therapy resonates with your own professional goals, why not bring your gifts to the Krysalis table?

 

 

Further reading…

 

 

A new career journey with Krysalis Neuro OT

Posted in Blog

A new career journey with Krysalis Neuro OT
Life sunk your career dreams? Buoy yourself up with Krysalis as an independent neuro occupational therapist! 

Five tell-tale signs that you’re an OT geek

Posted in Blog

Five tell-tale signs that you’re an OT geek
Are you an occupational therapy geek?

Passion and potential: from the NHS to independent practice

Posted in NewsFresh ThinkingBlog

Passion and potential: from the NHS to independent practice
From NHS to independent neuro OT: Krysalis director, Jo Throp reflects on the influencers that have shaped her 24 year career journey within this “life changing” profession.