My Job: 'Journey' to change young lives

Neeka Aicken (left) takes groups of adolescents on a nine-day outdoor therapeutic experience. Photo / Supplied

Name: Neeka Aicken
Age: 27
Role: Occupational therapist/alcohol and other drugs (AoD) clinician, for Adventure Development
Working hours: 40 hours
Average salary: $44,000 to $66,000
Qualifications: Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Otago Polytechnic

Describe what you do

I counsel young people aged 13-20 who have issues that range from alcohol and other drug (AoD) use, other mental health issues such as depression, criminal offending and care and protection issues.

The counselling focus is on harm minimisation and the interventions are strength based and individualised to meet each young person's needs.

We run programmes involving individual therapy, family therapy, wilderness group therapy, experiential learning of risk management, problem solving, social skills and a systems focus.

Brief intervention programmes run between one and eight sessions. Longer programmes can be 20 to 30 sessions. The wilderness group is a short seven- to nine-day therapeutic community experience in a wilderness setting. We call this a "journey".

Is this a typical OT role?

No, because my role here is generic as opposed to other health settings, such as a medical ward, where the scope of practice is more defined. I am required to have more of a counselling approach here, looking at the role substance use has in young people's lives and at other activities they're doing or could do in order to decrease their substance abuse.

Explain harm minimisation?

Harm minimisation is about limiting the harms that result from alcohol or drug abuse. This could be cutting down or reducing the amount and frequency of substance abuse. This is the current trend in United Kingdom, rather than the abstinence approach which is more prevalent in the United States. So we work with young people to find ways that assist with cutting down. A big factor that affects people making any changes is motivation, so a large part of our work is motivating people to change.

Where are you based?

At Number 10 in Invercargill, a one-stop shop with three youth-focused services: a health clinic, alternative education and our service. We also see people at school and home.

Your history?

I didn't really know much about occupational therapy at school but my career adviser knew an OT at a primary special needs unit and I spent a day there, which was great.

During our study, the fieldwork placements provided an insight into the OT roles within different practice areas and I found myself really enjoying working with youth and mental health. Once I graduated I got a job at the inpatient mental health unit in Porirua. I started with adults experiencing chronic mental health difficulties, and then moved into an acute mental health unit for adolescents, where I worked alongside an AoD counsellor and became really interested in that aspect.

So when I saw Adventure Development advertising a job working with young people experiencing difficulties with substance use, I went for it.

Since then I've been doing training through Adventure Development. It is a steep learning curve.

Where do your clients come from?

Most are referred from the justice system, such as probation services or the youth justice, but also by schools, parents and friends.

They can also self refer.

What training or experience is important with this job?

Ideally, a health professional undergraduate qualification and then specialist postgraduate study is available in areas such as child and adolescence, and alcohol and drugs.

What skills or qualities do you need?

You need to be able to connect and build rapport with young people. You have to be flexible and work where your clients are at. It is often one step forward and two steps back.

You also need to build networks and link with other agency services and people in the community.

Best part of the job?

Seeing young people change, try new things and have good experiences, especially outdoors. I love going into beautiful parts of Southland and Fiordland with a group of young people for a "journey".

Most challenging part?

Going on a "journey" with a group of adolescents for nine days!

How would you define success in this job?

It can be as simple as having a client return for another appointment. Success is also seeing young people make changes to their substance use and recognising the difference it makes to their lives.

Advice to someone wanting to do something similar?

Make the most of your fieldwork placements so you get a good idea of practice areas you may be interested in. Be willing to give mental health placements a go. While some of those settings, such as a mental health unit, can be daunting you gain a better understanding of people who experience mental health difficulties.

* angela@careerideas.co.nz