Interview with Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Personal Journey

What inspired you to become a caregiver?

I originally started off with the intention of going to med school and no shade to doctors, but I just felt the profession wasn’t for me pretty early on in learning about it. I just felt like the courses were cold and not very friendly. It was a whole lot of nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes type stuff and, you know, I wanted the real hands-on, real working with someone for a long time to see progress, so I decided I wanted to pivot. I looked into other professions and OT just really connected with me for the same reasons: you’re able to see somebody’s progress over time and just really give them that person-centered care.

Can you describe a defining moment in your caregiving journey that reinforced your passion for this work?

I’m not sure if I have any particular one moment, but I would say since working as an OT I’ve changed practice settings several times just due to relocations and things like that. You know, the path that life has taken me. Each time I’ve changed, I’ve just found that I really connect with the work every time. Of course, I like some practice settings more than others, but there was nothing where I just felt like, “Oh, man I just hate this, I can’t imagine doing this part of OT.” You know, to me, it’s just kind of all OT and it’s all just really at the heart of why I got into the profession. So, each of those moments just kind of solidified why I was in the career I am.

Is there any particular reason you chose Pediatrics?

Honestly, at the time I was looking to get something remote (this was before COVID-19) due to some personal health problems. So I was just kind of just going with whatever was remote because it gave me the flexibility I needed, and I ended up starting it. Honestly, it was the one setting in school where I figured, “I don’t think I’ll ever work in Pediatrics,” and I actually really like it, so it just goes to show you never know.

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a caregiver for you?

When I get on a session and a kid just screams my name, and then the parents are in the background going, “Yeah, he’s been asking for you all morning. He’s wondering when he’s going to see Ms. Brittany.” Not all my kids necessarily respond that way, but the ones that do it just make me think, “Ok, we're on the right track. He’s excited to do some of these things, rather than slogging through it like some of the kids are at the beginning when it’s harder for them.” So, it’s really rewarding to know we’re on the right track: to keep on keeping on!

That’s awesome to hear...

Yeah, definitely! In any helping profession, I don’t care what you say you need a little bit of that to keep you going. Sometimes it’s hard to find that only within yourself.

Care Recipient

Who do you care for, and what is their condition or situation?

A lot of the kids I see have autism with varying degrees of severity, but there’s also a decent amount that are kind of struggling with handwriting, or they have some motor delays. Maybe they started walking later, crawling later, using their hands later and so they’re really not up to speed on writing where they should be at that age: cutting, stacking blocks, eating, things like that. So there’s a little bit of a mix of those kids who kind of just need a bit more practice and strategies at home, and some kids who need a little bit more of that intensive support with autism because it’s a bit more challenging.

How has your relationship with your patients influenced your approach to caregiving?

Every kid is different, so I mean you can walk in and see on the paper “ok, we have a child who has autism” and it doesn’t mean that the strategies you’ve used with a different child who has autism are going to work. So, you can go in and structure everything based on this one child and then really quickly learn, “Oh, ok that was a whole waste of time because none of that applies.” A lot of that goes back to that person-centered approach I was talking about. Nothing is cookie cutter... A lot of it is thinking on your feet and just kind of flexing to the child's needs.

Can you share a particularly impactful story?

Yeah, absolutely! I mentioned I do Telehealth. The majority of kids I work with are between 3 and 5... With some of those kids, with the right support you know, with parents that log on every time and have the prepared materials... they’re a completely different child and they’re “school-ready,” so to speak. They’re ready to go to daycare or preschool and get even more structure, so I think instances like that are definitely the biggest impact.

Achievements and Contributions

What are some of your notable achievements?

I’ve written a few books, which I think is probably the biggest thing that fits the bill. Nothing really too big outside of that. I’m underway in getting an executive certification for home modifications.

How have you contributed to the field?

I mean, by treating kids! That definitely fits the bill. I also do a lot of writing... The writing, I feel, really reaches a much wider audience, and it’s gratifying in a much different way.

Are there any specific challenges?

As I mentioned before, changing practice settings can always be a bit trying... It puts you back in the student mindset, which can be tough if you have any years of experience at all. I would say that is probably the more difficult challenge.

Education, Training, and Experience

What formal education or training have you completed?

I have a master’s in OT and then after that, I went on to get a PhD in Integrated Mental Health. I started off my career in mental health, so it was kind of in alignment with that.

How do you continue to educate yourself?

The home modifications certification is the only one I’m actively working towards right now... But I definitely do want to do a bit more with home modifications and pediatrics, because that seems to be the direction my career is continuing to go.

Vision and Legacy

What do you hope to achieve moving forward?

I’m definitely hoping to write another book or so as time allows, and just kind of continue to plug along with the clinical work as I have been... I definitely see a lot more focus on that in the coming years.

How do you want to be remembered as a caregiver?

Oh, that is a big question... I would kind of hope that the patients see that and just realize that “she’s there for what I need when I need it,” and can sum it up that way.

What advice would you give to new caregivers?

Try not to get overwhelmed... There’s so much they don’t teach you in school, you have to have boots on the ground.

Final Thoughts

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I would emphasize what I said before: taking learning opportunities as they come for therapists... using that as a way to grow as a therapist.

Closing

Thank you for sharing your story and insights! Your contributions to the field of caregiving are invaluable and will inspire many.