Rachel Batten

I would attribute my success to a combination of a strong support system, curiosity, and persistence. First and foremost, I've been incredibly fortunate to have supportive family, friends, and mentors who have consistently encouraged me to pursue my goals. They understand that I'm someone who is always looking for new opportunities to learn, grow, and get involved, and they've been there to support me every step of the way.

Beyond that, I think a lot of my success comes from a genuine passion for learning and a willingness to challenge myself. I've always been naturally curious and eager to explore new ideas, whether that's through continuing education, research, teaching, or clinical practice. When I find an area that I'm passionate about, I tend to dive in wholeheartedly and stay committed even when things become challenging.

I also believe that success isn't something you achieve alone. It's built through collaboration, mentorship, and being willing to learn from others. Throughout my career, I've had opportunities to work with incredible colleagues, students, clients, and mentors who have helped shape my perspective and push me to continue growing. Ultimately, my goal is to keep learning, contribute to the profession in meaningful ways, and help others do the same through education, research, advocacy, and leadership.

The best career advice I've ever received is, "Don't wait until you feel ready." I've been fortunate to have several mentors throughout my career, and this is the piece of advice that has stayed with me the most.

Many of the opportunities that have had the greatest impact on my professional growth came at times when I didn't feel completely prepared. Whether it was becoming an adjunct faculty member, pursuing doctoral-level research, presenting at conferences, or advocating for emerging areas of occupational therapy practice, there was always some level of uncertainty involved. If I had waited until I felt fully ready, I likely would have missed out on many of those experiences.

I've learned that there is rarely a "perfect" time to take on a new challenge. Life is always busy, and there will always be reasons to delay pursuing a goal. Growth often happens when we're willing to step outside our comfort zones, take calculated risks, and trust that we can learn what we need to know along the way.

That advice has encouraged me to say yes to opportunities that initially felt intimidating, and many of those experiences have ultimately become some of the most rewarding parts of my career. It reminds me that confidence often comes after taking the leap, not before.

My biggest piece of advice would be to not be afraid to pursue something you're passionate about, even if it isn't a traditional or well-established path. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career have come from areas of occupational therapy that were underserved, overlooked, or still emerging. Whether that's research, assistive technology, sexuality, advocacy, or another specialty area, there is often tremendous opportunity for growth when you're willing to step into spaces where solutions still need to be created.

I would also encourage young women to stay curious, continue learning, and seek out mentors who will challenge and support them along the way. Don't be afraid to ask questions, volunteer for new opportunities, or take on projects that stretch your skills. Some of the best learning experiences happen outside of your job description and can open doors you never expected.

Most importantly, trust your voice and your perspective. Healthcare needs innovative thinkers, leaders, educators, researchers, and advocates who are willing to bring new ideas to the table. If you see a gap in services or an area that isn't being addressed, don't assume someone else will solve it. Be willing to contribute, collaborate, and help create the change you want to see. The profession continues to evolve because people are willing to explore new possibilities and advocate for the needs of the communities they serve.

I think there are tremendous opportunities in occupational therapy right now, particularly in emerging practice areas. My specific area of interest is the intersection of neurodiversity, sexuality, relationships, and social participation during adolescence and emerging adulthood. There is still so much room for growth in neurodiversity-affirming sexuality education, transition-age services, college support programs, healthy relationship development, and provider education. Research in these areas is still relatively limited, which means there are countless important questions that remain unanswered and significant opportunities to contribute to the evidence base.

Personally, I'm excited to be part of that growth. My goal is to complete my manuscript from my doctoral capstone project, Sex Ed, Reframed: Supporting Sexuality as an Occupation in Neurodivergent Adolescents, by the end of July or early August and submit it for publication. From there, I already have plans to begin two additional research projects that build upon this work. One of the things I enjoy most about being involved in research is knowing that each study helps move the profession forward and creates new opportunities to better serve clients.

At the same time, there are still several challenges facing this area of practice. One of the biggest is that many clinicians receive little formal education related to sexuality, relationships, consent, dating, intimacy, gender, and identity. As a result, practitioners may feel uncomfortable addressing topics that are deeply meaningful to their clients' quality of life and participation. Another challenge is reimbursement and service justification. Clinicians often have to work hard to connect these goals to occupational performance in ways that are recognized by funding sources and healthcare systems.

I also think we need more occupation-based assessments related to sexuality, relationships, and social participation. As a profession, we have a wide variety of standardized assessments for areas such as handwriting, feeding, and activities of daily living, but relatively few tools designed to evaluate sexuality-related occupations and participation. One of my long-term goals is to contribute to the development of assessments and resources that can help bridge that gap.

Looking ahead, I believe some of the greatest growth areas for occupational therapy will be sexual health across the lifespan, trauma-informed care, women's health, mental health, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and social participation. As our profession continues to invest in research, education, and advocacy, I think many of the current barriers will gradually become opportunities, allowing occupational therapists to support clients more holistically across all aspects of life.

The values that are most important to me, both professionally and personally, are advocacy, lifelong learning, compassion, and innovation.

Advocacy is probably at the top of the list. I strongly believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate fully in the occupations and experiences that bring meaning to their lives. Whether I'm working with clients, students, or colleagues, I strive to advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and opportunities that help people reach their full potential.

I also place a tremendous value on education and lifelong learning. We live in a time where information is more accessible than ever, and I believe one of the best things we can do is remain curious and committed to growth. Continuing to learn not only helps us improve our own practice, but it also allows us to challenge misconceptions, reduce stigma, and contribute to the advancement of our profession.

Compassion is another value that guides both my personal and professional life. As an occupational therapist, I believe in leading with empathy, curiosity, and respect. Every person's experiences, challenges, and goals are unique, and it's important to meet people where they are, listen to their perspectives, and support them in ways that are meaningful to them.

Finally, I value innovation. Some of my professional interests, particularly sexuality and occupational therapy, fall within emerging areas of practice that challenge traditional thinking and encourage us to look at participation and quality of life from a broader perspective. Meaningful progress often happens when we're willing to ask difficult questions, explore new ideas, and create solutions for needs that have historically been overlooked. I believe growth both personally and professionally comes from being willing to think creatively and embrace opportunities to move the field forward.