While there is no one right answer to where occupational formulation best fits within the curriculum, below are suggestions for consideration:

After learning basic assessment skills and building familiarity with occupational therapy assessment tools, students will be well placed to learn about occupational formulation as an approach for bringing together and presenting assessment information in a theory-based way.

A course or subject focussed on the occupational therapy practice process is an ideal place to present occupational formulation, as the approach allows connection of key practice process steps, synthesising assessment information to guide goal setting and therapy planning. Additionally, the TICKS goal setting format (Parkinson & Brooks, 2021) presented in Module 4 offers an occupationally focussed approach for negotiating measurable, occupational goals.

Given that other formulation approaches may have been historically taught within mental health subjects, some universities choose to embed occupational formulation within a mental health subject. However, it is important to communicate to students that occupational formulation is not a mental health-specific approach, but a part of the practice process which can be used in any area of occupational therapy.

As opportunities for experiential learning may support students’ familiarity with occupational formulation, it may be helpful to time teaching about occupational formulation so that it is provided prior to or during practice education opportunities.  

As an approach that can support collaborative, occupational practice, it is recommended that occupational formulation is included at multiple points within the curriculum. This may include initial presentation using resources from this package, then returning to key concepts and encouraging use of occupational formulation at later points in the course.  

Incorporating occupational formulations into other course material

Seeing occupational formulations in use will help to build students’ familiarity with the approach. Instructors may wish to incorporate use of occupational formulations when presenting course scenarios across different parts of the curriculum.

Use of the writing guide, template and Occupational Formulation Quality Checklist (OFQC) may support instructors to support development of occupational formulations for use in course materials.