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PORTLAND, Maine

Jane O'Brien co-edits new textbook 'Occupational Analysis and Group Process'

Jane O'Brien, Ph.D., OTR/L, associate professor and director of the University of New England's Department of Occupational Therapy, is co-editor  of a new textbook, Occupational Analysis and Group Process (St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby, 2013).

The textbook examines occupational analysis, group process, and therapeutic media. 

Using a matter-of-fact style to share their experiences, successes, and failures, O'Brien and co-editor  Jean W. Solomon, MHS, OTR/L, Berkeley County School District, Moncks Corner, SC, provide the reader with effective therapeutic media; sample activity analyses useful in current health care contexts; practical guidance in play, leisure, and social participation areas of occupation; strategies for effective group management and processes; and overviews of theories supporting best practice.

Key features of the text book include:

  • Comprehensive content that covers the material taught in group process and occupational analysis courses thoroughly and completely for the OTA.
  • Logically organized content that's written in a matter-of-fact style that helps students better understand and retain information.
  • Clinical pearls that emphasize the practical application of the information for the students.
  • Therapeutic media that are tried and true methods pulled from the authors' extensive experience.
  • Case studies that appear at appropriate locations throughout the text to show the students how to apply the content to their work.

This textbook also includes a chapter by UNE Professor Regula H. Robnett, Ph.D., OTR/L, "Analyzing the effect of aging on occupations with an emphasis on cognition and perception." The book's glossary was completed by recent OT graduate Kate McLean Hanrahan (Class of 2012). Dr. O'Brien authored six chapters.

Jane O'Brien

Dr. O'Brien has more than 20 years of clinical experience working in pediatric occupational therapy. She taught at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Medical University of South Carolina before returning to Maine.

She has conducted research and published on a variety of topics including motor control issues of children, play, sensory integration, reaction time, Model of Human Occupation, and purposeful activity.  Dr. O'Brien is currently working with an international group of researchers on revising the manual for the Child Occupational Self-Assessment (COSA). She is also examining educational assessment and methodologies.

In addition to Occupational Analysis and Group Process, she is co-editor of:  Pediatric Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants (3rd ed.);   Occupational Therapy for Children (6th ed.);  and author of Introduction to Occupational Therapy (4th ed.).

Dr. O'Brien graduated from the University of Maine at Orono, received a master of science in occupational therapy from Boston University, and a doctoral degree in exercise science from the University of South Carolina.  She received a master of science in medical education leadership from the University of New England in May 2013.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.