Dr. Julia Harper, Ph.D, MS, OTR/L.
About Dr. Harper:
Dr. Harper is the CEO and founder of Therapeeds, the world’s leading brain-based family intervention center in Davie, FL. She is also a psychologist, occupational therapist, life coach, mentor, speaker, writer, wife and mother. She brings all these roles together to serve her mission of helping children and adults to live their lives beyond limitations.
For over 20 years, Julia has been focused on creating brain-based therapeutic programs that tap into neural-plasticity, the brains ability to adapt and change. As a highly sought-after speaker both in and outside of the therapy industry, Dr. Harper’s talks span the globe. She teaches large and small audiences how to create the necessary brain and mind environment for positive behaviors to thrive.
What is your cultural or racial background? How does this influence you as a person and/or OT?
I am originally from Trinidad and Tobago. I moved to Brooklyn, NY as most Carribean immigrants do. I left my home and culture and came to a foreign land. I felt like a foreigner. Whenever I opened my mouth – even though I spoke English – people didn’t understand me because of my accent. Also, there was the issue of being marked as an immigrant. There was an underlying belief that I was here to take something. As an immigrant you are constantly being viewed as a ‘taker’ and not as a person that contributes.
Even though this is an immigrant country, you struggle with this – you are viewed as taking the spot of an American. Additionally, as both a black person and an immigrant, there were two marks against me. Learning how to negotiate that, learning the processes of this country and the expectations, was a challenge. The speed of the country, the way to walk and talk and think in this new environment. Which, are things people born and raised here take for granted. There is a language of the U.S. and I’m not talking about English. It’s the nonverbal language of this country. How do you interpret being pushed aside? When is it ok to speak or not? You know you’re an outsider and your trying to fit in and you learn it in the school of hard knocks.
What is it like being a minority in this profession?( Any advice for minority students pursuing a career in occupational therapy?
I would tell any minority/immigrant, don’t believe what you are told about your station. Yes, America is the land of opportunity and this profession is also rich with opportunity. Always be grateful for the opportunities that is offered. However, it’s only available if you are willing to go out and grab it. It’s there for minorities, but we have to be willing to set aside this idea that we are less than and that we should sit behind. We must stand up and dust ourselves off and go after our dreams, knowing damn well that we do have to work hard and there are many systemic barriers in place. Walking into a room, my accent, my world-view…any of those things could present as barriers.
Also, give yourself a break. Be kind to yourself, because there is a lot to learn. Sometimes we measure ourselves against others that are not a minority. They already have the knowledge of the inner working of this culture, even if it is the culture of the profession. You have more to learn. Allow yourself to learn. Don’t believe anything about what you can’t do. Work hard. See the limitations and despite those limitations, go for it.
Why do you think you have been successful?
I have been incredibly successful because I didn’t listen. Im stubborn as hell. Im a preemie (born 28 weeks) who was coincidentally born in the year of the Ox. To top if off, I’m a Taurus which supposedly means that I don’t stop. That in spite of the level of resistance I faced both inside and out, I did know that I was called to do something great.
When I was born so premature, the doctors at the hospital; sent me home in a shoebox to die because they didn’t have the infrastructure to care for such a premature child at that time. I always believed I survived back then, to make a difference. No matter what other people told me, I absolutely know that I wanted to change the ogled and nothing was going to stop me.
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