From Psychology to Practice: Dr. Kurt Hubbard's Occupational Therapy Career Path

Occupational therapy is a profession centered on helping people achieve independence, restore function and live life to its fullest potential.

For Dr. Kurt Hubbard, PhD, OTD, that mission represented the perfect bridge between his background in psychology and his desire for practical, measurable outcomes. After spending years as a clinical psychologist, Hubbard valued his work but found himself drawn toward a profession where progress could be clearly seen in patients' daily lives.

"I wanted something with practical application," he said. "Occupational therapy deals with function, independence and measurable behavioral outcomes. It was the ideal way to combine my psychology background with my desire to see direct, tangible results."

Discovering an Occupational Therapy Career Path

Hubbard's journey into occupational therapy was anything but conventional. After earning his doctorate in psychology, he made the unusual decision to return to graduate school for a master's degree in occupational therapy, which was the highest credential available in the field at that time.

"Many people thought I was crazy," he said with a laugh. "Why would someone with a PhD go back for a master's degree? But it wasn't a step backward. It was a step toward what I believed health care should be."

That belief has guided his career ever since. While psychology often focuses on theory and long-term behavioral change, occupational therapy centers on practical improvement and functional independence.

"OTs look at people holistically," Hubbard said. "We address physical, mental and social aspects together, from newborns in the NICU to patients in hospice care. We treat the whole person, using every tool available to help them engage in life as fully as possible."

Why Occupational Therapy Was the Right Choice

On a professional level, Hubbard saw occupational therapy as the most direct route to helping people live independently. On a personal level, he recognized that it offered flexibility and job security rarely found in other fields.

"I could work full time in any city in America," he said. "There's an incredible demand for occupational therapists, across settings, populations and even countries. That means we have the chance to help more people, in more ways."

For Hubbard, the profession's balance of compassion and practicality is what makes it so rewarding. "It's a profession that makes sense," he said. "You can see your impact in real time, in how someone dresses, drives, works or plays again."

Lifelong Learning and Leadership in OT

Over his career, Hubbard has continued to pursue new opportunities for growth, from advanced degrees to leadership training.

"As professionals, we should all be lifelong learners," he said. "That's part of what defines occupational therapy."

He later earned a doctorate in behavioral medicine, a field that bridges psychology and occupational therapy, to better understand how people interact with their environments.

"That degree really helped me connect the two worlds," he said. "It showed me how behavior, environment and even genetics intersect, and how we as clinicians can help people make changes that ripple across their lives."

As a leader and educator, Hubbard focuses on empowering others to grow, whether in clinical care, academia or professional development. "It's humbling to keep learning," he said. "Every time you step back into the role of a student, you get better, not just as a clinician but as a person."

Advice for Students Exploring an Occupational Therapy Career Path

For those considering a career in occupational therapy, Hubbard's first piece of advice is simple: see it in action.

"Go observe at a hospital or clinic," he said. "Talk to OTs. Watch what they do. It's such a difficult profession to describe, but when you see it, you understand immediately why it matters."

He also encourages future therapists to recognize that no two treatment plans are alike, which is what makes the profession so dynamic.

"You and I could have the same exact injury, but our treatments would look completely different because our occupations are different," Hubbard said. "That's the beauty of OT. Every case is unique, every story is personal and the work is never boring."