are all occupational therapists highly frustrating?

Well that sucks. I would suggest changing therapists if that is an option, like any profession there are good and bad.

Failing that you might just have to put your foot down, so to speak.

meesaclaire, I’m with you on this one. I had terrible experiences with both my occupational therapist and my physical therapist during my 2 1/2 months in the hospital. I managed to replace the occupational therapist and got a much nicer Asian lady. However, the one I got rid of must have had some ‘special relationship’ with the psychiatrist (why did I even agree to talk to him!) who then told me off for firing the occupational therapist. So, then, I had to fire the psychiatrist, who proceeded (apparently) to put derrogatory remarks on my chart. Next, my surgeon confronted me in the hallway to tell me off for firing people.

Yes, the therapists ignored my needs completely. Since I was new to SCI, I was defenseless,...completely dependent on the information they gave me. They didn’t get a Roho cushion for me. This resulted in two years of pressure sores while in nursing homes and after getting home to my house, until I could order one. Also, I could have gone straight home if the therapists would have done their job right, allowing me to use my own ingenuity for getting in and out of bed. Therapist!! Such a disappointment.

Meesaclaire-
Try to internalize the fact that you are a customer, not a supplicant. If your insurance or availability demand you can only work with these people then you will have to refuse to accept or sign off on anything you feel is unsuitable. Calmly and with confidence tell them what you know you need. If you are not sure you are at least sure about what is not suitable. If they are not cooperative at that point you must ask to speak to the supervisor. Sometimes one must appeal or complain to many higher ups, or even go to the newspapers, to make people do their jobs well.

I'm not suggesting being a pain over every little thing. We have to speak respectfully, but also trust ourselves and and remember we are the customers. In many situations therapists see the insurance companies as their customers, which makes getting appropriate service difficult. I did rehab in Taiwan where the OT department was under the thumb of a no-nothing doctor. My OT was actually excellent and he worked out a way to demonstrate that I could push a manual chair. He had to do it behind the back of the doctor but once it was done the doc had no choice but to allow me to get a manual chair instead of the fancy power chair he's insisted I needed. I'm sure the power chair maker had promised him a cut.

Every situation is different. Do as much research as you can so you can know your options. And trust yourself. Did I say that? Trust yourself.