What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that promotes health by engaging individuals in meaningful and purposeful activity.

An occupational therapist uses assessment & treatment to develop or maintain daily living skills of their client with a physical, mental, developmental or neurological condition.

The occupational therapist uses client centered goals to develop an holistic approach to assessment & intervention, with the approach of treatment ranging from adapting the environment, modifying the task, teaching new skills, rehabilitating or educating, in order to increase functional participation and ultimately independence.

Occupational therapists apply activity analysis to objective assessment, determining the cause of the functional deficit. Depending on the nature of the referral an occupational therapist will consider:

• physical skills: strength, coordination, balance, exercise tolerance.
• psychological skills: coping strategies, motivation, anxiety.
• cognitive skills: memory, sequencing, ability to risk assess.
• psycho-social skills: support networks, family.
• environmental factors: home, work, community.