Occupational therapy is a holistic approach to health care treatment that promotes an individual’s wellbeing and quality of life through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Occupational therapists empower people of all ages and abilities to participate in the activities that they need and want to do, despite any injury, illness, or disability they are experiencing.

Occupational therapy services typically include:

• an evaluation of the client’s skills, needs, and barriers, during which the client/family and occupational therapist work together to determine the client’s goals
• client-centered and occupation-based intervention to improve the client’s ability to perform daily activities and reach his/her goals
• an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and changes are made to the intervention plan as needed

Who might benefit from occupational therapy?

• A child with autism who needs help getting ready in the morning and has difficulty with coping with changes in the routine might see an OT to improve fine motor and gross motor skills, self-regulation, sensory processing, and communication skills.
• A teenager with ADHD who has trouble focusing in school, completing tasks, and making friends might see an OT to improve attention, memory, impulse control, planning, time management, and social skills.
• An adult with anxiety and depression might see an OT to gain coping skills, develop healthier habits, and learn how to manage symptoms in order to participate fully in work, leisure, and social activities.
• An older adult who had a stroke that has weakened one side of his body might see an OT to improve strength, endurance, range of motion, and learn how to use adaptive equipment to get dressed, cook, clean, and take care of his dog.
• These are just a few examples, see below for the wide range of needs that OT can address!