Rowan Rey Sutherland 
Toddler girl in child occupational therapy session doing sensory playful exercises with her therapist.
Occupational therapists are health care specialists who work with patients to assist them in accomplishing independence in everyday activities, such as cooking and eating, cleaning and bathing, or working. Occupational therapists aid individuals with physical, functional, or cognitive difficulties affecting their engagement in previously enjoyed activities of daily living.
But what actually is occupational therapy? How does it work? Find out below!
Occupational Therapy Explained
Occupational therapy is a type of treatment that helps people with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities to do the things they want and need to do in their everyday lives. People who are receiving occupational therapy may have trouble with things like bathing, dressing, cooking, or working. Occupational therapists help these people by adapting activities or teaching new skills so that they can do these things on their own.
In addition to helping people with disabilities, occupational therapists also work with people who are recovering from injuries or illnesses. They can help people regain strength and mobility after an accident or surgery, for example.
How Does Occupational Therapy Work?
There are many different ways that occupational therapy can work. One common way is through what is called “occupational therapy treatment.” This type of treatment involves meeting with an occupational therapist regularly to work on specific goals. The therapist will help you do activities that you want to be able to do, like bathing or cooking, and will give you exercises to do at home.
Another way that occupational therapy can work is by providing “occupational therapy services.” This means that the therapist will come to your home or school to help you with things like getting dressed or doing your homework.
Finally, occupational therapists also teach classes on different topics related to health and wellness. These classes can be for people who are well, people who are sick, or people who have disabilities.
No matter how it works, one thing is always true about occupational therapy—it helps people get better at doing the things they want and need to do!
Occupational Therapy Treatment
Occupational therapy treatment allows you to meet regularly with a therapist who will help you work on different skills that could improve your health or quality of life. During these sessions, therapists may help patients complete everyday activities, give them exercises to do at home, suggest adaptive equipment for tasks that are hard to complete independently, or teach new skills.
You can choose which activities or goals you would like to work on in every session so your preferences are always taken into account when it comes time for occupational therapy treatment. Occupational therapy can be used in clinics, hospitals, therapy centers, school settings, or even in your own home.
What is Occupational Therapy for?
Occupational therapy services are provided by therapists to improve a patient’s ability to complete activities of daily living, which means the things we do every day like bathing and dressing. Therapists can help patients with activities that they want to be able to do independently so they don’t need assistance from family members or caretakers.
This type of therapy is often used for individuals who have experienced an injury, who are recovering from surgery, or who may be experiencing difficulty due to arthritis, stroke, cancer diagnoses, chronic pain conditions, mental health illnesses (like depression), learning disabilities (like dyslexia), developmental delays (like autism), or other forms of physical illness or disability.
Occupational therapy services can be provided one-on-one or in a group setting, and therapists may work with individual patients or with groups of people to provide these services.
Similarly, occupational therapists may choose to hold classes on certain topics related to wellness at facilities like hospitals, schools, care centers, libraries, churches, etc. Some examples include teaching healthy cooking skills for cancer survivors; safety programs for children; mindfulness exercises after injuries or surgeries; computer skills for older adults or individuals with learning disabilities; etc.
Do You Need Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy treatment is used by many different types of people for many different reasons. It can help improve the quality of life for those who are sick, injured, disabled, recovering from surgery, or have difficulty completing everyday activities.
If you are experiencing difficulty in any of the following areas, you may want to consider meeting with an occupational therapist: bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking, cleaning, managing money, using the computer or phone, participating in social activities, or completing your work or school assignments.
No matter what your age, occupation, or health condition is, there is a good chance that occupational therapy can help you achieve your goals!
Try Occupational Therapy Locally
Vicki Hofmann and her team practice occupational therapy with a patient-centric philosophy aimed at reducing the barriers to success. They care about their clients and genuinely strive to help them achieve health, happiness, and fulfilment, and want to see every client attain a happy and independent life.
You can count on Vicki Hofmann Occupational Therapy to provide considerate, results-driven occupational therapy services that are delivered with care and passion. Contact the practice today for more information
