What is Occupational Therapy?

Discover Occupational Therapy Help people lead their best lives

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic and client-centered healthcare profession that focuses on helping individuals of all ages engage in meaningful activities and daily life tasks. It aims to enhance and restore physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being, enabling people to participate fully in their personal, social, and work roles.

Occupational therapists collaborate with individuals to identify and address barriers that limit their ability to perform activities they find meaningful, promoting independence and overall quality of life. They may provide rehabilitation, adaptive strategies, environmental modifications, and emotional support to promote independence and overall well-being.

How do occupational therapists define OT?

“When people ask me what OT is and what we do, I tell them this:

Picture a wall in front of you, as far to the left, as far to the right, and as far high you can see. In that wall, there is a door and that door is locked. On the other side of that door is what makes your heart happy – Playing with your kids, sewing, taking your dog for a walk, taking care of yourself without any help… It could be anything that makes a bad day not so bad anymore. That’s your occupation.

Some people are born lucky and have their key and can walk through the door their whole life without a problem. Other people aren’t as fortunate. They’ve either lost their key or never had it to begin with, and it’s my job to get them through that door.

If I can’t, we bust a hole and make a new one.”

– Katie Marie

Occupational Therapy Association Facebook Page, 2023

What is an "occupation" in occupational therapy?

In occupational therapy, an “occupation” refers to any meaningful activity or task that individuals engage in as part of their daily lives.

These activities can include:

Self-care tasks (bathing, dressing, and eating)
Work-related tasks (job responsibilities and vocational skills)
Leisure activities (hobbies and recreational pursuits)
Activities related to home management (cooking and cleaning)

The goal of occupational therapy is to enable individuals to participate fully in these meaningful occupations, despite any physical, cognitive, emotional, or environmental challenges they may face.

How does OT differ from PT?

Occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) are two distinct but closely related professions within the realm of healthcare. While they may share some similarities, they have different focuses, approaches, and goals:

Focus:

Occupational Therapy (OT): Focuses on enabling individuals to participate in meaningful daily activities.
Physical Therapy (PT): Focuses on improving physical function, mobility, and quality of movement.

Approach:

OT: Addresses physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental factors impacting daily activities.
PT: Primarily uses therapeutic exercises, manual techniques, and modalities to improve physical function.

Treatment Goals:

OT: Aims to enhance independence and autonomy in daily tasks.
PT: Aims to restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve physical function.

Populations Served:

OT: Works with individuals of all ages and diverse populations, including those with physical, developmental, cognitive, or mental health challenges.
PT: Works with individuals recovering from orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, sports injuries, and other physical impairments.

Occupational Therapy at Glance

Why OT?
Quick Facts
Where OT Thrives
Traits of an Occupational Therapist

Purposeful Impact:

Pursuing a degree in occupational therapy opens the door to a career that is meaningful and rewarding. You can positively impact people’s lives by providing personalized help and support.

Emerging and Innovative Practice:

Occupational therapy practitioners assess and identify clients’ strengths and challenges within their everyday contexts. Because of that, the scope of occupational therapy practice is continuously evolving to meet society’s needs. Some emerging practice settings include community-serving and primary practices, telehealth, entrepreneurship, occupational justice, driver rehabilitation, animal-assisted therapies, and advocacy-based practice.

High Demand:

The occupational therapy field is experiencing a surge in demand, driven by factors such as an aging population and increased mental health awareness. This demand ensures job security and provides a wealth of diverse opportunities to make a significant difference in various healthcare settings.

Lifelong Learning:

Occupational therapy is a dynamic field that actively promotes continuous learning. This commitment enables practitioners to stay at the forefront of their profession by staying updated on the latest research, innovative interventions, and emerging technologies, ensuring they provide the highest quality of care to their clients.

Global Opportunities:

Acquiring skills in occupational therapy not only prepares individuals for impactful careers locally and globally. The profession’s universal relevance opens doors to international work and collaboration, allowing practitioners to contribute their expertise on a global scale.

Holistic Care:

Occupational therapy is dedicated to providing holistic patient care by addressing physical challenges, cognitive needs and emotional aspects, recognizing the interconnectedness of these dimensions for overall well-being.

Diverse Settings & Specialties:

Occupational therapists work in a wide array of settings, including hospitals, schools, and mental health facilities, adapting their expertise to diverse environments. The profession also encompasses various specialties, allowing practitioners to tailor their skills to specific areas of interest or expertise.

Client-Centered:

At the core of occupational therapy is a commitment to individualized care. Interventions are meticulously crafted to address each client’s unique needs, preferences, and goals, ensuring a personalized and effective approach to therapy.

Across Lifespan:

Occupational therapy caters to the needs of diverse age groups. From assisting children in developmental milestones to addressing the challenges faced by older adults, occupational therapists provide support and interventions tailored to each stage of life.

Rehabilitation Centers:

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in rehabilitation centers, where they provide specialized assistance to individuals recovering from injuries, surgeries, or illnesses, helping them regain independence and improve their overall well-being.

Schools:

Within educational settings, occupational therapists support students facing developmental, learning, or behavioral challenges. They collaborate with educators and parents to create tailored interventions that facilitate students’ participation in academic and social activities.

Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities:

In the realm of geriatric care, occupational therapists focus on the unique needs of older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Their interventions aim to enhance the residents’ quality of life by addressing mobility, self-care, and environmental adaptations.

Home Healthcare Agencies:

Occupational therapists extend their services to clients’ homes through home healthcare agencies. This approach allows them to provide personalized interventions that promote independence and improve daily functioning within the familiar environment of the client.

Workplaces & Corporations:

Occupational therapists contribute to the health and well-being of employees in workplaces and corporations. They play a key role in promoting ergonomic practices, addressing work-related issues, and implementing strategies to enhance overall workplace productivity and employee satisfaction.

Research Institutions:

Within the realm of academia and research institutions, occupational therapists contribute to the advancement of the field through research and development. They engage in studies that explore innovative interventions, assess the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches, and contribute valuable insights to the broader healthcare community.

Empathy:

An essential trait for occupational therapists is empathy, the ability to deeply understand and share the feelings of clients. This skill fosters a strong therapeutic connection, allowing practitioners to tailor interventions that resonate with the unique emotional and psychological needs of individuals seeking support.

Problem-Solving Skills:

Occupational therapists possess a remarkable capacity for problem-solving, enabling them to identify challenges hindering individuals’ daily functioning. Whether it’s developing adaptive strategies for a person with a physical disability or creating environmental modifications, occupational therapists leverage their problem-solving skills to enhance overall well-being.

Critical Thinking:

Analytical skills are integral to an occupational therapist’s toolkit, allowing them to assess complex situations and make informed decisions about intervention strategies. This ensures that interventions are evidence-based, client-centered, and effective in addressing the multifaceted challenges clients may face in their daily lives.

Creativity:

Whether designing interactive exercises to improve motor skills in children or creating customized sensory interventions for individuals with sensory processing disorders, creativity plays a central role in delivering impactful therapy.

Passion for Helping Others:

Occupational therapists are driven by a sincere desire to make a positive impact on individuals’ lives, contributing to their overall well-being. This passion fuels their commitment to providing compassionate, client-centered care that goes beyond addressing physical challenges to encompass the broader aspects of a person’s life and happiness.