What Exactly IS Occupational Therapy?

Hi there-

In my 20 years of being an Occupational Therapist, I still frequently get the question “What is occupational therapy?”

Although I’d hope by now, it’d be more common, occupational therapy is often lumped in with physical therapy or sometimes just therapy.

I’m here today to give you a brief overview of what occupational therapy is, and what occupational therapists do.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA),

“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.”

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Explained

I think they sum it up pretty well.

I am a pediatric occupational therapist, so the focus of this blog will be on pediatric occupational therapy.

If you’re asking yourself what are the “daily occupations of children?”, here are just a few.

• Going to school. A child’s “job” from 3-21 years is school. Occupational therapists work in schools (public, private and virtual) to support a child’s learning. This can include handwriting, class participation, and following classroom routines.

• Playing. Yep, a child’s “job” is to play. Playing with friends and family provides so many important developmental skills for any child’s life.

• Activities of daily living. Just as it sounds activities of daily living- or ADL’s for short, involve things like eating/feeding, getting dressed, and doing chores. For older children ADL’s can be things like homework, driving, running errands, and getting a job.

• Social interactions. Playing with friends and family along with negotiating social situations and being part of the family are pieces of a child’s ADL’s. (This includes mental and behavioral health).

• Developing. Even babies ages 0-3 are seen by occupational therapists, it’s called early intervention. With this age group, OT’s work on feeding, developing play skills, and exploring their world.

• Self regulation and Sensory Processing. Occupational therapists work with kids on the important developmental skill of regulating themselves in order to participate in everyday activities. Sensory processing-which is how a person filers sensory information- is included in this.

Who Do Occupational Therapists Work With?

Occupational therapists work with a wide range of children, teens and adults.

I like to say OT’s work with everyone!

There is usually one or more of the areas listed above that a child is struggling with, at home or school, and that’s when the OT gets called in.

There can be overlap between occupational therapy and other professions such as physical therapy and speech and language.

Although some like these professions to be separate, I find great benefits to working together instead of separately.

We may be working on the same issue but addressing it from a different lens which is frequently beneficial.

I love being an occupational therapist and helping children grow and develop.

I love the holistic approach occupational therapists use to treat the whole child.

It is such a rewarding field that I am happy to be a part of!

Until next time,