Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that focuses on helping individuals of all ages develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. Unlike physical therapy, which primarily targets movement and function, OT addresses a person’s ability to engage in meaningful activities, or “occupations.” This can include self-care (e.g., dressing, eating), work tasks, education, and leisure activities.

OT practitioners assess and treat patients with a wide range of physical, mental, and developmental conditions. They create personalized intervention plans, which may include adapting the environment, teaching new skills, or modifying tasks to make them more manageable. The goal is to enhance independence, productivity, and quality of life.

For example, an occupational therapist might work with a stroke survivor to regain motor skills needed to cook or write, or help a child with autism improve social and sensory processing skills. The therapy is holistic, considering the individual’s physical, emotional, and social needs.

OT is vital in rehabilitation and in helping individuals navigate changes in their abilities, ensuring they can live as fully and independently as possible, whether through simple adaptive tools or comprehensive skill-building activities.