Occupational Therapy

What is it image

What is it?

Information
  • Enhances daily living skills and independence.
  • Supports recovery from injury or illness.
  • Tailored interventions for physical and cognitive challenges.
  • Promotes well-being through personalised therapeutic activities.

Here's more detail

Published: 04/09/24

Description

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession focused on helping individuals achieve independence and improve their quality of life through the therapeutic use of daily activities. It addresses physical, cognitive, emotional, and social challenges by assessing each person’s unique needs and developing customised treatment plans. Whether recovering from injury, managing a chronic condition, or dealing with developmental disorders, occupational therapists work to enhance skills essential for daily living, such as dressing, cooking, and working. Their goal is to enable individuals to participate fully in the activities they find meaningful and necessary.

Occupational therapists employ a holistic approach, considering not just the physical aspects of a person’s condition, but also the emotional and environmental factors that may impact their ability to function. They often collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care, using techniques like adaptive equipment training, environmental modifications, and therapeutic exercises.

OT image

quote

Occupational therapy is about finding what is meaningful to a person and putting that at the centre of your practice. At the end of the day, you’re improving someone’s quality of life which is the most rewarding thing you can do. 

- Rachel Rule, Occupational Therapist

ot pic

gap

stat

laptop icon
In a 2022 survey conducted by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists

62%

of OTs said families they work with have reported that digital approaches have made it easier for them to access occupational therapy

accordions

  • What does an occupational therapist do?

    An occupational therapist helps people who have difficulties carrying out day-to-day activities because of a disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long-term conditions.

    They help all kinds of people overcome all kinds of challenges, so they can live as fully and independently as possible. This might involve learning new ways to do things, or making changes to their environment to make things easier.

    This includes supporting:

    • someone adapt to life after major surgery.
    • people with mental illnesses or learning disabilities with everyday activities such as work or volunteering.
    • elderly people stay in their own homes by providing adaptations such as level access showers or stair lifts.

    They find solutions to everyday problems, such as:

    • advising on how to approach a task differently.
    • using equipment or assistive technology.
    • adapting the living or working environment.
    • finding strategies to meet your patient’s goals.

    As well as working with individual patients and their families, they also work with groups, or as part of a multidisciplinary team in hospitals, clinics, charities, prisons and social services departments.

  • What can an occupational therapist help with?

    Occupational therapists can help with a wide range of challenges, including:

    • Recovering from injuries: Regaining the ability to perform daily tasks after accidents or surgeries.
    • Managing chronic conditions: Improving function and quality of life for conditions like arthritis, stroke, or multiple sclerosis.
    • Developmental disorders: Supporting children with autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities in developing essential life skills.
    • Mental health: Assisting with coping strategies and daily routines for individuals with mental health issues.
    • Aging-related issues: Enhancing independence and safety for older adults dealing with age-related challenges, such as dementia or mobility issues.

  • What training does an occupational therapist have?

    Occupational therapists are required to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy, which typically takes 3-4 years and is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The program includes substantial hands-on experience through supervised clinical placements in various healthcare settings. After graduating, they must register with the HCPC to practice legally. To maintain their registration and stay updated with best practices, occupational therapists engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) throughout their careers.

Professional therapy

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

are professional body that represents the UK’s occupational therapy professionals
rcot
The OT team helped me gain my confidence back massively, they’ve also been a huge impact in supporting me to understand who I really am and how much greater life would be without illness.
Anonymous

You may also like...

favicon

Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is when someone uses their relationship with food to manage difficult thoughts and emotions.
Information
ld image

Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are neurological conditions that affect how people process information, making it difficult to learn and communicate. They can impact skills like reading, writing, and maths but do not reflect a person's overall intelligence.
Information
social work image

Social work

Social workers aim to improve people’s lives by helping with social and interpersonal difficulties, promoting human rights and wellbeing.
Information
NCL Waiting Room favicon

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, which can affect daily life and relationships.
Information
NCL Waiting Room favicon

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how someone thinks, feels, and behaves. It can lead to hallucinations, delusions, and confused thinking, making it difficult to manage daily life and relationships.
Information
ACT image small

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT therapy) is a type of mindful psychotherapy that helps you stay focused on the present moment and accept thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Information
slt

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and language therapists provide treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing.
Information
NCL Waiting Room favicon

Infancy

Understand infancy development, find essential resources and get guidance for parents and professionals.
Information
Learning difficulties image

Learning Difficulties

Learning difficulties are challenges that affect a person's ability to understand or use spoken or written language, perform mathematical calculations, or coordinate movements. These difficulties can impact learning in school and everyday activities, but they do not reflect a person's intelligence.
Information
MBCT image

Counselling

Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues.
Information
NCL Waiting Room favicon

Adulthood

Understand physical and emotional adulthood development, find essential resources and get guidance for parents and professionals.
Information
psychiatry photo

Psychiatry

Psychiatry is a medical field concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental health conditions. A doctor who works in psychiatry is called a psychiatrist.
Information
DBT

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a type of talking therapy based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It's specially adapted for people who feel emotions very intensely.
Information