What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
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Published on: 01/15/2025
Last Updated: 01/15/2025
9 minute read
Occupational therapy (OT) officially got its start only a little over a century ago, but it鈥檚 nonetheless shown to have a transformative impact on healthcare.1 Today, roughly six million occupational therapy sessions are conducted per year鈥攁ll with the aim of helping people gain increased independence.2,3
If you鈥檙e exploring a career in this rewarding field, chances are you have dozens of questions, like what does occupational therapy do, exactly? How does working with a client typically look? And what sort of clients do occupational therapists see on a regular basis?
Keep reading as we review the basics of occupational therapy, from the range of settings they work into the diverse populations they serve.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational therapists (OTs) are highly trained healthcare professionals whose primary goal is to help people of all ages achieve the autonomy they need to perform life鈥檚 daily tasks. These may include basic duties, such as bathing and dressing, and meaningful daily activities, like hobbies and socializing.
As you might imagine, this covers a lot of ground. On any given workday, an occupational therapist may assist a child with a developmental delay, show an injured adult how to be able to perform a preferred activity, and end it all by accompanying a senior to the grocery store.4
To phrase it differently, occupational therapists work with a wide variety of physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges, such as:5
- Chronic illnesses, including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), carpal tunnel syndrome, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, arthritis, diabetes, and Parkinson鈥檚 Disease
- Injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), burns, strokes, bone fractures, and spinal cord injuries
- Neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer鈥檚 and dementia
- Mental health conditions, i.e., depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Cognitive complications, including Down鈥檚 Syndrome and autism
Accordingly, occupational therapists offer their services in an equally wide variety of settings. These include (but certainly aren鈥檛 limited to) nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, community shelters, free clinics, primary care offices, schools, and their clients鈥 homes.
The Process of Occupational Therapy
Given the sheer number of conditions and individuals an occupational therapist may see, the process of working with a patient may differ radically.
That said, in an effort to help clients safely and confidently navigate their every day or return to work, school, or life as they once knew it, an occupational therapist may offer education, guidance, and support in ways such as:
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) 鈥 Occupational therapists frequently work with individuals who have faced a life-changing event鈥攕uch as a stroke or an amputation鈥攁nd need help with regaining their ability to complete tasks ranging from showering to eating with or without assistance.6
- Support with adaptive equipment 鈥 Clients who have endured an injury, surgery, or more may need to adopt adaptive equipment like a wheelchair or crutches. Occupational therapists can help these individuals familiarize themselves with these tools and maximize their benefits.
- Help with technology integration 鈥 Technology can help children, adults, and seniors who are navigating life with a limitation or encountering a 鈥渘ew normal鈥 after an injury or diagnosis. An occupational therapist may show them how to use any number of devices, whether it鈥檚 a robotic rehabilitative product or a fitness tracking app.7
Let鈥檚 examine how occupational therapists arrive at these therapeutic approaches and what usually follows.
Initial Patient Assessment
The beginning of an occupational therapist鈥檚 work with a patient starts with an assessment of their medical history, occupational profile, and an evaluation of their challenges.
There are several assessments an occupational therapist can use in this preliminary stage, such as the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). An OT may also call on their powers of observation in a client鈥檚 home, work, or school and conduct personal interviews.
From there, they鈥檒l take note of what the client wants and needs, and, in some cases, those of their caretaker鈥檚. This may address a patient鈥檚 (and their loved ones鈥) performance patterns, interests, and values. For instance, an occupational therapist may design a treatment plan for an injured basketball player whose primary goal is to get back on the court.
Developing a Treatment Plan
The next step in the process involves consulting with a patient鈥檚 healthcare team to draw up a treatment plan. A patient鈥檚 loved ones鈥攐r those closest to them鈥攎ay also be consulted.
Treatment plans vary wildly according to the individual. However, it might involve:
- Providing clients with exercises that will reduce their aches and pains
- Educating loved ones on how best to deal with an Alzheimer鈥檚 patient鈥檚 difficulty with walking, eating, or toileting
- Helping people manage their medications
- Rearranging a home to promote safety and efficiency, like offering recommendations on implementing handrails or installing visual cues
- Helping children with developmental delays (and other challenges) learn 鈥減rerequisite activities,鈥 such as motor control, body awareness, sensory management, and hand-eye coordination.
Implementing and Adjusting Interventions
After implementing therapeutic interventions according to a patient鈥檚 customized treatment plan, an occupational therapist may continually monitor their client鈥檚 progress and make modifications as needed.
Generally speaking, this entails:
- Analyzing a client鈥檚 occupational performance (such as their ability to move with ease in their wheelchair)
- Revisit targeted outcomes
- Map out the next steps to continue or conclude occupational therapy services
And if all is moving forward as the OT and their patient planned, both may reap the benefits of occupational therapy (a topic we鈥檒l turn to next).
The Impact of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy has become a cornerstone of modern healthcare.
A recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that occupational therapy may reduce hospital readmission rates for three specific health conditions: pneumonia, heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction.8 Other experts indicate that school-based occupational therapy may enrich the entire student body.9
On a more individual level, In addition to helping people accomplish a new or renewed level of autonomy, occupational therapy may enable them to return to the activities they love鈥攐r welcome them into their lives for the first time.10
For example, an occupational therapist may:
- Offer mental health support 鈥 Occupational therapy practitioners might not immediately spring to mind when you think of a person with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. And yet, OT can be a blessing for those with these (and other) mental health conditions. An occupational therapist may provide various forms of support and symptom management, such as:
- Developing smart coping strategies
- Practicing mindfulness
- Establishing healthy boundaries
- Identifying mood-boosting activities
- Increase a child鈥檚 school performance 鈥 It鈥檚 certainly no secret that a child with a physical disability or learning challenges may struggle at school. A school-based occupational therapist may help such children with several daily tasks, like improving their handwriting with the assistance of specialized grips, packing a backpack on their own, and learning healthy skills to manage social anxiety and sensory issues.
- Provide specialized skills for chronic conditions 鈥 A number of chronic conditions can dramatically affect an individual鈥檚 ability to perform everyday tasks that many of us take for granted. A child with cerebral palsy, for example, might wrestle with dressing themselves or experience difficulties with fine motor skills. An occupational therapist may work toward helping them simplify their life, such as recommending Velcro closures for their clothes. Adaptations abound for many with chronic conditions, and an occupational therapist can direct clients and their loved ones, toward them.
- Enable seniors to live in their homes longer 鈥 Approximately 1 in 6 U.S. residents are 65 or older.11 Occupational therapists may help seniors like these remain in their homes for as long as possible through an assortment of interventions.12 Installing a raised toilet seat, teaching them exercises to enrich their strength and dexterity, helping them manage finances, and teaching them new ways of cooking may all make 鈥渁ging in place鈥 a possibility for seniors.
The Range of Occupational Therapy
The examples laid out above are just three from a pool of many. In fact, the discipline of occupational therapy has a handful of specialties ripe for exploration.13 (A quick note: Many require additional certification.) These include:
- Assistive technology professional (ATP)
- Neurodevelopmental treatment
- Autism
- Brain injuries
- Diabetes
- Hand therapy
- Lymphedema
- Psychiatry
- Driving rehabilitation
- Pediatrics
- Gerontology
- Feeding, Eating, and Swallowing
- Low vision
Intrigued by the possibilities? You may want to explore specialty certifications in occupational therapy to see how you can refine your expertise.
Embracing the Role of an Occupational Therapist
Asking 鈥淲hat does an occupational therapist do?鈥 is critical to understanding if the profession is right for you. As we鈥檝e learned, the role encompasses everything from helping people feel comfortable in social situations to implementing safety features in an elderly client鈥檚 home.
Wondering how to get an occupational therapy license? Pursuing your education, completing supervised fieldwork, and passing the national board exam will be among your initial steps.
Occupational therapy offers the opportunity to make a lasting, meaningful difference in a person鈥檚 world and give them the skills and confidence they need to navigate life.
樱花视频 can help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of what a career in occupational therapy involves. And if you decide that it aligns with your educational and professional goals, the Master of Occupational Therapy program provides students with the in-depth knowledge they need to implement an array of therapeutic approaches with their own skill and confidence.
Jumpstart your healthcare career by requesting more information today.
Sources:
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- Aota.org. . Accessed August 24. 2024.
Seladi-Schulman, Jill. 鈥淥ccupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy: How Do They Differ?鈥 - Healthline, March 11, 2020. . Accessed August 24. 2024.
- Verma, Sahil. 鈥淲hat Are Some Examples of Occupational Therapy?鈥 Wooster Community Hospital, October 11, 2023. . Accessed September 16, 2024.
- 鈥淲orking with Specific Conditions.鈥 Working with specific conditions - The OT Practice. Accessed September 16, 2024. . Accessed September 16, 2024.
- Activities of Daily Living (adls). . Accessed September 17, 2024.
- 11 convincing reasons to become an occupational therapist | indeed.com. . Accessed September 17, 2024.
- Health policy researchers find occupational therapy is ... . Accessed September 17, 2024.
- Sarah Lyon, and Name. 鈥淥ccupational Therapy in Schools (GUIDE + Directory) 鈥 OT Potential.鈥 OT Potential 鈥 Occupational Therapy Continuing Education, August 22, 2024. . Accessed September 17, 2024.
- 鈥淥ccupational Therapy Goals & Examples (Adults and Children).鈥 Mentalyc. . Accessed September 17, 2024.
- Caplan, Zoe. 鈥淯.S. Older Population Grew from 2010 to 2020 at Fastest Rate since 1880 to 1890.鈥 Census.gov, May 25, 2023. . Accessed August 24. 2024.
- 鈥淗ow Occupational Therapy Can Support Aging in Place - Always Best Care.鈥 Always Best Care Senior Services, April 14, 2023. . Accessed September 17, 2024.
- Sarah Lyon, Jeanette Runningssays:, Sarah Lyon, Viviana Morenosays:, Meghann Ehlingsays:, Karen Speicher, Karensays:, et al. 鈥30+ OT Certifications and Specialties 鈥 OT Potential.鈥 OT Potential 鈥 Occupational Therapy
- Continuing Education, February 8, 2024. . Accessed September 17, 2024.
