If you assumed that occupational therapy (OT) was strictly for children with pediatric needs or adults seeking physical rehabilitation, you’re not alone! Many people are surprised to learn that occupational therapists work in mental health practices as well.
In today’s blog post, let’s dive deeper into the intersection of occupational therapy and mental health, including common strategies used during OT sessions.
Believe it or not, occupational therapy was first used in mental health settings. Healthcare professionals thought that encouraging people in meaningful and productive activities would ultimately improve their well-being – and they were right! Specifically, staying engaged and present in everyday life helps people manage and recover from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Although mental health struggles are unique to each patient and effective treatment often requires a varied approach, OT plays a key role in long-term health and recovery.
Supporting this idea, a study from 2020 looked at veterans with mental health problems who participated in a workshop to improve their personal resilience and engagement with everyday activities. Results show that the participants set goals and made lifestyle changes that positively impacted their recovery journeys.1
Presently, there is a growing understanding of how mental wellness impacts a person’s ability to complete even the most basic tasks — activities like brushing their teeth or feeding themselves properly. By helping individuals function more effectively in their daily environments, OT plays a critical role in mental health care. Not only does it contribute to treatment and healing, but it enables people to cope with in-the-moment struggles in a healthy way.2
The goal of occupational therapy is to assist clients in becoming as independent as possible.
To begin OT sessions, a therapist will first assess the patients to determine their needs and personal goals. Typical areas of assessment include:
- Activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, dressing, and eating
- Instrumental activities of daily living, like driving and grocery shopping
- Work (paid and volunteer)
- Education
- Play and leisure
- Social activities, including communication and interaction skills
- Habits and routines
- Motor processing skills
- Mental and cognitive processing skills
As you can see, this list is quite robust! In order to offer the best treatment plan for each individual, occupational therapists collaborate with other healthcare professionals on the path to recovery. Plus, in addition to training related to physical well-being, occupational therapists are also trained in:
- Cognitive assessments
- Therapeutic alliances
- Psychoeducational group process, including life skills, job readiness, money management, nutrition, wellness recovery action plans (WRAP), and more
- Sensory strategies
- Emotional regulation skills work
- Social skills work
At the Center for Rising Minds, we believe that occupational therapy plays an important part in holistic care.
Our occupational therapists, then, work closely with our psychotherapists and speech therapists. OT sessions focus on helping our patients develop and fortify the skills needed for daily functioning. Together, we work to improve independence, strengthen coping skills when faced with psychological distress, practice social skills, and more. To learn more about how occupational therapy supports mental health and general well-being, contact our team today.
At the Center for Rising Minds, we’d love to help you and your family with your mental health care needs! Please reach out to us today to inquire about our services or join our waitlist.
References
- Vaughan-Horrocks H, Reagon C, Seymour A (2020).The experiences of veterans with mental health problems participating in an occupational therapy and resilience workshop intervention: an exploratory study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy.
- Bolt M, Ikking T, Baaijen R, Saenger S (2019). Occupational therapy and primary care. Prim Health Care Res Dev.; 20:e27. doi:10.1017/S1463423618000452
