Occupational
TherapyOur lives are
comprised of hundreds of activities that occupy our waking hours.
These "occupations" have a profound impact on how we feel physically,
emotionally, and even spiritually. They can provide a sense of
satisfaction and well-being, or they can create stress, imbalance, and
dissatisfaction. The study of the nature, function, and meaning of
human activities is the main focus of Occupational Science. The
application of activities to promote health and well-being is the
primary pursuit of Occupational Therapy.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is a health care profession aimed at improving
performance, preventing illness and disability, and promoting
adaptation to life changes. In this interdisciplinary field,
occupational therapists help people, including those with
disabilities, live healthier, happier, and more productive lives.
What Do Occupational Therapists
Do?
Occupational therapists assess, utilize, and adapt everyday activities
to improve function, enhance performance, promote health, prevent
illness, and increase independence in those persons to whom they
provide services. They work collaboratively with their clients to
identify areas of need and to develop creative solutions to address
these areas while respecting clients' background and culture and
valuing their quality of life.
Who do Occupational Therapists help?
- Help senior citizens
re-engage in activities they love but now refrain from doing because
of physical limitations or fear of injury.
- Coach corporate executives on
the use of work and leisure to reduce stress and maximize health or
help them create office spaces based on ergonomic principles.
- Work in private practice with
children with developmental delays to help them experience the joy
of success in play, self-care, and social occupations.
- Create community programs and
cultural interventions for immigrants, school children, or people
with emotional or mental disabilities.
- Teach adults with spinal cord
injuries how to use assistive technology that will enable them to
live productive and meaningful lives.
- Assist teachers in
redesigning classroom environments so children with attention
deficit disorders are less easily distracted.
- Develop multifaceted weight
loss programs that emphasize the interplay of healthy eating,
meaningful activity, stress reduction, and physical exercise.
- Provide programs in prisons
and for at-risk youth and young adults that address community
building and skill acquisition as alternatives to gang membership.
- Help an adult suffering from
depression to reclaim his life by recommending a series of graduated
activities through which he can experience success.
- Devise a substitute method
for holding a fork to enable a person who has lost grip strength to
feed himself independently.
