"So what is occupational therapy?"
By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L
The lifelong question that I still get…
“So, what is occupational therapy?”. I’d like to take the time to answer that now in this next blog post. My answer goes something like this…
Occupational therapy looks at everything you do from when you wake up and when you go to sleep (and including sleep!). These activities you do as an individual are defined as your ADLs, or activities of daily living which make up our occupations. For example, one of my occupations is being a mother. In this occupation, I am lifting, squatting, bending down to change diapers, etc. I would seek occupational therapy services if I found myself being limited (in any capacity) by completing these tasks.
Environment plays such an important role in occupational therapy because it is our lens of focus for certain occupations. For example, a student may receive occupational therapy services for something that may be limiting them in the school environment. In this environment, OTs assist students with accessing and participating in their educational environment. That may look like participating in a craft that involves cutting or imitating the classroom staff during a movement circle time activity. I think one of the wonderful things about occupational therapy is the diversity in the profession. There is not one way to reach a goal, nor is there a specific type of “individual” or “eligibility” for OT.
At SUNRISE therapies we work alongside any individual who wants to develop meaningful goals and skills in order to live a fulfilling life. I couldn’t be happier to be an occupational therapist for SUNRISE therapies and continue to guide clients to rise and shine as their best selves!
