Occupational therapy (OT) is the use of assessment and treatment to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of people with a physical, mental, or cognitive disorder. OTs also focuses much of its work on identifying and eliminating environmental barriers to independence and participation in daily activities. Occupational therapy is a client-centred practice that places emphasis on the progress towards the client’s goals. Occupational therapy interventions focus on adapting the environment, modifying the task, teaching the skill, and educating the client/family in order to increase participation in and performance of daily activities, particularly those that are meaningful to the individual in need.
Occupational Therapy in Children:
Occupational therapists available at Reconnect work with infants, toddlers, children, and youth and their families in a variety of settings including schools, clinics, and homes. The aim is to assist children and their caregivers to build skills that enable them to participate in meaningful occupations. Occupational therapists also address the psychosocial needs of children and youth to enable them to participate in meaningful life events. These occupations may include: normal growth and development, feeding, play, social skills, and education.
Occupational Therapy in General Mental Health:
According to the World Health Organization, mental illness is one of the fastest growing forms of disability. There is a focus on prevention and treatment of mental illness in populations including children, youth, the aging, and those with severe and persistent mental health issues. More specifically, military personnel and veterans are populations that can benefit from occupational therapy but currently, there is a lack of focus on these populations regarding mental health care.
Mental health illnesses that may require occupational therapy include schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders (post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder), obsessive-compulsive and related disorders such as hoarding, and neuro developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and learning disorders.
Occupational therapy practitioners work with children, youth, and their families to promote active participation in activities or occupations that are meaningful to them.
Occupational therapy practitioners provide services by collaborating with the clinical psychologist and psychiatrist to identify and meet needs of children experiencing delays or challenges in development; identifying and modifying or overcoming barriers that interfere with, restrict, or inhibit a child’s functional performance; teaching and modeling skills and strategies to children and their families to extend therapeutic intervention; and adapting activities, materials, and environmental conditions so children can participate under different conditions and in various environments.
Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation:
Occupational therapists address the needs of rehabilitation, disability, and participation. When planning treatment, we address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental needs involved in adult populations across a variety of settings.
Occupational therapy with adult rehabilitation, disability, and participation may take a variety of forms:
Reconnect clinic provides with occupational therapy services for a wide range of childhood disorders. We house occupational therapists at the clinic separate to the clinical psychologist to create a holistic and balanced team of professionals to meet all your treatment needs. Also neuro developmental therapist treats kids with neuro developmental disorders. We also have specialists available specialized as sensory integration therapist to cater to the individual needs of kids with sensory processing disorders.