What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy plays a vital role in treating many different health conditions. Practitioners of occupational therapy must have earned university-level degrees and pass a licensing exam; these professionals often collaborate closely with physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and nursing professionals.

At an occupational therapy (OT) session, your therapist will listen to and assess your concerns as well as review your medical history and daily activities.

Occupational Therapists work with people of all ages

KidSense Child Development occupational therapy Adelaide (OTs) work with people of all ages in a range of settings. This may include hospitals, schools, private clinics, aged care facilities or individuals’ homes. Their primary goal is to assist their clients in performing everyday tasks while increasing overall quality of life; to this end OTs may recommend special equipment, suggest ways to modify activities, help adapt movements and develop motor skills as well as eye-hand coordination.

An occupational therapist (OT) might work with children to enhance their abilities to play, use computers and participate in social activities. An OT may also teach children how to manage self-care and develop independent living skills as well as help them cope with emotional or social issues such as bullying or behavioural problems.

Adulthood provides opportunities for occupational therapists (OTs) to assist an individual with returning or beginning paid employment or volunteering roles, as well as taking part in leisure activities that improve quality of life and reduce feelings of isolation due to health conditions.

Physical therapists cannot always achieve functional independence for their clients through changes to environment or daily routine. An occupational therapist (OT) may set goals that focus on healing injuries or health conditions of an individual and can assist them in mastering new pieces of assistive equipment such as prosthetic limbs or wheelchairs.

They work in a variety of settings

Occupational Therapists (OT) work in various settings, from private practice and schools, colleges, and research centres, to clients’ homes and communities. OTs are creative yet patient teachers who help motivate their clients towards goals that may seem unachievable initially; helping people regain control over their lives and regaining their independence is at the core of what they do.

After conducting an evaluation, KidSense Child Development occupational therapy Adelaide therapists will identify specific goals for their clients and create treatment techniques tailored specifically to each of their needs. Plans could involve developing skills like memory recall, attention, executive function, social participation, and physical/emotional regulation as well as making changes to home or workplace environments.

These strategies may also assist clients in their return to their chosen occupations, from rebuilding a regular morning route back to work to relearn how to cook, use public transport, manage finances and engage with communities.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) are dedicated to combatting occupational deprivation and exclusion in individuals’ chosen occupations, advocating for accessible housing and transportation; reducing barriers to meaningful occupations through access and environmental modifications; as well as providing information about managing mental health and wellbeing issues for each person they see. Furthermore, OTs assist individuals in building vocational skills for everyday tasks resulting in greater self-efficacy and confidence levels for daily tasks.

They work with people with a wide range of conditions

Occupational therapists help people of all ages develop and sustain healthy routines and habits. Their holistic approach considers psychological, physical, and emotional needs of clients before crafting interventions to match perceptions of procedural and social justice.

Occupational therapy is often associated with helping people return to meaningful activities like work and other meaningful pursuits, but it goes much beyond this. It entails helping people participate in daily life activities important to quality of life such as cooking and cleaning – or regain the confidence to go out alone or meet up with friends again.

KidSense Child Development occupational therapy Adelaide can be found in hospitals, long-term care facilities and schools; they can also work directly with clients at home, in their community and school environments. They may recommend changes such as labelling kitchen cabinets or adding handrails in bathrooms for easier accessibility or teaching a person how to bathe and dress independently with adaptive equipment such as splints or wheelchairs. They provide support for individuals living with mental health disorders, physical disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder – even supporting those recovering from trauma injuries.

They work with people who are injured or ill

Occupational therapy aims to treat both physical injuries and the emotional aspects of living. This approach is especially valuable for people living with chronic illness who experience changes to how they think and feel, such as learning new skills or altering daily routines. OT can help restore confidence and independence with skills training sessions or changes to daily schedules.

Occupational therapy practitioners face several potential hazards while performing their duties. Therapists can be injured when performing patient transfers using force, awkward posture, or repetitive movement; transferring can cause musculoskeletal disorders and pain if performed incorrectly – particularly challenging for practitioners working in skilled nursing facilities with complex patients who can react unpredictable.

Though these risks exist, occupational therapists (OTs) can mitigate them by following guidelines and conducting training sessions on safety practices. Such training sessions could include manual handling techniques, ergonomic assessment and treatment strategies and self-care strategies as well as providing education about exercising regularly and following a healthy diet.

KidSense Child Development occupational therapy Adelaide work to restore clients’ passions and accomplish their goals, which may have become lost over time. They serve clients of all ages from various backgrounds. Community settings offer great opportunities for occupational therapists; their work may even offer relief for individuals experiencing disabilities that would otherwise restrict them in their daily routines.