April is Occupational Therapy Month. Since 1980, we’ve used this month as a chance to celebrate occupational therapy service providers and the work they do to help people overcome challenges and participate in daily life.
At Spurwink, our occupational therapy providers help people manage behavioral health challenges by providing holistic, person-centered therapeutic support for body and emotional regulation. Learn more about the services we provide for adults, children, and families.
If you’re curious about what occupational therapy is, how occupational therapy helps people, who can benefit from occupational therapy, or how to become an occupational therapist, read on to find out more.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of treatment which uses everyday occupations, or activities, to enhance a person’s ability to participate in the activities they find the most meaningful. By working with an occupational therapy provider, clients—ranging from infants and young children to adults of all ages—learn and develop fine motor, gross motor, visual perceptual, and social participation skills.
Everyone’s life looks a little bit different—and occupational therapy service providers understand this well. The treatment they provide is catered to the individual client, helping them meet their unique needs and achieve their personal goals. For young children, this might look like going to school, participating in extracurricular activities, and playing with others. For adults, it might be working, volunteering, shopping, driving, or using a computer.
Often, occupational therapy providers help clients learn to do things many of us take for granted—like bathing, getting dressed, eating, or taking medication.
One of the things occupational therapy can help with is sensory modulation. Throughout the day, our bodies need to take in sensory information from our surroundings and react in a way that allows us to successfully complete tasks or participate in activities. Some people have more difficulty processing information from their senses than others; they can often benefit from occupational therapy.
Who benefits from occupational therapy?
People of all ages and from all walks of life can benefit from occupational therapy. Because OT treatment is individualized, it can help:
- People who’ve been injured
- People who have chronic conditions, like spina bifida, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or Parkinson’s disease
- People with disabilities or developmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Down syndrome
- People who’ve recently had surgery, like amputations, joint replacements, or spine, head, or abdominal surgery
- People with mental and behavioral health challenges
At Spurwink, our occupational therapy providers work with anyone who has difficulty being in busy environments, faces challenges staying on task because of sensory distractions, or needs strategies to help them cope with the challenges of everyday life.
What do occupational therapy services look like at Spurwink?
Occupational therapy starts with an evaluation of your history, life experiences, and interests. An OT will use this to create your occupational profile. It outlines what values and activities are most important to you and what goals you’d like to achieve.
Next, the OT will create an intervention plan, designed specifically for you, to help you improve your ability to perform daily tasks and reach your goals. Later, the OT will perform an outcomes evaluation to make sure your goals are being met.
Sometimes, occupational therapy involves using adaptive or assistive equipment—such as shower chairs, prosthetic limbs, or wheelchairs. In some cases, it involves caregiver or family training. It could also involve adjustments in your home for safety, fall prevention, and accessibility.
During occupational therapy, you will work with the OT to plan and make the most of your daily routines. You might learn and practice self-regulation strategies, or techniques to aid in memory, concentration, and executive functioning.
At Spurwink, occupational therapy providers often provide spaces within classrooms and break rooms designed with sensory needs in mind. In these spaces, clients can learn and practice self-regulation skills with supportive guidance.
Occupational therapy vs. physical therapy
Both occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) are types of treatment that help people move their bodies better and more safely, but they have different goals. OT is about helping people improve their ability to perform daily tasks and activities. PT is more focused on improving the patient’s strength, movement, and physical function, often with a primary goal of independence.
Becoming an occupational therapy provider
Interested in working in occupational therapy? If you’re passionate about helping people, occupational therapy could be a good career choice. There are a variety of occupational therapy jobs that work in different places, including:
- Client’s homes
- Community centers
- Shelters
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Outpatient clinics
- Primary care offices
- Schools
- Health information technology companies
To become an occupational therapist, you can attend occupational therapy school, which typically takes 2-3 years to complete. You can earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) or an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) after earning a bachelor’s degree.
In Maine, becoming a licensed occupational therapist involves graduating from an accredited program, passing the NBCOT exam, and applying for your license through the Maine Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.
Another option is to become an occupational therapy assistant (COTA), which you can typically do with a bachelor’s or associate degree. Occupational therapy assistants work alongside OTs to help clients in their journey to achieving their goals.
If you’re interested in becoming an occupational therapy provider with Spurwink, check out our careers page.
To learn more about OT, check out the resources provided by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
