Occupational therapists help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
An occupational therapist will look at the activity you are finding difficult and see if there is another way it can be completed. For example, if you cannot get up out of a chair without assistance, an occupational therapist will go through each stage of the movement with you until you can confidently get up on your own.
For children, an occupational therapist may develop a game or activity that your child can complete daily. This could be aimed at improving a child’s:
- hand strength
- concentration
- social skills
Focusing on a small goal, such as improved hand strength, may eventually help with larger problems, such as a child’s ability to dress himself or herself.