Occupational Therapy - Helping people do the ordinary

Occupational therapy helps to enable people from a variety of populations to perform their day to day activities that are meaningful and important to them.  "Occupational therapy practitioners apply theory, evidence, knowledge, and skills regarding the therapeutic use of occupations to positively affect the client's health, well-being, and life satisfaction (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2008). Occupations can be described as everything a person does to occupy themselves.  Occupations are goal-driven, unique to each individual, and constantly changing.  Occupational therapy services are often provided to those with an illness, injury, or disability to help them achieve independence in their occupations.  In lay terms, it is helping people do the ordinary things.  When they accomplish what is ordinary it becomes extraordinary.  Occupational practitioners help their clients reach their goals through evaluation and intervention.  Evaluation comprises of getting to know the client, finding out what is meaningful and important occupations to them, and  understanding the client's cultural, socioeconomic, and societal influences.  Often assessments of client are performed to address their physical limitations, cognitive skills, and emotional condition. Their ability to perform in their occupations in analyzed and the practitioner develops an intervention.  Generally, interventions are goal-directed, client-centered, and activity-based for a successful outcome.

 Remember:
As the profession continues to evolve, the understanding of occupational therapy will likely continue to evolve as well.