Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy uses activity as well as talking to support healing, personal growth, and life satisfaction. An OT can help children who struggle to do everyday tasks as well as those with various social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties including those on the spectrum and with sensory processing issues. For kids, this includes tasks that are part of learning and functioning well at school. OT works on the skills kids need to do the things they struggle with. These skills may include working with children to increase their mental health by supporting them in developing emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and increasing communication and relational skills with caregivers, other adults, and peers. Occupational therapists use a variety of treatment modalities to support the development of optimal functioning and mental health well being of clients.

For adults, treatment services focus on providing excellent outcomes in the areas of maintaining or improving mental health and overall health, promoting independence, and reducing the risk of health deterioration.

For understanding more about the connection between

Occupational Therapy and mental heath please see this link:

Mental Health - Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists (otontario.ca)

Occupational therapists utilise a client-centered approach to assess and understand what may be impacting your mental health and wellbeing. They focuses on play with children as this is the universal language for children to express their inner world, thoughts and feelings. They aims to support connection between a child's experiences and their narratives as well as connecting with those around them.

Their approach in therapy comprises of 4 main concepts:

Playfulness - Being playful to engage and build a meaningful relationship with your child
Acceptance - Accepting of your child's emotional states
Curiosity - Being curious about their play and behaviours
Empathy - Providing empathy with their stories, experiences, and emotions

Books

1. Please Stay Here – I Want You Near by Sarah Mundy, Rachel Millson-Hill

2. Parenting Through Stories: Parenting Handbook by Sarah Mundy, Rachel Millson-Hill

3. Riley the Brave by Jess Sinarski, Zachary Kline

4. Raising a Secure Child - How Circle of Security Parenting Can Help You Nurture Your Child's Attachment, Emotional Resilience, and Freedom to Explore by Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell
With Christine M. Benton Foreword by Daniel J. Siegel