Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic profession that takes a whole-person approach to health care. As such, OT considers all aspects of a person’s health, not simply a diagnosis or condition.
Mental, emotional and psychological health impacts every aspect of a person’s overall health and well-being and are essential considerations in occupational therapy.
What is Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a health care profession that uses meaningful activities (occupations) as an intervention to help people improve their ability to participate in daily tasks that they need, want, or are expected to do.
Occupational therapists work with individuals, groups, and communities to support participation in the everyday activities that give life meaning and value.
There is a specialty in occupational therapy that focuses on psychiatric occupational therapy, which emphasizes strategies for managing daily life during a mental health crisis. However, as a holistic profession, occupational therapy evaluates and addresses mental and emotional health in every aspect of occupational therapy care.
Occupational Therapy in Mental Health
Occupational therapy can help people and communities manage mental health needs by supporting the development of healthy daily routines, effective management of stress, and promoting well-being. Occupational therapists provide mental health support in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and community-based settings.
There’s something unique about occupational therapy and mental health services, however. Occupational therapy is a holistic profession, meaning that OT focuses on whole-person care.
In any setting, occupational therapy practitioners see much more than the diagnosis, condition, or situation. Occupational therapy seeks to understand the person and how the problem is impacting that individual in all aspects of life to support successful daily living.
Occupational therapy addresses multiple aspects of a person’s mental and emotional health and well-being:
- Daily routines
- Medication management
- Self-care
- Time management
- Money management
- Work and professional skills
- Emotional regulation
As part of a whole-person approach, OT directly or indirectly addresses mental health during every evaluation, treatment session, and interaction. A foundational principle of OT is to use meaningful activity to motivate people to participate.
The term meaningful is subjective, however, and will vary among individuals and groups. Through every interaction, occupational therapy looks to understand what is meaningful and consistently applies that understanding to intervention.
Mental and Emotional Health Care Across OT Settings
Occupational therapy supports people across the lifespan and in various settings. Let’s consider some examples of how occupational therapy incorporates psychological, mental, and emotional health across settings every day:
Pediatrics
Whether a disability, challenge, or injury is temporary or a longer-term condition, pediatric needs are complex to process for the child and their parents or caregivers. Children and their families can experience a range of emotions, including feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, frustration, guilt, and sadness.
Supporting a child with autism spectrum disorder, for example, in managing emotional regulation and learning to manage time and follow daily routines. Providing guidance and education to the child’s caregiver and family to not only support their child, but also to manage their own stress and emotional well-being.
Schools
Occupational therapists support children, their families and caregivers, and their teachers and educators in school systems. A child with a learning disability may experience stress and frustration over feeling like they aren’t keeping up with peers or that they aren’t seeming to understand concepts as quickly as others.
Behavior issues can sometimes occur due to frustration and an undeveloped ability to regulate intense emotions appropriately.
Occupational therapy can help the child learn coping skills and strategies for recognizing and appropriately responding to emotions. OT can also assist parents and teachers in understanding how to better support the child in the classroom and at home.
Geriatrics
Geriatric occupational therapy addresses the unique needs of older adults, including cognitive, psychological, and emotional health needs. Age-related changes, such as decreased mobility, changes in working memory, and chronic health conditions, can lead to feelings of worry, stress, and general dissatisfaction with quality of life.
Occupational therapy can support older adults through participation in meaningful activities that bring a greater sense of control, safety, and independence. Strategies for maintaining daily routines, social connections, and work or volunteer opportunities can help older adults improve their emotional health and improve or maintain a higher quality of life.
Physical Rehabilitation
If you’ve ever endured a serious injury, such as a broken bone that required surgery or an accident that left you with a lot of pain, then you know how that experience comes along with stress and even fear. If you lose the functioning (even temporarily) of your hands or mobility, a physical injury can be especially unsettling.
Occupational therapists are experts at breaking overwhelming goals into achievable steps. Instead of focusing on the big goal of returning to work, consider taking small steps, such as folding laundry after a broken wrist. Achieving small goals towards recovery can reduce feelings of stress and allow movement without fear of further injury.
Simple breathing exercises and short movement breaks can help reduce stress and regulate emotions related to pain. Additionally, achievement, no matter how seemingly small, boosts confidence and can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
Occupational Therapy is Whole-Person Centered Care
Occupational therapy is a holistic profession that considers every aspect of a person’s health and well-being, including mental, psychological, and emotional health.
Although there is a specialty within OT that focuses specifically on psychological well-being, occupational therapists incorporate mental health awareness into every aspect of care. It’s part of the whole-person approach that makes occupational therapy such a unique profession and career choice.
