What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy can help to support and assist individuals to live their best lives, by encouraging and facilitating patient engagement in daily life activities.
These activities can include self-care occupations such as caring for personal hygiene (focusing on daily activities such as showering, dressing, and completing housework and other domestic tasks, for example), as well as participation in exercise and outdoor activities.
Occupational Therapy can also facilitate and enable patient involvement in productive, collaborative, and contributive occupations – such as volunteering, education, work, or caring for others; as well as encouraging participation in leisure and social activities – including attending community events, joining a community group or cultivating a friendship group, or participating in hobbies such as team sports, cooking or baking, musical and creative performance, or visual art pursuits such as painting, pottery or sculpture.
Critically, Occupational Therapy can have a significant, noticeable, and important impact in supporting and assisting patients who may be experiencing mental health issues or concerns such as depression or anxiety, as it can be instrumental in helping individuals to increase their overall sense of motivation, achievement, independence, and consequently – life satisfaction.
Where Can I Find an Occupational Therapist Near Me?
Patients of Occupational Therapy can access the services of an Occupational Therapist in a variety of different locations, with new treatment venues and research centres opening all the time. These locations can range from either private or public hospitals, clinics, or medical centres, as well as community health centres or establishments providing alcohol or drug rehabilitation, correctional facilities, educational or research facilities such as universities, corporate settings, aged care venues, and residential nursing homes. Additionally, some Occupational Therapists are able to treat their patients in the patient’s own home – minimising transport time for the patient, and aiding in ease, comfort, and accessibility of the treatment.
In Australia, Occupational Therapists can be found throughout most major cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. For Greater Melbourne locals particularly, there are Occupational Therapy treatment venues available in multiple locations. Occupational Therapy patients in regional, rural, and Greater Melbourne for example, can access Occupational Therapy in Ballarat, Wangaratta, or Bendigo, as well as being able to access Occupational Therapy in Geelong.
Different types of Occupational Therapy and How they Can Help Me
There are a variety of different types of Occupational Therapy treatment methods available that can be beneficial to patients in different ways. Choosing therapy tailored to your individual requirements is important, and also crucial to ensuring that patients achieve the results they require to live their best lives of independence, dignity, and fulfillment.
Occupational Group Therapy
In Occupational Therapy, group therapy sessions are considered particularly helpful in terms of assisting the patient to reconnect with others, by encouraging them to join a group of like-minded individuals who share their experience – helping to increase a sense of belonging and acceptance.
Importantly, Occupational Group Therapy teaches patients emotional response methods, techniques, and strategies to apply to their daily lives, in a welcoming and warm group setting. It also assists with fostering a sense of community, encouraging connection, and helping individuals build a supportive network with other patients who are also seeking to better their lives and increase their sense of autonomy, achievement, and independence, as well as general life satisfaction, contentment, and pride.
Individual Occupational Therapy
Despite Group Occupational Therapy being highly effective, many individuals prefer one-on-one therapy sessions for a more personalised, tailored treatment specific to their personal requirements.
Individual Occupational Therapy involves the patient meeting with their Occupational Therapist in a location that suits them – be it at a hospital, clinic, or medical centre, or in the comfort of their own home. The Occupational Therapist can then tailor the treatment to the individual patient’s specific needs, to help them through any life issues or concerns they may be experiencing.
Yoga Occupational Therapy
Another type of Occupational Therapy is in the form of Yoga Therapy.
The main treatment strategies of Yoga Occupational Therapy include breathing work, relaxation techniques, and strategies to help ease anxiety and calm the mind. Guided imagery and meditation also assist patients with depression, as visualisation helps to support goal setting and positive manifestation.
Occupational Yoga Therapy can also be hosted in an in-clinic, group setting; or in a home-based, individual setting if the patient is more comfortable with this.
Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels