Occupational therapy helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.

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
• providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes

Occupational therapy services typically include:

• an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals
• customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals
• an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.

Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science. Interventions used in occupational therapy are used as part of a broad approach that considers the patient’s performance skills (motor, process, social interaction); activity demands; performance patterns (habits, routines, rituals, roles); and contexts and environments.

If you’d like more information on how occupational therapy may help you or someone you know, please contact one of our 3 outpatient clinics throughout San Diego!