What To Expect - Meaningful and Productive Living Therapy Services

Let's Talk About What To Expect

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy involves working with individuals to achieve health, well-being, and participation in life through their engagement in occupations (daily life activities that people do to occupy their time).

An occupational therapist has to complete a degree in occupational therapy, which includes classes in anatomy; neurology; psychology; medical conditions; development; and assessments and interventions for neonates through senior citizens.

There is also a requirement to complete 6 months of fieldwork in at least two different settings. The therapist has to pass a national certification exam and then become licensed to practice in a specific state. The license needs to be renewed every two years.

Requirements of an Occupational Therapist

The Therapy Process

Initial Conversation

We’ll talk on the phone or in person at your therapist’s practice where we’ll start to get to know each other and you’ll be able to share with me some of your needs and wishes. We’ll also begin to see if we’re a good match to work together.

During our first conversation if you decide that you want to start working with me, we’ll schedule the first session at a location of your choice

Scheduling

Sessions One & Two

The initial evaluation is completed, which includes finding out:

Yours and your significant others’ values and interests
The occupations (daily activities) that you are currently performing
The occupations that you the feel successful performing
The occupations that you find meaningful
The occupations that you want to perform
Your strengths that help you perform meaningful occupations
Your limitations or other factors that may be barriers to you successfully performing meaningful occupations

You, your significant others, and I will develop goals and priorities together

Goal-Setting

Treatment Sessions

The schedule and number of sessions are based upon your needs.

The locations are determined based upon where you perform different occupations

Interventions are individualized and may include:

- working on performance of an occupation
- working on underlying factors (e.g., sensory, psychosocial, physical) that affect performance
- developing adaptations or compensatory strategies
- adapting the environment to make it more functional and/or to decrease pain
- recommending adaptive equipment
- working on energy conservation or work simplification
- developing weekly schedules to increase habits and routines