Forms of therapy | Ergotherapy

Forms of therapy

In principle, occupational therapy differentiates between three different therapy methods, which, however, are often not clearly separated from each other and complement each other: Some special forms of therapy are the shaping therapy, the sensory integration therapy (main field of application are attention disorders and developmental delays), the therapy according to Affolter (especially for autistic children who have problems in dealing with and processing their environment), the Feldenkrais Method (the training of movement and coordination, sometimes by making patients aware that their neuromuscular abilities are always related to a mental component) or the Perfetti Concept (especially for patients with neurological deficits, for whom one tries to retrain some movements)

  • The competence-centered method (here certain skills are actually practiced, focusing on training the gross and fine motor area and (re-)learning certain techniques and abilities)
  • The expression-centered method (using creative processes that allow the patient to express themselves, to communicate and access the patient, including music and painting)
  • The interactive method (where the interaction of patients with other members of a group is of particular importance)

Job description

The profession of occupational therapist can nowadays be acquired both by training as an occupational therapist and by studying. More common is still training as an occupational therapist at a school for occupational therapy. This training contains both practical and theoretical components, usually lasts three years and is completed with the examination for the state certified occupational therapist.