Washing, brushing teeth, dressing and undressing, cooking, going to work or school – all involve complex movements and thought processes. These activities are learned over many years. Every child has to crawl its way to a pedestrian in years of hard work. But what happens if one suddenly can no longer perform some or even all of these activities? In that case, an occupational therapist can provide valuable help.
What is an occupational therapist?
Occupational therapists deal with activities that are necessary in everyday life – and when they are impossible or difficult to perform. Occupational therapists deal with activities that are necessary in everyday life – and when they are not possible or difficult to perform. In occupational therapy, one works with clients in the following areas: pediatrics, neurology, orthopedics/traumatology/rheumatology, geriatrics, and psychiatry. Self-care: eating, dressing, cooking, washing, as well as leisure: playing, exercising, meeting with friends, and productivity: learning, cleaning, working. These are the three major areas into which occupational therapy groups activities and which are important for a healthy life. The occupation of occupational therapist can be learned directly through a 3-year apprenticeship at a state-certified school or through a degree program. Medical expertise, recognized working models of occupational therapy, as well as practical development of therapy methods are only three of the many modules on which the future occupational therapist builds. Social science is another significant subject area in the training. The occupational therapist’s work is based on the desire to incorporate the body, mind and spirit, as well as one’s environment, as a whole into a therapy.
Treatments and therapies
Occupational therapy has expanded in recent decades from a mechanical to a holistic view. Everyday activities rely on more than just healthy motor and cognitive skills. Our actions are influenced by our environment – just as each person helps shape his or her environment with his or her activities. That is why occupational therapists work not only in rehabilitation centers, clinics, schools, and private practices, but also accompany clients home to integrate their homes, workplaces, and equally their family and friends into the process. Depression, psychosis and eating disorders are among the conditions in which occupational therapists can support a mental health team. Occupational therapists assist in the client’s reintegration into society through learning new patterns of behavior. In the field of eating disorders, but also in the early detection of potentially harmful behavior patterns, occupational therapists are increasingly taking on a role in the field of prevention in schools in the Anglo-Saxon world. Pediatrics is the field most commonly associated with occupational therapy. This field is about finding solutions to help children with motor and mental disabilities, as well as children with learning disabilities and concentration problems. Parents of children with ADHD and dyslexia are increasingly working with occupational therapists. In many cases, pediatricians refer parents with their children to appropriate occupational therapists. In occupational therapy, the age of the client is not important. There are many reasons why people suddenly find themselves unable to perform daily activities. Work and car accidents, strokes, degenerative disorders of the extremities, amputations, but also elderly people who experience restrictions in their usual life due to dementia are part of the work of an occupational therapist. Once a limitation exists due to an accident, disease or genetic predisposition, an occupational therapist can provide assistance in learning or relearning activities.
Methods and forms of treatment
The way an occupational therapist works will always depend on the client, of course, but a few examples can give a closer idea of how they work. Activities that were previously seen as a whole are relearned in small subsections. Work is done with equipment and aids that are necessary for the client. Creativity, whether through painting, drawing, handicraft work, as well as in connection with an art therapist or in the creative solution of everyday problems is a central area in occupational therapy work.The occupational therapist looks for new ways to perform old activities according to the new requirements, together with the client. He does this in support with doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, speech therapists, social workers and many more.
What should a patient pay attention to?
When choosing the right occupational therapist, the age of the client plays a role. In the case of adults who need help due to an accident or illness, the occupational therapist is usually part of a rehabilitation team or referred through a doctor or physical therapist. In the case of children, pediatricians are the first point of contact. Kindergartens and schools are increasingly working with occupational therapists, and therefore can assist parents in making a choice.
