What is an Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist is a trained healthcare professional who uses specific activities to limit the effects of disability and promote independence in all aspects of daily life.
Occupational Therapist is often shortened to OT, and OTs can work with a wide range of people in different situations and with different needs.
Why would you see an O.T.?
Lynda Niles OT Associates primarily is interested in the neurodevelopmental issues that many young people or adults may still experience despite no longer being a child or teenager. Conditions such as ASD, ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Dyspraxias may continue to provide challenges as you transition to new aspects of your life.
As you grow older you may also identify and notice differences that present new and different challenges as circumstances and demands made on you change.
OT’s are interested in helping you to overcome barriers in their daily life. Problems related to neurodevelopmental difficulties may be stopping you successfully participating in a range of activities that can include –
- Personal self-care
- Looking after your living space, home and family
- Maintaining your roles and responsibilities
- Accessing and using community facilities
- Engaging in the community
- Studying and learning
- Volunteering and vocational activities
- Working and employment
- Social activities
- Leisure activities and hobbies
- Relaxing and recreation
You don’t need to have a diagnosis to consult an OT just simply an awareness that you are not able to live your life your way and are wanting to do something about it.
What does an OT do?
The first step is to understand what it is you would like to be different and what you feel is holding you back.
Assessment helps to identify the components that may be contributing to your difficulties and can give a base line to use when reviewing and checking if the intervention has made any difference for you over time.
The assessment will be holistic taking into account a wide range of issues and specifically sensory processing differences linked with any possible neurodevelopmental conditions.
Emotional and mental health concerns will also be considered along with coordination and organisation abilities that can also be impacting on your occupations of daily life.
Intervention may be about direct therapy or regular coaching / consultation sessions.
The OT intervention may be about helping you to understand your own sensory preferences and giving support to you to make changes and adjustments in your daily life.
Advice may be given about your employer making reasonable adjustments and supporting you in your work (paid or voluntary) or studying and learning situations. It may also be about providing information to others and enabling you to access community facilities, services or clubs and groups that you would like to participate in.
Lynda Niles OT Associates also provides training and workshop sessions many of which may be of value and help to adults experiencing their own sensory processing issues.
Keeping safe
Information given to the Occupational Therapist as part of the assessment or therapeutic intervention is treated with respect and care and will not be shared without permission unless there is a safeguarding issue.
All occupational therapists are governed by professional standards as laid down by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) LINK https://www.hcpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/standards/ and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Occupational Therapists LINK https://www.rcot.co.uk/practice-resources/rcot-publications/downloads/rcot-standards-and-ethics
All Occupational Therapists are bound by these professional standards and need to follow local safeguarding policies and procedures.
Costs
An initial telephone consultation session is always free and allows the opportunity to discuss what possible help or support OT may provide and help you to consider what your options may be and if you are willing and able to fund this.
At the end of this short consultation the OT can provide some initial recommendations for possible intervention and provide a quote regarding costs of any options considered.
There is no obligation at this point and you are free to explore and compare other options.
