What is occupational therapy

Occupational therapy is a type of health care that helps to solve the problems that interfere with a person’s ability to do the things that are important to them – everyday things like:
  • Self-care - getting dressed, eating, moving around the house,
  • Being productive - going to work or school, participating in the community, and
  • Leisure activities - sports, gardening, social activities. 

OT Everyday 

Get to know occupational therapists (OTs), read tips about everyday activities, and learn more about how OTs can help people age safely at home and deal with mental health issues on OTeveryday.ca.



A Canadian Occupational Therapy Story

André Lagacé, stroke survivor, shares how working with his occupational therapist gave him the skills and confidence to return to his favourite activities. 

 
Who are occupational therapists and where do they work?

Occupational therapists, often called OTs, are the primary providers of occupational therapy services.  OTs are:
  • university educated professionals that apply their specialized knowledge and skills to recommend a course of preventive or corrective action that will help people lead more productive and satisfying lives,
  • trained to understand not only the medical and physical limitations of a disability or injury, but also the psychosocial factors that affect the functioning of the whole person – their health and their wellness, and 
  • a regulated medical profession; occupational therapists must be registered with their provincial regulator in order to practice legally in Canada.

 
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings including:

Home and Community   Institution
Home and Community: Home care, private practices, health boards, community mental health centres, clinics, halfway houses, groups homes, vocational programs, community action groups, and workers compensation boards.   Institutions: Hospitals, intermediate and long term care facilities, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, mental health centres, correctional institutions, recreation centres, schools, universities and colleges, research centers. 
Sensory Integration picture   People reviewing a document picture
Industry and business: Corporations, rehabilitation companies, insurance companies, and architectural firms.    Government: All levels of government advising in the areas of health promotion, disability prevention/management, accessibility, vocational/health planning and international rehabilitation program development.


Occupational therapist assistants support OTs

Occupational therapist assistants, sometimes referred to as OTAs, are members of the health care team who support the delivery of occupational therapy services to clients, families and communities. They work within many of the contexts where occupational therapists can be found and play a key role in the support and implementation of client care plans. 

OTA images

What do occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) do?
  • Work alongside occupational therapists to support clients to engage in therapies that help them obtain their goals
  • Employ their diverse skill set and understanding of occupational therapy practice with direct client interaction
  • Deliver OT-related interventions with collaborative input from an OT
  • Work in a broad range of practice areas including public or private, and with diverse client populations
  • Are a collaborative partner with the assigning OT 
  • Support both direct and indirect client care
What are the benefits when occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) and OTs collaborate? 
  • Improves conflict resolution with care teams and/or clients
  • Optimizes the scope of occupational therapy
  • Allows for a beneficial learning opportunity for OT and OTA students
  • Offers a unique occupational therapy lens when different expertise is combined
  • Promotes a problem-solving and therapeutic partnership with OTs and clients
  • Increases and supports client care opportunities