What Is Occupational Therapy? Some people are not aware of occupational therapy or may not fully understand the profession. The OT will typi-cally explain what occupational therapy is during the initial client contact or evaluation. However, while coping with an illness, injury, or other circumstances, clients and families/significant others usually encounter multiple health team members and are often overwhelmed, confused, or tired. As a result, the unique role of occupational therapy may remain unclear to them at this time. Thus, the OTA must be ready to provide a clear and simple definition of occupational therapy appropriate to the client’s situation, and explain briefly how that client will benefit. The AOTA website (www.aota.org) and official documents, such as The Philosophical Base of Occupational Therapy (AOTA, 2011) and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (AOTA. 2014), are useful resources to help you define occupational therapy for different audiences. Also, Table 1-1 presents practical suggestions for communi-cating with clients and others effectively.
Create a brief definition of occupational therapy that you might use with clients or family/caregivers.
Occupational therapy is…
Now develop a brief definition that you might use to explain occupational therapy to other professionals or service providers (i.e., medical interns, teachers, school administrators, optometrists, etc.).
Occupational therapy is…
Sample Solution
