Occupational Therapy (OT) training is diverse, with OTs working in a wide variety of fields and settings.
The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) states that OT is “a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life.”
The word occupation in the OT profession refers to an activity that occupies our time. In an adult this may include, but is not limited to their job. Play is a vital activity for babies and children because that is how they learn.
In my practice, OT is aimed at developing, recovering, and improving life skills. These can be defined as the abilities for positive, adaptive behaviour that enable people to cope effectively with the challenges that life brings. The core life skills as laid down by the World Health Organisation (WHO) include: self awareness; empathy; critical thinking; decision making; problem solving; effective communication and interpersonal relationships.
Being competent in these psychosocial skills promotes mental health (including self efficacy and self esteem) and the capacity to adapt to difficult situations while engaging constructively with the environment and other people.
Additional areas that are promoted in my practice include spiritual development, time management, bonding as well as balancing work, rest and recreation.
In addition, when working with babies and children, where appropriate, the OT aspects of my practice include improving their skills in play, sensory regulation and activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, sleeping and bathing.
Because Occupational Therapists are trained to work with all ages and to view clients holistically, it is possible, and a joy, to augment my approach with my additional trainings in Polarity Therapy and Integrative Baby Therapy
I am registered as an Occupational Therapist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa (OTASA), Health and Care Professions Council UK (HCPC-UK) and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
