Occupational therapy for mental health focuses on helping people with psychiatric conditions live and work as independently as possible. Many people associate occupational therapy with pediatric services or physical rehabilitation. They are surprised to find occupational therapists also working in mental health settings.
Mental health occupational therapists can people people practice life skills, develop approaches to improve independence, build coping skills to cope with psychological distress, and learn more about their condition.
Occupational therapy can play an important role in mental health care. These professionals focus on helping people develop and strengthen the skills that they need to function more effectively in their environments. If you or a loved one is seeing a mental health OT, learning about their role can help you advocate for the best care.
Occupational Therapy and Mental Health
Occupational therapy has its origins in mental health. At one point, the majority of OTs worked in mental health settings.
Originally, the idea behind occupational therapy in mental health was that engaging people in productive, meaningful activities would improve mental well-being. Staying engaged and active was thought to play an essential role in a person's management and recovery from mental health problems.
Today, mental health experts recognize that the causes and treatments of mental health are varied. Treatments typically emphasize therapy and medication, but lifestyle modifications and self-help skills are recognized as an important component of recovery.
In the past decade, the number of OTs in the United States working in mental health has dropped. That's why many people today associate it primarily with physical rehabilitation and pediatrics.
However, new shifts in mental health care delivery may be opening the door for more OTs to re-enter this field.
There is an increasing understanding of the ways that mental health conditions can affect a person's ability to function in their daily life. Occupational therapy can help people maximize their ability to function effectively in their environment, which can play an important part in coping, treatment, and recovery.
What OTs Bring to the Mental Health Treatment Team
The training of an occupational therapist requires holistic approaches well suited for work in mental health settings. In addition to their training in physical well-being, occupational therapists are also trained in:
- Cognitive assessment
- Sensory strategies
- Therapeutic alliances
- Group process
- Participation in activities of daily learning (ADLs)
- Socio-emotional skills
As in other OT settings, the ultimate focus of occupational therapy is to assist clients in participating in daily activities as independently as possible.4
Mental Health Occupational Therapy Interventions
One study identified four main types of mental health occupational therapy interventions:5
- Psychosocial interventions
- Psychoeducational interventions
- Cognitive interventions
- Exercise interventions
Here is a snapshot of common mental health OT interventions:
Lead Groups
Occupational therapists are trained in the group process.4 Examples of groups led by an occupational therapist may include:
- Life skills
- Job readiness
- Therapeutic cooking
- Money management
- Wellness recovery action plans (WRAP)
- Therapeutic leisure
- Nutrition
- Sensory groups
- Independent living
- Emotional regulation skills
Providing information through psychoeducational groups is an important part of what mental health occupational therapists do. Such groups help people better understand their condition and what types of options they have to treat, manage, and cope with their symptoms.
Provide Calming and Grounding Strategies
Occupational therapists believe that participation in daily activities (aka occupations) is vital to mental health and well-being.2 Your occupational therapist may help you utilize familiar activities as coping mechanisms, such as listening to music, playing cards, writing, doodling, cooking, or cleaning.
OTs are also fluent in sensory strategies.2 A person's sensory system helps process information from the environment. For individuals with mental health conditions, their ability to process this information may be compromised, which can lead to feeling agitated and unsafe.
Sensory strategies activate an individual's basic processing systems (vestibular, proprioceptive, deep pressure touch) to aid in processing information, helping individuals feel grounded and calm. Sensory strategies may prove effective for people who may not be at a state to benefit from talk therapies.
Sensory Rooms
OTs are part of a larger movement to create sensory rooms on mental health units. Sensory rooms are places where individuals can go to feel safe. The rooms often have tools to help de-escalate and relax. The use of this simple concept has helped drop seclusion and restraint levels dramatically on some units.
Assess Discharge Preparedness
OTs have a battery of assessments that they can use to assess discharge preparedness in a standardized way. This information can help your treatment team understand what amount of care you will need at discharge and gauge your treatment progress.
Address Physical Wellbeing
One important qualification that sets occupational therapists apart from other qualified mental health professionals is their background in physical rehabilitation.2 Mental health issues are often overlaid with issues of physical health.
In a mental health setting, you may find an OT addressing general strengthening, adjusting wheelchairs, recommending adaptive equipment, or any other task that is within the scope of occupational therapy.
Advocate for Safe Independence
Ultimately, your OT will seek to assist you in participating in daily activities. If your mental health condition is compromising your ability to participate in daily activities, speak to your occupational therapist about your concerns. If they do not have the tools to assure that your needs are being met, they can serve as an advocate and assist in getting you the necessary help.
Develop Self-Care Strategies
Occupational therapists who work in mental health also help people develop and practice effective self-care strategies. This includes things like bathing, eating, dressing, and grooming practices.
People who have mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety may struggle with symptoms that make self-care challenging. This can include a lack of energy, sleep disruptions, poor motivation, and low mood.
An occupational therapist may help people develop self-care strategies or habits that seem more manageable given their current symptoms. Improving the self-care abilities of people with mental health conditions can promote better well-being.6
Specializations in Mental Health
Occupational therapists must obtain a master's degree from an accredited occupational therapy program and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam to become licensed to practice.
Occupational therapists who want to specialize in mental health can also earn an additional Board Certification in Mental Health (BCMH).
Many occupational therapists are competent in trauma-informed care and the recovery model, either through their schooling, workplace training, or independent study. Some OTs go on to earn the certification of Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP).
Keep in Mind
Mental health occupational therapists can play an important role in treatment, management, and recovery. These professionals work to improve daily independent living skills and help reduce symptoms by teaching coping skills and strengthening daily routines. When working in mental health, occupational therapists assess an individual's functional capacity, create individualized plans, and develop step-by-step frameworks for improving specific skills.
What to Expect From a Mental Health Occupational Therapist