Improving Function and Quality of
Life Through Occupation: The Role
of Occupational Therapy in
Recovery
Presented by:
Sean M. Getty, MS, OTR/L
Rehab Director
Roads to Recovery PROS/ Pathways to Recovery PROS
Learning Objectives
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Identify the role of the occupational
therapist in facilitating recovery for
people with mental illness
Identify the fundamentals of occupational therapy and how
these align with the core components of mental health
recovery.
Identify treatment approaches utilized by occupational
therapists utilized at various stages of recovery.
Identify some of the recovery-based, client-centered
assessments utilized by occupational therapists to facilitate
recovery.
To understand the importance of meaningful occupation in
the recovery process.
What is Occupational Therapy?
“The practice of occupational therapy
means the therapeutic use of occupations,
including everyday life activities with
individuals, groups, populations, or
organizations to support participation,
performance, and function in roles and
situations in home, school, workplace,
community, and other settings.”
(AOTA, 2004)
“Occupational therapy services are
provided for habilitation, rehabilitation,
and the promotion of health and
wellness to those who have or are at risk
for developing an illness, injury, disease,
disorder, condition, impairment,
disability, activity limitation, or
participation restriction.” (AOTA, 2004)
“Occupational therapy addresses the
physical, cognitive, psychosocial,
sensory-perceptual, and other aspects of
performance in a variety of contexts and
environments to support engagement in
occupations that affect physical and
mental health, well-being, and quality of
life.” (AOTA, 2004)
Basic Tenets of OT
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Occupation-Based Practice
Empowerment
Client-Centered Approach
Holistic Approach
Strengths-Based
Context-Based Practice
Cultural Diversity
What is Recovery
• 10 Fundamental Components of Recovery
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Self-Direction
Individualized and Person-Centered
Empowerment
Holistic
Non-Linear
Strengths-Based
Peer Support
Respect
Responsibility
Hope
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005)
Areas of Assessment
& Treatment
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Areas of Occupation
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Activities of Daily Living
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Rest and Sleep
Education
Work
Play
Leisure
Social Participation
Activity Demands
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Client Factors1. Values, Beliefs, & Spirituality
2. Body Functions
3. Body Structures
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Performance Skills
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Motor & Praxis Skills
Sensory-Perceptual Skills
Emotional Regulation Skills
Cognitive Skills
Communication & Social Skills
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Performance Patterns
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Habits
Roles
Rituals
Routines
Context and Environment
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Cultural
Personal
Temporal
Virtual
Physical
Social
Intervention Approaches
1. Create or Promote
– Creating intervention strategies without assuming that a disability is present or that any
factors would interfere with performance
– Resembles health promotion model
2. Establish or Restore
– Leads to re-establishment of a lost skill
or ability
– Examples: money management,
parenting, leisure skills
3. Maintain
– Preservation of performance
4. Modify
– Revise the current context or task demands to support performance in the natural setting
– Examples: social networks can be changed; temporal modifications like duration or
sequence of a task can be changed; backward chaining
– Match a context or task to the person’s abilities
– Nothing is changed about the person
5. Prevent
Assessments
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Activities of Daily Living
Behavioral Assessments
Cognitive Behavioral Assessments
Evaluations of Social Interactions
Vocational Assessments
Sensory Processing Assessments
Treatment Settings
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Acute & Long Term Care Facilities
Residential and Day Programs
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Community-Based Mental Health Centers
Schools
Military Installations
Employment Practice
OT in an Acute Facility
• Evaluation
• Managing Symptoms through Occupation
• Alternatives to Restraints
OT in Community Settings
• Evaluation
– Identifying the underlying skills impeding goal
acquisition
• Improve Function
– Carrying out a plan to
improve function and
achieve the individual’s
goals
• Wellness
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Social
Environmental
Physical
Emotional
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Spiritual
Occupational
Intellectual
Financial
(Swarbrick, 2006)
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American Occupational Therapy Association (2004) Definition of occupational
therapy practice for the AOTA Model Practice Area. Bethesda, MD: Author.
(Available from the State Affairs Group, 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220,
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220)
Dornan, D.H., Felton, C., Carpinello, S. (November 14, 2000) Mental Health
Recovery from the Perspectives of Consumer/Survivors. Presentation at the
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.
New York State Office of Mental Health (2010). Part 512 PROS Regulations.
Retrieved from http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/pros
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2010). Mental
Health, United States, 2008. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 10-4590, Rockville MD:
Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration
Swarbrick, M. (2006) A Wellness Approach. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal,
29(4) 311-314
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2005) National Consensus
Statement on Mental Health Recovery. Retrieved from
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA05-4129/SMA05-4129.pdf