What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is about being able to do the things you want and need to do. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable you to participate successfully in all the activities that are part of your everyday life.

Occupational therapy looks at the relationship between the activities you need, want, or are expected to do, alongside the challenges you may face when engaging in these activities. Our Occupational therapists see beyond any diagnoses and limitations you may have, and will work with you to create the steps that can be taken to achieve your hopes and aspirations.

 

How can Occupational Therapy help?

Our Occupational therapists at The Retreat currently work within our specialist Neurodevelopmental Service for both adults, children and young people. They have a have specific understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions, as will be able to help you by using their specialist training in areas commonly affected by these conditions, such as sensory processing.

We use Occupational Therapy to consider how the elements of neurodevelopmental conditions may affect your engagement in occupations, and what strategies, skills, strengths, or adjustments can be used to overcome these difficulties.

One specific approach that we can offer is Sensory Integration Therapy.

Sensory integration how the brain takes the signals from our senses, understands the signals, and then responds.

If you are Neurodiverse, you can often have different sensory integration experiences that can impact your ability to engage in everyday activities.

Sensory Integration Therapy is a specialist therapy, completed with an experienced practitioner that includes a structured exposure to sensory input, movements, balance challenges, or carefully designed and customised physical activities and accommodations (e.g. changes to the environment or routine).

 A Sensory Integration Practitioner may work with your, your family, carers, education provider, other allied health professionals or employers to create a plan tailored to your specific needs.

 

 

What is an Occupational Therapy session like?

All Occupational Therapy sessions will be adapted to your needs, but our starting point will be to consider what your specific goals are and to assess how, and to what extent, your ability to perform everyday tasks are impacted.

Your Occupational therapist will gather information from you, or other important people in your life, and to complete an assessment to which will help us to plan and tailor your treatment.

After your initial assessment has been completed, your Occupational therapist will then work with you to plan and apply targeted exercises which focus on your goals or areas of you are struggling with.

Some ways we will explore to support you can include:

Ways to adapt your work or education settings to help you participate

Developing specific daily living skills, such as tying shoelaces or producing legible handwriting

Developing strategies to cope with different emotions

How to enjoy leisure activities that take into account your neurodiversity.

You will work with your Occupational therapist to plan approaches, skills and strategies that support you in the occupations that are important to you.

We understand that seeking therapy can be daunting and that taking the first step can be challenging. We have a team of trained experts available at our clinics in York, Manchester and online.

If you are unsure whether you need therapy within our general adult’s service or our Neurodiversity service, please get in touch using the form below for more information about our different sorts of therapy. We would be delighted to discuss your situation and needs with you