What Is Occupational Therapy?
by Reagan Mayberry, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist / Owner of Pine Belt Therapy Services
What Does “Occupational Therapy” Mean?
The word “occupational” in occupational therapy doesn’t just mean jobs or work. In this case, “occupation” means any meaningful activity or task in daily life. Anything that “occupies” your time. This can include things like:
Getting dressed
Cooking meals
Going to school or work
Playing with friends
Taking care of a home
Occupational therapists are experts who help people build or regain the skills they need to do these activities. They work with people who might be facing challenges because of illness, injury, disability, or even aging.
Who Can Benefit From Occupational Therapy?
The great thing about occupational therapy is that it can help almost anyone—babies, kids, adults, and seniors.
Here are a few examples:
Children who need help learning how to hold a pencil or button their clothes
Adults recovering from injuries or surgeries who want to return to their normal daily routines
Older adults who want to stay independent and safe at home
How Does Occupational Therapy Work?
An occupational therapist will talk with you about meaningful occupations— activities or tasks you need to do, want to do, and are expected to do. This will vary person to person, of course. Next, the OT will help you analyze these tasks to identify what the specific challenges are and create a plan to help you get better at those activities. This might involve exercises, practicing skills, using special tools or equipment, or changing how you do tasks to make them easier.
Why Is Occupational Therapy Important?
Occupational therapy is about helping people live their best lives. When you can do the things that matter to you, whether it’s playing with your kids, going to work, or simply getting dressed independently, it improves your confidence, health, and happiness.
If you or someone you know could benefit from extra help with daily activities, occupational therapy might be the support you need.
Why Might A Child Receive OT Services?
While pediatric OT does look a little different, kids need occupational therapy for the same overarching reason that we all do— to gain functional independence in meaningful occupations. One common difference between OT for adults vs kids is that adults are typically in OT for RE-habilitation— RE-learning to do things that are important to us after an injury or illness or as we age. For little ones, they are often learning to complete these tasks for the first time due to difficulties caused by a disability, complications during birth, or early delays in development. Some kids may find everyday tasks challenging, like getting dressed, using utensils, or participating in classroom activities. Others might have trouble managing sensory input or focusing during the school day.
Here are some common reasons children work with occupational therapists:
Developmental delays: When a child needs extra support developing skills like self-care (dressing, feeding), coordination, or attention.
Sensory processing challenges: Difficulty handling certain sounds, textures, lights, or movements, which can cause discomfort, distraction, or behavioral reactions.
Fine motor skill difficulties: Trouble with hand and finger movements needed for writing, cutting, feeding, or using tools.
Gross motor coordination challenges: Struggles with balance, posture, or smooth movement that affect play and participation in activities.
Attention and behavior concerns: Difficulty staying focused, following instructions, or managing emotions in social or learning settings.
Medical conditions or injuries: Such as autism spectrum disorder, developmental coordination disorder, or recovering from injuries affecting daily functioning.
Occupational therapy helps children build confidence, improve independence, and fully engage in home, school, and play activities.
An occupational therapist works closely with children and their families to identify challenges in functional independence and build a specialized care plan that supports skill development, promotes participation, and enhances daily life at home, school, and in the community.
