Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Occupational Therapy supports children, adolescents and young people with additional needs to participate more confidently in everyday life.

At Go Beyond Therapy, Occupational Therapy may support areas such as daily living skills, emotional regulation, sensory processing, fine motor skills, school participation, play, social connection, community access, independence and communication.

Occupational Therapy is goal-directed, strengths-based and practical. This means therapy is not only focused on what a child or young person finds difficult, but also on their strengths, interests, environment and the support they need to participate in the things that matter to them.

We work closely with families, educators and other key people involved in a child or young person’s life. Our goal is to provide support that makes sense in real life, not just within a clinic room.

How Occupational Therapy can help

• Every child and young person is different. Occupational Therapy can help by looking at the person, the task and the environment to understand what is getting in the way of participation.

  Occupational Therapists consider:

  • the environment where the task is happening, such as home, school, kinder, work, community programs or social settings
  • the skills needed to complete the task
  • the sensory, emotional, physical, social and cognitive demands of the activity
  • what changes, supports or strategies may help
  • the child or young person’s strengths, interests and goals
  • the needs and priorities of the family

  This may include recommending changes to the environment, building specific skills, supporting routines, trialling practical strategies, or helping the people around the child or young person understand how to support them more effectively.

Areas in which an Occupational Therpist may assist: