What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a type of healthcare intervention that helps people find ways to do daily activities that they need or want to do for greater independence or mental health in everyday life.
What occupational therapists do
Occupational therapists are health care professionals who work with people to help them reach their best level of function and independence in their everyday life.
Various health issues can pose barriers to participating in daily activities. Occupational therapists help people to:
- learn new ways of doing things
- regain skills and develop new ones
- use materials or equipment that makes life easier, or
- adapt their environment to work better for them.
These solutions help people to do as much as they can – safely and effectively – at home, at school, at work or in other settings.
The word “occupational” in occupational therapy can be misleading. Everyday activities, or “occupations,” can include things like dressing, cooking, working, or playing.
Where you can find occupational therapists working
As health care professionals, occupational therapists work in a wide range of settings. They work with patients to help them feel more independent and improve their lives. This includes helping with physical, emotional and mental challenges.
Locations:
- Hospitals, care facilities, and clinics
- Rehabilitation centres and programs
- Recreation centres and nursing homes
- Schools
- Home care and private practice
- Vocational programs and insurance companies
- Health promotion and disability prevention/management
- Accessibility programs
What occupational therapists do and don’t do
Occupational therapists work with people to develop, recover or maintain skills for daily living and work. They work with doctors, nurses and other health care and social work professionals. Their focus is helping people re-engage with activities that are essential to their quality of life.
The unique expertise of occupational therapists is to analyze what people do and what they want or need to do, and help them to do it. Occupational therapists co-create approaches with their clients.
They are mindful of people’s rights, needs, preferences, values, abilities, and environments. They work with clients to support their health and well-being.
Help people resume or maintain participation in everyday life.
Take a client-centered approach to co-create solutions.
Are trained in mental health.
Are able to perform psychotherapy.
Don’t prescribe medications.
Don’t order lab tests.
What you can expect from your occupational therapist
Working with an occupational therapist (OT) registered with the College ensures you get safe and ethical care.
Every OT practicing in Ontario has to meet the College’s requirements to call themselves an occupational therapist. The College ensures safety and quality in occupational therapy through our standards and programs.
Essential education and requirements
Occupational therapists need a certain level of education to be able to practice in Ontario. This ensures that they are qualified to work with you or someone in your care.
In order to practice in Ontario, OTs must have:
- a Bachelor of Science degree or Master of Science in Occupational Therapy obtained in Ontario; or
- an academic qualification considered equivalent by the College’s Registration Committee; plus
- a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised fieldwork (on-the-job training) or clinical practicum (observation and experience) as part of their education program.
“Every occupational therapist practicing in Ontario must meet the College’s requirements.”
Your rights as a client
Your care and well-being come first for your occupational therapist. They work with a high level of skills, knowledge and integrity. Your occupational therapist will work with you to develop an occupational therapy plan that can be reviewed and changed as needed.
You have the right to ask your occupational therapist any questions about your condition, progress and courses of action. You should receive explanations in plain language.
You can expect your occupational therapist to uphold your human rights and work with you to support your cultural and personal preferences.
You are in charge of your health and always have the right to get a second opinion.
Your occupational therapist is obliged to ensure your informed consent. That means you have to understand what will happen next, its benefits, risks and options, and decide to agree or not.
You have the right to know exactly what you’re paying for and your occupational therapist should explain any fees or billings.
Your personal health information should remain private and is shared only for the purposes of providing care to you.
The College exists to safeguard the public. That gives you a way to raise concerns and formally complain about any aspect of the care you get from an occupational therapist.
Funding your services
Occupational therapy services provided to patients in medical facilities such as hospitals and rehabilitation centres are financed by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Afterwards, you may need more help to resume or manage your daily activities, even if you don’t have a doctor’s referral. Learn more about the ways you can fund your care depending on your needs and circumstances.
Considerations when hiring an occupational therapist
Any occupational therapist should ask you a series of questions to understand your needs and goals. It’s just as important to have your questions answered, so that you have the information needed to make good decisions.
Consider asking or confirming the following:
Since occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, they will have different skills and experiences. Therefore, it is important to discuss your situation with your occupational therapist so they can tell you if they can help. Ask the occupational therapist about any knowledge and experience they have working with similar clients and how their training can help you meet your treatment goals.
- Can you tell me about a time you worked with others in similar situations?
- What kinds of treatment did you offer for past clients with similar challenges?
- How often will we need to meet to achieve my treatment goals?
If the occupational therapist has the knowledge, skills and experience you need, ask if they are taking on new clients. If not, ask if they can refer you to a colleague, or if they have a waitlist.
- Are you taking on new clients?
- When is the earliest date that I can begin working with you?
- If you are not available, can you refer me to another therapist that can help me?
- Can I be added to your waitlist if you have one?
Ask the occupational therapist if they know of any funding for the services (including insurance). If you will need to pay directly (upfront or reimbursement through insurance), ask about payment schedules and acceptable forms of payment.
- Will I need to pay at every session, or do you send an invoice?
- What are the acceptable methods of payment?
- Do you provide direct billing for any insurance coverage I might have?
See our resource for information on Funding for Occupational Therapy Services.
Have the occupational therapist provide you with a breakdown of their fees, including the cost of an initial assessment, follow-up visits and charges for additional services such as phone calls, emails, reports and any supplies or equipment.
- Would you be able to provide me a list of your services and fees?
- Are there additional costs associated with any supplies/equipment used for services?
Depending on your situation, treatment may be virtual (via phone or computer), at your home or another location (work, school, etc.). For virtual therapy, your occupational therapist can help you set up any technology you may need. If you need community or home services, ask the occupational therapist if there are any additional costs associated with travel time or mileage.
- Do you offer virtual or home-based services?
- Are there any additional costs for you to travel to see me?
- For virtual service, what technology and equipment will I need?
To properly support you, the occupational therapist may need a referral from your doctor or information from other health professionals involved in your care. The occupational therapist may benefit from speaking with them, with your consent. The occupational therapist may want you to sign a consent form as part of their informed consent process. If it is easier for you, have the occupational therapist provide you with paperwork before the first session so you can review it and ask any questions. You may want to keep a copy of each form for your own records.
- Can you send me any forms that I need to read and sign prior to treatment?
- Are there any forms for me to sign to grant you permission to speak to other healthcare professionals on my healthcare team?
At any time, you can tell an occupational therapist to stop services. The consequences of this decision will vary based on many factors, including the system that the occupational therapist is working in. However, when you have chosen your occupational therapist and hired them on your own, changing providers is your choice.
Before replacing any occupational therapist, you are encouraged to talk to them to see if any challenges can be resolved.
Relevant resources
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