EMPOWERED WELLNESS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Frequently Asked Questions
What is occupational therapy?
An occupational therapy practitioner will keep the focus on YOU- your goals, your activities, and your independence. Occupational therapy considers the complex relationship between you, the activity, and the environment in which the activity takes place. Occupational therapy supports people across the lifespan in doing the activities they want and need to do. This is accomplished through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, based on the client's personal interests and needs. Occupational therapy services can help you: -Stay as healthy and productive as possible while managing chronic medical conditions -Regain skills you need to function in your job after an injury at work -Provide support to older adults experiencing cognitive or physical changes. -Maintain or rebuild your independence, such as using assistive devices so you can care for yourself after a stroke. -Achieve goals, such as helping your teenager with a developmental disability gain the skills to transition from high school to independent living as an adult. -Participate in the everyday activities important to you, such as driving, visiting friends, going to church, and other activities that keep you involved with your community. In short, an occupational therapy practitioner can help you live life to its fullest no matter your health condition, disability, or risk factors. What are "Occupations"? “Your life is made up of occupations—meaningful everyday activities. These occupations can include many roles, such as being a parent, a friend, a spouse, a tennis player, an artist, a cook, or a musician. We generally don’t think about our daily occupations until we have trouble doing them. Everyone has occupations— from the toddler whose occupations are play and learning to develop important skills, to the older adult whose occupations are engaging with family and friends and managing his or her home. If you are recovering from an accident or injury, your valued occupations may be disrupted. Occupational therapy incorporates your valued occupations into the rehabilitation process." Sources: https://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Manage/Presentation-Resources/Brochure/What-Is-OT-brochure.pdf https://www.aota.org/about/for-the-media/about-occupational-therapy
What is "health management"?
The American Occupational Therapy Association defines Health Management as the "Activities related to developing, managing, and maintaining health and wellness routines, including self-management, with the goal of improving or maintaining health to support participation in other occupations” (AOTA, 2020). In other words, it is all of the activities you do in your day-to-day life to stay healthy and manage your health. It includes taking care of your mental and emotional health, managing symptoms/ flare-ups, communicating with your medical team, going to appointments, getting and taking your medications, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020b). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ ajot.2020.74S2001
How often should I see you & for how long?
Based on a review of the current literature and research from Aleek's dissertation, the recommended frequency and duration of appointments is 6-8 weeks, with a session every week or every other week. This amount provides enough time for developing the necessary skills and problem-solving barriers to success. However, this is just a suggestion. You have the freedom to see us for as long as you like and as often as you like, whether that means more often or less often.
Are appointments online or in person?
Appointments are mainly online using live video calling, with some in-person appointments available on an as-needed basis. Having appointments online makes it easier to find time for your appointments in the busyness of daily life and is very helpful for clients who have low energy, pain, or are unable to drive themselves.
Do you accept insurance?
At this time, we am private pay only. Private pay gives us the flexibility and freedom to create a more valuable experience for our clients. Insurance companies often impose limitations on what diagnoses are covered and limit treatment options. With private pay, we are no longer bound by the insurance company's restrictions, and we can work together to create a treatment plan that makes sense for your unique needs.