What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps people participate more fully in the activities that make everyday life possible and meaningful. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages whose ability to complete daily activities has been affected by an injury, illness, disability, developmental condition, mental health challenge, or age-related change.

The goal of occupational therapy is not simply to address a diagnosis or physical limitation. It is to help each person develop, recover, improve, or maintain the skills needed to care for themselves, learn, work, play, build relationships, and participate in their communities.

Occupational therapy definition
What does “occupation” mean?
What can occupational therapy help with?
How does occupational therapy work?
Who can benefit from occupational therapy?
Where do occupational therapists work?
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants
Is occupational therapy a growing career?
How do you become an occupational therapist?

Occupational Therapy Definition

The American Occupational Therapy Association explains that occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. Occupational therapy interventions use everyday activities to support health, well-being, independence, and participation in the parts of life that matter to each individual.

In practical terms, occupational therapy helps answer questions such as:

How can a person dress independently after a stroke?
How can a child participate more successfully in school?
How can an older adult continue living safely at home?
How can someone return to work after an injury?
How can a person manage sensory, cognitive, or mental health challenges during daily routines?
What equipment or environmental changes could make an activity safer or easier?

Occupational therapists consider the whole person, including physical abilities, thinking and memory, emotional well-being, habits, roles, relationships, personal goals, and the environments in which daily activities occur.

What Does 'Occupation' Mean in Occupational Therapy?

In occupational therapy, the word occupation describes the meaningful activities that occupy a person's time and contribute to identity, health, independence, and quality of life.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association's overview of occupations and everyday activities, occupations may take place at home, at school, at work, or in the community. They may be completed independently or with family members, friends, caregivers, or others.

Major categories of occupation include:

Activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, grooming, and moving safely through daily environments
Instrumental activities of daily living: preparing meals, managing finances, shopping, caring for others, maintaining a home, and using transportation
Health management: managing medications, medical appointments, exercise, nutrition, symptoms, and health routines
Education: participating in school, studying, completing assignments, and accessing learning environments
Work: finding employment, performing job duties, returning to work, and adapting a workplace
Rest and sleep: establishing routines and environments that support restorative sleep
Play and leisure: participating in recreation, hobbies, sports, creative interests, and enjoyable activities
Social participation: developing relationships and participating in family, community, and social life

Occupational therapy is highly individualized because the same activity may hold a different meaning for each person.

What Can Occupational Therapy Help With?

Occupational therapy can address physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, behavioral, environmental, and social factors that affect a person's ability to participate in everyday life.

Depending on the individual's needs and goals, occupational therapy may help with:

Improving strength, coordination, balance, endurance, and fine motor skills
Relearning daily activities after an injury, surgery, or neurological event
Developing strategies for memory, attention, planning, organization, and problem-solving
Managing sensory processing differences
Adapting routines for physical or mental health conditions
Supporting handwriting, classroom participation, and other school-related tasks
Using assistive devices, mobility equipment, or adaptive technology
Modifying homes, classrooms, workplaces, or community environments
Preventing falls and improving home safety
Supporting caregivers and family members
Preparing to return to work, school, driving, recreation, or community life
Building habits and routines that support health and well-being

Occupational therapy does not rely on a single treatment method. An occupational therapist selects activities, exercises, strategies, equipment, and environmental modifications based on the person's abilities, priorities, and desired outcomes.

How Does Occupational Therapy Work?

Occupational therapy usually begins with an evaluation. The occupational therapist learns about the person's medical history, current abilities, daily routines, environment, interests, responsibilities, and goals.

A typical occupational therapy process may include:

Developing an occupational profile. The therapist identifies the activities, roles, routines, and goals that are most important to the client.
Evaluating performance. The therapist observes or assesses how the person completes relevant tasks and identifies barriers to participation.
Creating an individualized plan. The therapist and client establish goals and select interventions designed to improve function, independence, safety, or participation.
Completing therapeutic interventions. Treatment may involve practicing meaningful activities, developing skills, modifying tasks, using adaptive equipment, educating caregivers, or changing the environment.
Measuring outcomes. The therapist evaluates progress and adjusts the plan based on the client's needs and goals.

Because occupational therapy is centered on meaningful participation, treatment often incorporates real-world activities rather than focusing only on isolated exercises. A therapist might help a client practice preparing food, navigating a classroom, using workplace equipment, establishing a morning routine, or safely completing personal-care tasks.

Examples of Occupational Therapy in Everyday Life

Occupational therapy can look very different depending on the person, setting, and goal. Examples include:

Helping a person recovering from a stroke learn new ways to dress, prepare meals, or use one side of the body more effectively
Supporting a child in developing fine motor, sensory, attention, or social skills needed for classroom participation
Recommending home modifications and fall-prevention strategies for an older adult who wants to remain at home
Helping a worker adapt tasks, tools, or a workstation after an injury
Teaching someone with arthritis how to conserve energy, protect joints, and use adaptive equipment
Helping a person with a spinal cord injury learn to use mobility and self-care equipment
Developing daily routines that support recovery, emotional regulation, or mental well-being
Helping an individual with cognitive changes use calendars, reminders, labels, or other strategies to complete daily tasks

In each case, the goal is connected to what the person needs or wants to do—not simply to the underlying condition.

Who Can Benefit From Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists work with people across the lifespan, from infants and children to working adults and older adults.

Children and Adolescents

Pediatric occupational therapy may help children participate in play, learning, self-care, social interaction, and family routines. Occupational therapists may work with children who have developmental delays, autism, cerebral palsy, sensory processing challenges, injuries, neurological conditions, or other needs that affect participation.

Adults

Adults may receive occupational therapy following an injury, surgery, stroke, neurological condition, mental health challenge, chronic illness, or change in functional ability. Occupational therapy can support a return to work, independent living, parenting, community participation, and other meaningful roles.

Older Adults

Occupational therapists help older adults maintain independence and continue participating in valued activities. Services may address home safety, fall prevention, mobility, cognition, vision, arthritis, dementia, recovery after hospitalization, or the management of chronic conditions.

Families and Caregivers

Occupational therapy may also include caregiver education and training. Therapists can help family members understand safe techniques, establish routines, use adaptive equipment, and support a loved one's independence.

Where Do Occupational Therapists Work?

Occupational therapy can be provided wherever people carry out daily activities. The American Occupational Therapy Association identifies homes, schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and community settings among the many places in which occupational therapy practitioners work.

Common occupational therapy practice settings include:

Hospitals and medical centers
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
Outpatient clinics
Schools and early-intervention programs
Pediatric hospitals and therapy centers
Skilled nursing facilities
Home-health agencies
Mental and behavioral health programs
Community health organizations
Veterans' healthcare settings
Workplace and injury-prevention programs
Private practices
Research, administration, education, and consulting

The wide variety of practice settings allows occupational therapists to work with different populations and, over the course of a career, move among areas of professional interest.

What Is the Difference Between an Occupational Therapist and an Occupational Therapy Assistant?

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants work together, but their educational preparation and professional responsibilities differ.

Occupational Therapist

An occupational therapist evaluates the client, identifies occupational performance needs, develops the intervention plan, monitors outcomes, and provides or oversees occupational therapy services. Occupational therapists complete graduate-level occupational therapy education and must satisfy certification and state licensure requirements.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

An occupational therapy assistant helps implement the intervention plan under the supervision of an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy assistants complete an accredited occupational therapy assistant program and must meet applicable certification and state regulatory requirements.

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy awards the OTR credential to certified occupational therapists and the COTA credential to certified occupational therapy assistants.

Is Occupational Therapy the Same as Physical Therapy?

Occupational therapy and physical therapy are distinct professions, although practitioners may collaborate as part of a rehabilitation team.

Physical therapy commonly focuses on movement, strength, balance, mobility, pain, and physical function. Occupational therapy focuses on how physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, and environmental factors affect a person's ability to participate in meaningful daily activities.

For example, after an injury, a physical therapist may help a patient improve walking ability and lower-body strength. An occupational therapist may help the same patient safely bathe, dress, prepare meals, return to work, or adapt the home environment.

The professions often address related needs, but each contributes a different perspective to recovery and participation.

Why Is Occupational Therapy Important?

The ability to participate in everyday life is closely connected to independence, identity, health, relationships, and well-being. When illness, injury, disability, environmental barriers, or other circumstances interfere with daily activities, the effects can extend far beyond the original diagnosis.

Occupational therapy helps people address the practical consequences of those changes. By focusing on the person's goals and real-life environment, occupational therapists help clients translate improvements in strength, cognition, coping, or coordination into meaningful participation.

Occupational therapy can also support prevention. Therapists may identify safety risks, recommend ergonomic changes, establish health-supporting routines, educate caregivers, and modify activities before a more serious problem develops.

Is Occupational Therapy a Growing Career?

The occupational therapy profession is expected to experience strong employment growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of occupational therapists to grow 14% from 2024 through 2034, which is much faster than the projected average for all occupations.

BLS projects approximately 10,200 occupational therapist openings per year, on average, during that period. Demand is expected to be influenced by the needs of an aging population and the continued use of occupational therapy for individuals with injuries, disabilities, neurological conditions, developmental disorders, and chronic health needs.

The national median annual wage for occupational therapists was $98,340 in May 2024. Actual salaries vary according to experience, geographic location, employer, practice setting, and other factors.

How Do You Become an Occupational Therapist?

Becoming an occupational therapist requires graduate education, supervised fieldwork, national certification, and state licensure.

The general path includes:

Complete a bachelor's degree and any required prerequisite coursework.
Earn an entry-level occupational therapy master's or doctoral degree from an appropriately accredited program.
Complete the fieldwork experiences required by the occupational therapy program.
Pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy examination.
Meet the occupational therapy licensing requirements of the state in which you plan to practice.

AOTA's guide to becoming an occupational therapy practitioner provides additional information about education, certification, and licensure.

Students seeking doctoral-level preparation can explore the University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. Located in the Kansas City metropolitan area, USM's three-year OTD program combines classroom instruction, laboratory learning, simulation, fieldwork, a doctoral capstone, and leadership development rooted in the University's Catholic and Vincentian mission.

Prospective students can also review the OTD admissions requirements and application process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Occupational Therapy

What is occupational therapy in simple terms?

Occupational therapy helps people do the daily activities they need or want to do. These activities may include caring for themselves, attending school, working, managing a home, participating in relationships, enjoying hobbies, and living independently.

Does occupational therapy only help people with jobs?

No. In occupational therapy, “occupation” means any meaningful daily activity—not only paid employment. Self-care, play, education, sleep, social participation, health management, and leisure are all forms of occupation.

What conditions do occupational therapists treat?

Occupational therapists work with people affected by many different conditions, including injuries, stroke, arthritis, developmental disabilities, autism, neurological disorders, mental health conditions, chronic illnesses, cognitive changes, and age-related limitations. Services are based on functional needs and goals rather than diagnosis alone.

Do occupational therapists work with children?

Yes. Pediatric occupational therapists may help children develop skills needed for play, learning, self-care, social interaction, sensory regulation, handwriting, and classroom participation.

Do occupational therapists work in mental health?

Yes. Occupational therapy has long included mental and behavioral health practice. Occupational therapists may help people establish routines, manage stress, develop coping strategies, participate socially, return to work or school, and improve daily functioning.

Is an occupational therapist a licensed healthcare professional?

Yes. Occupational therapists must meet the educational, examination, and licensing requirements that apply in the jurisdiction where they practice.

Prepare for a Career in Occupational Therapy

The University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy program prepares students to become compassionate, skilled, and ethical occupational therapists through hands-on learning, fieldwork, doctoral scholarship, and service.

Explore the USM OTD program

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