Concerning Occupational Therapy In Mental Health

By Edna Booker


The treatment of mental health is a process that requires a lot of collaboration by the involved people. These include the caregivers, the client, support providers, teachers, nurses, therapists, counselors, aides and also social workers. Everyone in the team has a goal to achieve but all lead to attaining improvement of the quality of life and comfortability of the client. This is by identification and meeting of appropriate skills and behavior. Below is a discussion concerning occupational therapy in mental health.

This kind of therapy is one of its kind but most people do not understand it well. The association of occupational therapy in America summarizes its goal as to offer support and empower each person to take part fully in his life and health by commitment in a particular occupation. When the client is allowed to take part in purposeful activity, his or her well-being, self-esteem and sense of attainment are boosted.

By occupation however is not just work. This takes in to inclusion socialization with others, attendance into a leisure course within the community, picture painting, management of finances, preparing meals and the time used to take care of personal hygiene. The therapists augment ability of patients to lead lives which are satisfying and meaningful.

The purpose of this kind of therapy can be described as helping people live life to the fullest. These professionals help a client to take into consideration their needs, abilities, strengths and interests too. Their social, cultural and physical environment is to be taken into account too. This enables the therapist gain understanding about the various factors relating to the occupation the patient is engaged in. Also the environment they live in which influences their mental status and their functioning ability too.

The psychotherapists believe in treating all the aspects that make up the person. It does not matter whether the issue relates to the physical or mental domain. They can be found in various places like new born intensive care entity, workplace, community programs, home health, transitional care facilities, nursing facilities, outpatient clinics and hospitals. Those specifically dealing with this matter can be found in residential hospitals, community health programs and private clinics outpatient departments.

The management of patients starts with relevant data collection done by carrying out a number of assessments. Once this is done, occupational profile of the patient is created. This is the tool to be used to come up with goals and a plan of treatment too. The assessments include work, education, leisure, play, motor dispensation skills and social participation level. Activity demands, client factors, interacting and communication skills and also cognitive-mental processing skills are assessed too.

After this assessments, interventions are carried out which include modalities like mindful-enhanced therapy, life balancing interventions, interpersonal and social skills training, supported education, supported employment, cognitive rehabilitation and training in life skills.

While the work of this therapist may overlay that of other members in the team, they provide unique clinical and theoretical contribution towards treatment and recovery team. For this reason, they are to be taken as a dynamic part of the integrated and comprehensive treatment program.




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