Occupational therapists (OTs) are celebrating this month.  What are OTs celebrating? The profession that helps individuals of all ages to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.¹

The field of OT has three main governing organizations:  the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the respective state OT association.  A national exam is administered by NBCOT which graduates from an accredited OT program must pass, and then receive a national license. AOTA governs advocacy and national policy.  In the state of MN, the MN Occupational Therapy Association supports MN policy and holds an annual conference. Occupational Therapists are required to hold a license in the state in which they work, as well as a NBCOT license.  Additionally, OTs can earn additional certifications in various fields, such as pediatrics or a practice theory.^1,2,3

The AOTA defines occupational therapy as the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. Occupational therapy services are provided for the purpose of promoting health and wellness and to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life.³

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recover from injury to regain skills, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. It is an evidence-based practice deeply rooted in science.³

If you want optimize your health through our occupational therapy services, contact us today to schedule your free consultation

Happy OT Month!

Beth Mayotte, OTR/L, CWCE
Occupational Therapist
Live Your Life^TM
Bringing Physical Therapy & Wellness to You!

Beth Mayotte graduated with a B.A. in Occupational Therapy from St. Catherine University in 1997. Following internships in Berkeley and Fremont CA, Beth worked in Abiliene, Texas in inpatient rehab servicing 19 counties. Beth was part of an interdisciplinary team that treated spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and general orthopedic and neurologic diagnoses.

Beth returned to MN in 2001 to work in various settings including long term care, transitional care, and acute care. Starting in 2007, she worked in a non-traditional outpatient clinic utilizing a Postural Restoration perspective on land and in the pool. Working from a Postural Restoration perspective, Beth also utilized Graston techniques, modalities, balance and strength training, and pool therapy to help the client achieve their goals and maximum physical abilities.

In addition to Live Your Life PT, Beth currently works for Blankenheim Services LLC and is contracted at manufacturing sites, providing onsite ergonomic assessments and Rehab Response Services to employees both on the factory floor and in office environments.

Beth loves the freedom and flexibility her career as an Occupational Therapist has provided her and her family. She also loves the ability to partner closely with the client to achieve their goals, support them, and witness their journey to improved health and independence.

References:
¹Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association.  http://www.motafunctionfirst.org/about-ot.  Date Accessed 6 April, 2018.

²National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy. https://www.nbcot.org/ Date Accessed 6 April, 2018.

³American Occupational Therapy Association.  https://www.aota.org/ Date Accessed 6 April, 2018.