Mahi Mind Center

The mental health treatment journey requires a collaborative effort by many people — the individual, his or her caregivers, support providers, doctors, nurses, teachers, aides, counselors, therapists, and social workers. This collaborative process allows everyone to work together to reach a specific goal: improving the individual’s quality and enjoyment of life by identifying and meeting appropriate behaviors and skills.

Occupational therapy often is misunderstood in this process. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, the primary goal of occupational therapy is to support and enable each person’s “health and participation in life through engagement in occupation.”

“Occupation” does not solely mean work. Some examples of occupations include time spent on personal hygiene, preparing a meal, managing finances, painting a picture, attending a community leisure course, and socializing with others. Occupational therapists enhance people’s ability to live meaningful and satisfying lives.

The purpose of occupational therapy can best be described by the profession’s motto, “Occupational therapy: living life to its fullest.” All individuals have a right to live life to its fullest. An occupational therapist can help people consider not only their needs, strengths, abilities, and interests, but also their physical, social, and cultural environment.

Common areas of assessment include:

• Activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing, eating)
• Instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., driving, money management, shopping)
• Education
• Work (paid and volunteer)
• Play
• Leisure
• Social participation
• Motor processing skills
• Mental and cognitive processing skills
• Communication and interaction skills
• Habits, roles and routines
• Performance contexts (e.g., cultural, physical, spiritual)
• Activity demands
• Client factors (e.g., difficulties due to body structures or functions)
• Occupational self-assessment