What is Occupational Therapy Canada
David Craig
Updated on April 10, 2026
Occupational therapists, often called OTs, assess an individual’s situation by drawing upon evidence-based approaches and applying their specialized knowledge and skills to recommend a course of preventive or corrective action that will help people lead more productive and satisfying lives.
What does an occupational therapist do in Canada?
Occupational therapists, often called OTs, assess an individual’s situation by drawing upon evidence-based approaches and applying their specialized knowledge and skills to recommend a course of preventive or corrective action that will help people lead more productive and satisfying lives.
What is an example of occupational therapy?
For example, activities to build fine motor skills might include picking things up with tweezers. Exercises to improve gross motor skills might include jumping jacks or running an obstacle course. For someone who struggles with motor planning, therapists might work on daily routines like getting dressed.
What exactly does occupational therapist do?
Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.What is the difference between a therapist and an occupational therapist?
Physical therapy, also known as PT, focuses on helping improve your movement, mobility, and function. A physical therapist may do this by using a variety of exercises, stretches, or other physical activities. … Occupational therapy, also known as OT, focuses on helping you perform daily tasks more easily.
Is occupational therapist a doctor?
An occupational therapist is not a medical doctor or physician. They are clinicians who may have a bachelor, master, or doctorate degree.
Is becoming an OT hard?
The short answer is: YES, occupational therapy school is hard. … These programs want to ensure you’re equipped to competently and safely work in the healthcare field, so you’re going to have a good amount of science classes involved in any of these programs, along with challenging clinical/fieldwork rotations.
What skills are needed for occupational therapy?
- Communication skills. Occupational therapists must be able to listen attentively to what patients tell them and be able to explain what they want their patients to do.
- Compassion. …
- Flexibility. …
- Interpersonal skills. …
- Patience. …
- Writing skills.
What is occupational therapy in simple terms?
occupational therapy, use of self-care and work and play activities to promote and maintain health, prevent disability, increase independent function, and enhance development. Occupation includes all the activities or tasks that a person performs each day.
Who do occupational therapists treat?Occupational therapists work with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions; most commonly those who have difficulties due to a mental health illness, physical or learning disabilities.
Article first time published onWhat are some occupational therapy activities for adults?
- Activity: Origami paper folding. What you need: Origami paper and instructions. …
- Activity: Stringing beads. What you need: Large beads and a shoelace knotted at one end. …
- Activity: Ball Toss. What you need: A beach ball and a friend. …
- Activity: Memoir writing. …
- Activity: Yoga.
Which pays more occupational or physical therapy?
OT vs PT Salary Occupational therapy average salary: $83,200 per year. Physical therapy average salary: $86,850 per year.
Should I study physiotherapy or occupational therapy?
If you want the most possible job opportunities, you should go with physiotherapy. There are 5 times as many as there are occupational therapists. If you want recognition in society, physiotherapy is more readily and highly esteemed.
What part of the body is occupational therapy?
Typically occupational therapists are the specialists in conditions affecting the elbow, wrist and hand. Physical therapists treat anything spine related, and other body parts including the foot, ankle, knee, hip. Both professions treat the shoulder.
Is occupational therapist in demand?
Job Outlook Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
What are the disadvantages of being an occupational therapist?
- The Medical Field is Emotionally Stressful. …
- Occupational Therapy is a Physically Demanding Job. …
- Institutional Barriers May Prevent Desired Results. …
- Long Work Hours Are Common.
Is occupational Therapy stressful?
Being an occupational therapist can be stressful. Almost every setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others. So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you do have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis.
How much do occupational therapists make in Canada?
Average Salary for Occupational Therapist in Canada The average salary of Occupational Therapist in Canada is $80,505.
Is occupational therapy a good course?
A career as an Occupational Therapist may well be one of the more challenging yet rewarding job profiles in the industry. … The career path of an occupational therapist comes with immense scope for career satisfaction as being able to make a difference in the lives of the patients and those in pain, can be life-changing.
What type of person is an occupational therapist?
Occupational therapists tend to be predominantly social individuals, meaning that they thrive in situations where they can interact with, persuade, or help people. They also tend to be investigative, which means that they are quite inquisitive and curious people that often like to spend time alone with their thoughts.
How do you do occupational therapy at home?
- Use Graphics and Rewards to Avoid Overload and Reward Perseverance. …
- Create Rubrics to Set Clear Expectations and Guidelines. …
- Establish Calm Down Zones for Healthier Reactions. …
- Devise a Sensory Diet. …
- Decrease Distractions with ADHD-Specific Tricks.
Is occupational therapy a psychologist?
In conclusion, an occupational therapy career involves both physical and psychological interventions. With a psychology background, students are well-equipped to learn occupational therapy approaches. These approaches help clients towards mental health and physical development and recovery.
Why are groups used in occupational therapy?
By working with groups, an OT can help his or her patients with social interactions and interpersonal skills. Many patients enjoy OT sessions more when they’re able to work in groups. Group members can hold each other accountable for their OT work.
Why is occupational therapy not well known?
“Occupational therapy is less well-known because unlike physical and speech therapy our duties are not as clearly defined,” said Kathy Jurek, occupational therapist at Warm Springs Specialty Hospital in Luling. … Occupational therapists work on everything – everything that occupies your time.
Who makes more a nurse or occupational therapist?
A Nurse Or Occupational Therapists (OT), Who Earns More? (Explained) Nurse Practitioners make more than Occupational Therapists (OT), with a median pay of $117,670 compared to $86,280 per annum.
Do occupational therapist give massages?
The current role of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in residential aged care is to provide pain management which involves massaging people.