What Is Occupational Therapy? Guide for Adults, Kids & Families

Top 5 Questions About Occupational Therapy – Answered

If you’ve ever wondered what occupational therapy is or whether it could help you, you’re not alone. Many people have heard of OT but don’t really know what it means—or assume it’s only for job-related rehab. The truth is, occupational therapy is a life-changing health service that supports people of all ages in living more independently and confidently.

In this guide, Dr. Brandy Archie, OTD, OTR/L, answers the five most common questions about occupational therapy, with deep dives into occupational therapy for adults and pediatric occupational therapy.

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people do the things that matter most to them. In OT, “occupations” are not just careers—they are daily life activities:

• Getting dressed
  
  

• Cooking meals
  
  

• Driving
  
  

• Playing or learning at school
  
  

• Enjoying hobbies
  
  

If an illness, injury, disability, or aging makes these activities harder, OT helps bridge the gap. Therapists use three approaches:

1. Adapt the environment (for example, adding grab bars in the bathroom).
   
   

2. Modify the task (such as teaching energy-saving ways to cook after surgery).
   
   

3. Build skills (through exercises, strategies, or routines that restore independence).
   
   

OT is holistic and evidence-based, considering the person, their environment, and their desired activities together. This is why people searching “what is occupational therapy” often discover it’s broader—and more practical—than they imagined.

OT Insight: Imagine someone recovering from a hip replacement. An OT can recommend adaptive tools for dressing, teach safe movement techniques, and even suggest home modifications so recovery doesn’t stop independence.

What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) Do?

Occupational therapy assistants (COTAs) are licensed professionals who work under the direction of an OT. After the OT develops a care plan, the OTA often delivers day-to-day treatment, coaching clients through activities, exercises, and practice.

They’re the hands-on teammates who make therapy goals happen in real life. For example, while an OT may evaluate a child with sensory processing challenges, the OTA will guide them through play-based strategies week after week to improve regulation and participation.

Why Is OT Important and Who Does It Help?

Occupational therapy is important because it focuses on function and independence—the things that matter most for quality of life.

Here’s who it helps:

• Children: OT supports developmental delays, sensory challenges, handwriting, and play skills. This is where “pediatric occupational therapy” shines. Kids’ main jobs are to learn and play, and OT ensures they can do both successfully.
  
  

• Adults: Whether recovering from a stroke, brain injury, surgery, or managing chronic illness, OT empowers adults to regain independence. Searches for “occupational therapy for adults” are growing because people want alternatives beyond traditional rehab.
  
  

• Older Adults: OT helps seniors age in place by maximizing abilities, recommending adaptive equipment, and creating safer home environments.
  
  

• Mental Health: OT also supports people with mental health conditions, teaching strategies to manage daily life with more confidence.
  
  

Why it works: OT is always individualized. By aligning therapy with what a person actually wants and needs to do, motivation stays high and progress feels meaningful.

Types of Occupational Therapy & Settings

Occupational therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all—it happens in many different places, depending on your needs:

• Pediatric OT: Schools, clinics, and homes supporting children’s play, learning, and participation.
  
  

• Inpatient OT: Hospitals, rehab units, or skilled nursing facilities focusing on recovery after serious illness or surgery.
  
  

• Outpatient OT: Clinics for follow-up care, strengthening, or targeted interventions.
  
  

• Home Health OT: Therapy delivered in the comfort of your home, especially after hospital discharge.
  
  

• Community-based OT: Flexible services in local centers, nature programs, or even virtual care.
  
  

OT Insight: Choosing the right setting depends on your goals—pediatric OT for developmental needs, outpatient OT for targeted rehab, or home health OT if recovery is happening at home.

How Does OT Help Adults with ADHD?

ADHD doesn’t only affect children—millions of adults live with it too, and OT provides practical strategies such as:

• Time management systems – calendars, reminders, visual schedules.
  
  

• Environmental modifications – organizing workspaces to reduce distractions.
  
  

• Daily routines – designing structure that works with, not against, the ADHD brain.
  
  

• Compensatory strategies – checklists, habit stacking, and task chunking.
  
  

Instead of trying to “fix” someone, OT builds systems that fit who they are, making life more manageable and less overwhelming.

Conclusion

Occupational therapy is about so much more than rehabilitation. It’s about living life fully—whether you’re a child learning to play, an adult recovering from injury, or someone navigating ADHD or aging changes.

If you’ve been searching “what is occupational therapy,” “occupational therapy for adults,” or “pediatric occupational therapy,” the answer is simple: OT helps you keep doing what matters most.

👉 Ready to take the next step? Visit AskSAMIE.com to explore OT tools, adaptive equipment, and resources that make everyday life easier.