What does a Mental Health Occupational Therapist do?

Occupational therapists working in mental health help others to achieve the everyday meaningful activities that people engage in or occupy themselves in. They draw on a range of psychological and occupational therapy strategies to help people understand and cope with their daily function, productivity and capacity through the prescription of graded activities. (OTAus)

In addition to the CHIME Recovery Framework, services are guided by the following theoretical approaches:

• Trauma-Informed Care

• Strength-Based Approach

• Occupational Performance Model of Australia

• Person-Environment-Occupation Model

• Sensory Approaches

• Biopsychosocial Model

How do you assist to identify my goals and support needs?

Through the use of standardised assessments, observation and conversation, your personal priorities are identified and holistic recommendations are provided.

Standardised assessments include:

• Allen’s Cognitive Levels Screen (ACLS)

• Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform (PRPP)

• The Recovery Star

• Adolescent / Adult Sensory Profile

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

• World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0)

• Life Skills Profile (LSP-16)

Functional Capacity Assessments include:

• Mobility

• Routines

• Self-care

• Home maintenance

• Community access and activities

• Shopping, meal planning and preparation

• Managing finances

• Participation in meaningful activities

• Interpersonal relationships

• Cognitive function

• Sensory preferences

How do you assist to empower meaningful change?

Some of the ways we can help include:

• Developing a collaborative care plan to meet your goals

• Psychoeducation

• Routine development and activity scheduling

• Life skills training

• Emotional regulation skills training

• Sleep hygiene

• Safety planning

• Vocational counselling and support

• Modifying the environment to support function

• Transport training

• Assistive technology

• NDIS access, plan review, housing assessments and reports

• Support for carers

The care plan is regularly reviewed with you to ensure the intervention is meeting your needs and modifications are made in response to your growth and feedback.