As an Occupational Therapist (aka OT) working with children, young people and their supporting folks, I can hand on heart say that the best part of my job is making sure that your amazing young person is at the centre of what I do with them. OTs are all about using the strengths and interests of your young one and putting it at the core of the therapy plan. We, OTs, know that by doing this we will likely get a level intrigue and interest at some point from the child. This is professionally known as our ‘therapeutic use of self’. Sure, we know this can take a bit of patience sometimes but if the young person is going to engage then this is just one of our secret weapons to support them.
In the interest of being candid, we also acknowledge that some children may be unable to engage with professionals for various reasons—whether it’s not the right time for them, they are going through a major life transition, or introducing another person would be overwhelming. In such cases, we work with the network supporting the child, providing remote assessments, consultations, advice, and recommendations regarding the child and their physical or social environment.
You might wonder why all of this is so important, considering OTs can simply provide aids, adaptations, and advice. However, we also recognise that building rapport and delivering meaningful treatments will yield significant long-term benefits. Firstly, it’s about empowering the child to have a voice in accessing and engaging with health and wellbeing services, both now and in the future. Secondly, it’s about carefully fostering skills and independence by avoiding over-reliance on tools, instead encouraging consistent effort, energy, and motivation to build long-term self-sufficiency.
Because OTs work with children to attain their chosen and required occupations, we are trained to help them achieve in areas such as self-care, play, social interaction, learning, and developing independence – providing us with a broad scope with how and where we work. Therefore, you may have come across OTs who work in homes, education settings and statutory services like paediatric OTs in children centres or CAMHS OT working in mental health and neurodiverse services. Many of these OTs aim to work as holistically as possible within the parameters of that setting to help their patients recover, overcome or adapt to challenges that prevent them living the life they need and want.
At bMindful Psychology Ltd, our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of children and young people. Our experienced Occupational Therapist takes a holistic approach to support your child in achieving their personal goals, whether these are things they need or want to accomplish.
Our OT can provide support in areas such as:
Setting and Achieving Meaningful Goals: Helping children identify and work toward purposeful and fulfilling objectives.
Collaborating with Support Networks: Involving and empowering parents, carers, educators, and other supporting adults.
Developmental Milestones: Offering strategies to support sensory, motor, perceptual, gross, and fine motor skills development.
Mental Health Challenges: Assisting children and young people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health conditions by building coping mechanisms and strategies for emotional regulation.
Sensory Differences: Addressing and managing sensory processing challenges.
Independence and Interdependence: Promoting self-reliance and mutual collaboration with others.
Social Participation: Encouraging and facilitating meaningful interactions with peers and community.
Learning Difficulties and Disabilities: Supporting understanding and management of challenges in learning.
To meet the diverse needs of this client group, our Occupational Therapist employs a variety of approaches, including:
Family and Network Support: Empowering families and carers with tools and strategies to help the child thrive.
Support with Educational, Health, and Care Plans: Assisting with the development and implementation of tailored plans.
1:1 Assessments: Conducting individualized evaluations to understand specific needs.
Specialized Interventions: Designing targeted therapies to address unique challenges.
Team Consultation: Collaborating with the child’s support network to ensure cohesive care.
Aids and Adaptations: Recommending and providing tools to enhance daily functioning.
Environmental Audits and Assessments: Reviewing and advising on physical and social environments to improve accessibility and comfort.
Group Work: Facilitating group sessions to support shared learning and social interaction.
Our goal is to provide tailored, practical support that empowers children and young people to achieve their potential and lead fulfilling lives.
If you would like more information please get in touch on contact 0161 510 0111 for more information.
Comments