Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Broadly speaking, Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on supporting individuals of all ages to participate in activities that they want or need to do. Occupational Therapy involves a holistic and client-centred approach that considers the individual’s physical, psychosocial, environmental and cultural factors. Occupational Therapy aims to improve quality of life by promoting health, well-being, and participation in meaningful activities.

Occupational Therapy generally involves assessment to identify and understand an individual’s needs; intervention to support an individual to address challenges and achieve their goals; and progress review to ensure intervention is effective and resulting in meaningful change for the individual.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) provide Occupational Therapy services. OTs work with individuals across the lifespan, including those who experience difficulties with functioning in daily life due to health conditions, disabilities, injuries, and aging-related issues. OTs work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, medical and/or rehabilitation centres, schools, clinics, private practices, and within the community. OTs can work in several areas of practice (e.g. mental health, women’s health, children’s health, aged care) or specialise in a specific area (e.g. educating others, working with neurodivergent individuals).

At Neurodiverse Therapies, we provide neurodiversity affirming occupational therapy assessment and intervention at our clinic and via telehealth. Our services are currently available for the following people:

• Neurodivergent adolescents, teenagers and adults with functional disability related to Autism and ADHD
• Caregivers of neurodivergent children with functional disability related to Autism and ADHD
• Adults with chronic or episodic Migraine-related disability
• Partners of adults with chronic or episodic Migraine-related disability

Occupational Therapy Assessment

At Neurodiverse Therapies, our neurodiversity affirming Occupational Therapy assessment has been designed for the following people:

• Neurodivergent adolescents, teenagers and adults with functional disability related to Autism and ADHD
• Caregivers of neurodivergent children with functional disability related to Autism and ADHD 
• Adults with chronic or episodic Migraine-related disability 
• Partners of adults with chronic or episodic Migraine-related disability 

Assessment involves an initial consult, followed by a bespoke suite of assessments depending on your needs, values, preferences and budget. The aim of assessment is to establish a therapeutic and collaborative relationship with you, understand your needs in relation to occupational therapy support, and to allow the therapist to develop intervention that is tailored to your needs, values, preferences, budget and abilities.

Specific assessment services include:

• INITIAL CONSULT (1.5 hours) – to establish a therapeutic relationship, understand your (and/or your child’s and/or partner’s) current needs and some of the barriers and enablers to functioning well, collaboratively develop a plan for occupational therapy services required, and to commence collaborative goal setting
• FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT (60-minute sessions) – to understand your purpose, values, interests, strengths and difficulties so you can better understand yourself and what you need to feel free to be yourself and to function well in daily life (and/or your child’s and/or partner’s)
• NEEDS ASSESSMENT (60-minute sessions) – to further explore barriers and enablers to functioning well, to identify habits and routines that are helping and hindering function, and to determine supports and changes needed to enable you to feel free to be yourself and to function well in daily life (and/or your child’s and/or partner’s)
• NEURODIVERSITY SCREENING (60-minute sessions) – a guided process to identify neurodivergent traits, strengths and difficulties, to deepen your awareness and understanding if you suspect you (or your child) are Autistic and/or have ADHD
• SENSORY PROCESSING SCREENING (60-minute sessions) – a guided process to identify sensory preferences, to deepen your awareness and understanding of your unique sensory profile and needs, and how this impacts your function in daily life

We currently offer clinic-based and telehealth services.

Once your assessment is completed, the occupational therapist will offer you bespoke, goal-informed intervention that is designed in collaboration with you, based on your values, needs, preferences, budget and abilities. Progress reviews and future planning are completed at the end of intervention.

Enquire today about choosing a neurodiversity affirming occupational therapy package for your needs and budget! We currently offer 3 assessment and intervention packages to suit different needs and budgets:

• Bronze package (5 sessions) = initial consult + additional assessment + 2 intervention sessions + progress review and future planning session
• Silver package (10 sessions) = initial consult + functional assessment + needs assessment + additional assessment if required + 5 to 6 intervention sessions + progress review and future planning session
• Gold package (12+ sessions) = initial consult + functional assessment + needs assessment + additional assessment if required + 7 to 8 intervention sessions + additional intervention if required + progress review and future planning session

Occupational Therapy Intervention

At Neurodiverse Therapies, our neurodiversity affirming Occupational Therapy intervention has been designed for the following people:

• Neurodivergent adolescents, teenagers and adults with functional disability related to Autism and ADHD
• Caregivers of neurodivergent children with functional disability related to Autism and ADHD 
• Adults with chronic or episodic Migraine-related disability 
• Partners of adults with chronic or episodic Migraine-related disability 

At Neurodiverse Therapies, our neurodiversity affirming Occupational Therapy intervention has been designed based on:

• Available evidence, specialist expertise and lived experience
• Our 3 core values of freedom, function and empowerment
• Our practice motto of “neurodiversity is your superpower”
• Our mission to empower you to feel and function at your best every day
• An approach that is person-centred, goal-informed and values-based
• Intervention involves a unique blend of coaching, psychoeducation, and explicit development of executive function skills

One example of a specific, evidence-based intervention we use is Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (The CO-OP Approach^TM). The CO-OP Approach^TM is a performance-based therapy that can be used for individuals who have difficulties performing the skills they want to, need to or are expected to perform. It is an active (not passive), highly customised, and client-centred approach that engages an individual at the meta-cognitive level to solve performance problems.

The CO-OP Approach^TM is an internationally acclaimed therapy by therapists and researchers. The objectives of The CO-OP Approach^TM are: skill acquisition, development of cognitive strategies, generalisation of skills and strategies into daily life, and transfer of learning to new skills and contexts. At Neurodiverse Therapies, we can use this approach to assist individuals to discover, develop and practise cognitive strategies to develop or improve the following skills:

• Self-care – holistic symptom management for symptoms such as pain, fatigue, stress, and burnout (e.g. energy conservation, task pacing, mind-body techniques), and daily habits and routines to prioritise self-care
• Household – daily habits and routines for meal planning and preparation, cleaning, laundry 
• Education and/or work – daily habits and routines for study, paid and unpaid work
• Social and leisure – habits and routines for participating in social and leisure activities; and connecting with and communicating with others
• Executive function (based on a model of six executive function “clusters” by ADHD researcher Tom Brown, PhD; https://chadd.org/about-adhd/executive-function-skills/) –
  • organising, prioritising and activating for tasks
  • focusing, sustaining and shifting attention to tasks
  • regulating alertness, sustaining effort and processing speed
  • managing frustration and modulating emotions
  • using working memory and accessing recall
  • monitoring and self-regulating actions

The CO-OP Approach^TM is focused on enabling success and independence by employing collaborative goal setting, dynamic performance analysis, cognitive strategy use, guided discovery, and enabling principles. These elements are all considered essential to The CO-OP Approach^TM and are provided within a structured intervention format.

Please note, The CO-OP Approach^TM is not suitable for all individuals, and suitability must be determined by a certified therapist. However, research has found benefits of The CO-OP Approach^TM for:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
• Developmental disabilities
• Dyslexia
• Older healthy adults with cognitive complaints

The CO-OP Approach^TM can be provided to children, adolescents, teenagers and adults; as deemed appropriate by the therapist.   

Information sourced from: The CO-OP Approach – Icancoop; Publications – Icancoop; and training undertaken by Dr Micah Perez, who is a certified CO-OP Therapist. To become a certified CO-OP Therapist requires additional training.

Watch this TED Talk video to hear about the success of the CO-OP Approach^TM from Occupational Therapy Professor Emeritus Helene Polatajko: The problem with cookie-cutter physical therapy  | Helene Polatajko | TEDxToronto.

Another example of an evidence-based coaching intervention we use at Neurodiverse Therapies is Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC). OPC was originally designed for rehabilitation specialists to assist parents of children with developmental disabilities. However, OPC is now used by multiple rehabilitation professions to support people of all ages (and their caregivers) with diverse health conditions and disabilities to realise their aspirations for themselves, their loved ones, and their families. OPC draws from core principles of occupational therapy that people learn, develop and grow from doing the things they value as fully as they wish and are able to. OPC empowers people to achieve personally valued change in life domains. OPC can be provided to adults and caregivers of children; as deemed appropriate by the therapist.

At Neurodiverse Therapies, we can use this approach to assist adults and caregivers to discover, develop or improve the following skills:

• Self-care – holistic symptom management for symptoms such as pain, fatigue, stress, and burnout (e.g. energy conservation, task pacing, mind-body techniques), and daily habits and routines to prioritise self-care
• Household – daily habits and routines for meal planning and preparation, cleaning, laundry 
• Education and/or work – daily habits and routines for study, paid and unpaid work
• Social and leisure – habits and routines for participating in social and leisure activities; and connecting with and communicating with others
• Executive function (based on a model of six executive function “clusters” by ADHD researcher Tom Brown, PhD; https://chadd.org/about-adhd/executive-function-skills/) –
  • organising, prioritising and activating for tasks
  • focusing, sustaining and shifting attention to tasks
  • regulating alertness, sustaining effort and processing speed
  • managing frustration and modulating emotions
  • using working memory and accessing recall
  • monitoring and self-regulating actions

Enquire today about choosing a neurodiversity affirming occupational therapy package for your needs and budget! We currently offer 3 assessment and intervention packages to suit different needs and budgets:

• Bronze package (5 sessions) = initial consult + additional assessment + 2 intervention sessions + progress review and future planning session
• Silver package (10 sessions) = initial consult + functional assessment + needs assessment + additional assessment if required + 5 to 6 intervention sessions + progress review and future planning session
• Gold package (12+ sessions) = initial consult + functional assessment + needs assessment + additional assessment if required + 7 to 8 intervention sessions + additional intervention if required + progress review and future planning session

Information sourced from: Occupational Performance Coaching , Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit, University of Otago, Wellington | University of Otago  and training undertaken by Dr Micah Perez, who has completed basic OPC training. To deliver OPC in its entirety as an intervention package requires additional training.

Telehealth Occupational Therapy

Broadly speaking, Telehealth Occupational Therapy is a form of Occupational Therapy that utilises telecommunication technologies to provide assessment and intervention to individuals remotely. It involves the use of videoconferencing, phone calls, and other digital communication methods to connect our Occupational Therapists (OTs) with clients who are unable to attend in-person appointments.

Telehealth Occupational Therapy has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its convenience and accessibility. Patients who live in rural or remote areas, have mobility and/or sensory issues, or have busy schedules can benefit from receiving therapy services from the comfort of their own homes.

Telehealth Occupational Therapy has been found to be effective for a variety of conditions, including stroke rehabilitation and chronic pain management. It has also been shown to be cost-effective compared to traditional in-person therapy sessions.

At Neurodiverse Therapies, if deemed appropriate by the therapist, you can access neurodiversity affirming occupational therapy telehealth services via videoconferencing and phone calls. Telehealth services are suitable for adolescents, teenagers, adults, and caregivers of children with adequate digital literacy and digital devices. Telehealth-based intervention can assist individuals to discover, develop or improve the following skills:

• Self-care – holistic symptom management for symptoms such as pain, fatigue, stress, and burnout (e.g. energy conservation, task pacing, mind-body techniques), and daily habits and routines to prioritise self-care
• Household – daily habits and routines for meal planning and preparation, cleaning, laundry 
• Education and/or work – daily habits and routines for study, paid and unpaid work
• Social and leisure – habits and routines for participating in social and leisure activities; and connecting with and communicating with others
• Executive function (based on a model of six executive function “clusters” by ADHD researcher Tom Brown, PhD; https://chadd.org/about-adhd/executive-function-skills/) –
  • organising, prioritising and activating for tasks
  • focusing, sustaining and shifting attention to tasks
  • regulating alertness, sustaining effort and processing speed
  • managing frustration and modulating emotions
  • using working memory and accessing recall
  • monitoring and self-regulating actions