So, what is occupational therapy in mental health?

Written By Lauren Read

“Isn’t occupational therapy about mobility and equipment?”

This is a common question I get, which is fair, given this is where most people have come across occupational therapy (OT).

OT’s can help people recover from injury or illness by:

  • Prescribing equipment like shower chairs or rails

  • Supporting people to regain physical independence

  • Helping them return home safely after hospital stays

This is all 100% OT- but is only just one part of what we do!

So.. how does that all fit into mental health?

To understand how an OT fits into the mental health field, we need to understand the core of an OT. When people hear the word “occupational,” they often think I help people find jobs. But in reality, occupational therapy is about so much more.

We believe “occupations” are more than just work, but things we do every day. Examples of “occupations” are getting out of bed, preparing meals, taking care of ourselves, socialising with others, unwinding in healthy ways… etc, etc. When mental health challenges show up, these everyday activities can start to feel hard, messy, or even impossible.

As a mental health occupational therapist (OT), I support people to:

  • Build sustainable routines that support wellness

  • Regain a sense of confidence and purpose

  • Develop tools to manage anxiety, low mood, or sensory overload

  • Reconnect with what feels meaningful, calming, or energising

  • Navigate burnout, isolation or transitions like returning to work

Occupational therapy improves participation in daily life and promotes recovery by enabling individuals to engage in their meaningful activities that supports mental health and resilience (Krupa eta al., 2009; Hitch et al., 2021).

I do not believe it is about doing more.. but rather about doing what matters.

In today’s world, we are commonly praised when we hustle harder, stay productive, and keep pushing. However, if your nervous system is overwhelmed, or your energy is running on empty, this mindset is not helping anyone and does more damage than good.

As an occupational therapist, I look at the person as a whole. When I meet with clients, I look at their culture, environment, values, habits, and their inner experience- not just symptoms. From there, we work together to build strategies that are doable, gentle, and realistic for where they are at in their journey. This approach is grounded in occupational therapy models such as the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model and the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), which emphasise the dynamic interaction between a person, their daily activities, and the contexts in which they live (Law et al., 1996; Kielhofner, 2008).

A small reflection you can try today:

Think about your week so far..

What is one activity that gave you a moment of calm, clarity or connection?

It could be something simple like, sitting in the sun (I’m writing this during a thunderstorm so I’m being hopeful!), talking to a friend, doing some baking, or even just pausing for a breath.

Moments like these might seem small- but they’re often the foundation of mental wellness. Sometimes we just need support remembering how to find or return to them.

What’s next?

Watch this space as I plan to share new blog posts every second Friday.

In future blog posts, I’ll be sharing:

  • Practical tools for managing overwhelm and anxiety

  • How to build routines that actually work for you

  • Tips for navigating work, rest, and life when your mental health is struggling

  • Real talk about burnout, boundaries, and balance

If you have a question or topic you would like to see covered, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to email me at info@mindyourway.co.nz

Thank you for being here.

-Lauren Read

References

Hitch, D., Pepin, G., & Stagnitti, K. (2021). Involvement in meaningful occupation as a key factor in recovery. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68(2), 121–130.

Kielhofner, G. (2008). Model of Human Occupation: Theory and application (4th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Krupa, T., Fossey, E., Anthony, W. A., Brown, C., & Pitts, D. B. (2009). Doing daily life: How occupational therapy can inform psychiatric rehabilitation practice. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 32(3), 155–161.

Law, M., Cooper, B., Strong, S., Stewart, D., Rigby, P., & Letts, L. (1996). The Person–Environment–Occupation Model: A transactive approach to occupational performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(1), 9–23.

Lauren Read