WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

Occupational therapy is holistic, evidence-based treatment aimed at helping individuals achieve autonomy and improve quality of life.  Occupational therapists use individualized, client-centered treatment to increase participation in life activities (occupations).

These life activities are fluid and change throughout the lifespan – for example, the fundamental occupations of childhood are learning, self-care, and play!  During the transition to young adulthood, independent living skills, social/emotional, and vocational skills become more prevalent.

Occupational therapists create engaging, individualized intervention plans that allow children and young adults to access the skills necessary to participate in the life activities (occupations) that they want, need, or are expected to do.  At Hammond Associates, our therapeutic methods are play-based and functional in nature, with emphasis on meeting the child where they are at.  We aim to work closely with families and other providers to identify meaningful goals, client-centric treatment strategies, and staff/parent training for comprehensive care.

We help children work toward a variety of goals, including (but not limited to):

• Achievement of developmental/motor milestones
• Independence in self-care skills (such as bathing, dressing, toileting, eating/feeding, or maintaining personal hygiene)
• Independence in daily living skills (such as meal preparation, money management, shopping, community navigation, and job skill development)
• Functional, age-appropriate social or play skills
• Fine motor skill development (for activities such as handwriting, coloring, or cutting)
• Emotional regulation/sensory processing skills