Occupational therapy is a great service for anyone who has an injury or medical condition that’s causing them to have problems with their daily activities. It’s also a great way to get back on track after an injury or illness if you want to avoid future issues. The good news is that if your children need therapy, then you can avail paediatric occupational therapy in Perth.
But how can you know that you’re doing it right? Here are some mistakes to avoid when indulging in occupational therapy:
Not having a clear goal
If you don’t know what you want out of your therapy sessions, then how can your therapist help you achieve it? The first step is figuring out what your goal is and then working towards it together.
Not following instructions
When someone tells you what they want you to do during a session, they probably aren’t just messing around. They know what they are talking about and have probably seen the same problem before with other people. So follow their instructions exactly as they tell them. You might be surprised at how much progress this simple change makes in your recovery process!
Not attending sessions regularly
Your therapist will give you a schedule of when they want you to attend their sessions and how often they expect you to come back for check-ups. You must not miss any session on purpose because it may cause delays in your treatment progress or even result in failure of treatment completely if not attended properly.
Not taking advantage of all your treatment options
You may only be seeing one type of therapist — like an occupational therapist — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other professionals who can help as well. If you’re working with a doctor who specializes in physical rehabilitation (such as a physiatrist), ask him or her if there are other types of therapies that might be beneficial for you. For example, if you’ve got some cognitive difficulties after an injury or surgery, consider seeing a psychologist who specializes in cognitive rehabilitation. The more options available to you, the better!
Not knowing what kind of occupational therapist you need
It’s important to know the difference between an OT practitioner, who treats patients physically or manually, and an OT assistant who helps them adapt tasks for their own needs but does not treat them directly. If you have any doubts about which type of OT professional would be best for you, ask your GP or hospital consultant for advice or contact your local NHS trust directly for more information about services in your area.
Occupational therapy can help you maintain a sense of normalcy while you recover from an injury or illness. It helps improve your abilities in areas like fine motor skills, gross motor skills, hand function and self-care tasks.
It can also be a helpful resource for those who have difficulty performing basic tasks like dressing themselves or cleaning their homes due to mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Do not refrain to ask for the therapy if you need it.
