We have recently welcomed a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Arohi Atre, BOT, MSOT, OT Reg. (Ont), to our team at Acorn Counselling. What is her role and what can you expect when working with a Paediatric Occupational Therapist?
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy (OT) works to improve function in daily life. It promotes independence in everyday life activities, or “occupations”. Occupations of children are reaching developmental milestones, play, self care (eating, sleeping, dressing, grooming, bathing), academic tasks (handwriting, fine motor skills, attention/focus), and socializing.
What is the Role of a Paediatric Occupational Therapist?
The primary role of a Paediatric OT is activity analysis. What this means is that Arohi will assess what occupations a child is not meeting or not able to do. She will identify what is coming in the way of a child achieving that activity. The assessment will identify factors (such as their environment, sensory processing, motor control) that are impacting a child’s self-care, productivity and play.
Children with mental health, developmental needs and learning disabilities can often struggle with areas such as:
- gross motor skills (ex. play)
- sensory (ex. attention, organization and planning, sitting in one place)
- fine motor skills (ex. writing, pencil grasp)
- self- care (ex. not able to do anything on their own)
- self-regulation (ex. emotional regulation)
What are the Goals of Occupational Therapy?
After Arohi completes an assessment, the goal becomes addressing the occupations or activities that have been identified. Treatment can include skill development, activity planning, behavioural interventions, and supportive counselling. If a certain occupation is not achievable, then the goals of OT become modifying that occupation to make it become achievable. Arohi will work with parents to help them better understand why modifications may be necessary and educate them on how to best support their child.
Arohi works with children to promote the healthy development and independence of skills needed for children to achieve success in daily occupations. She takes on a collaborative approach in treatment to ensure that the end goal is gaining mastery in the occupations a child is developmentally supposed to be in.
For more information or to book a consult with Arohi, please give us a call or click here.
