Mental health occupational therapy.

In Australia, endorsed allied health professionals (psychologists, mental health social workers, and mental health occupational therapists) can see people under a Mental Health Care Plan.

Occupational therapists who are endorsed for mental health practice require the completion of the equivalent of a four-year degree in occupational therapy and a minimum of two years post-graduate clinical practice in the field of mental health as well as ongoing training and education.

Mental health occupational therapists understand that occupation brings meaning to life.

Occupations are activities. They’re all the things you need and want to do in your life. Things you do to take care of yourself, things you do for fun, things you do that make you feel proud: they’re all occupations, and they’re all in the occupational therapy scope of practice.

Mental health occupational therapists use a combination of evidence-based strategies, including focussed psychological strategies and therapeutic occupation, combining these to make therapy practical.

This might look like choosing to be out in the community doing your normal activities, or using practical stress management strategies including sensory strategies, or building a routine supportive of recovery, or any number of other things.

Occupation may also be the goal of therapy. A mental health occupational therapist will work with you using a range of evidence-based clinical strategies (including talk therapy) to make sure you can do the things you find meaningful, and want or need to do in your everyday life.