Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a holistic, client-centered profession that empowers individuals to flourish in their own lives. Whether it's recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or adapting to life's changes, occupational therapists help people to regain their independence and improve their quality of life.

Whereas a physical therapist may focus on the physical body, OTs focus on occupations. In other words - the things you need or want to do to occupy your precious time! At its core, OT is about enabling participation in the things that matter most to you.

OTs look at the intersection of you (and your recently changed abilities), your environment, and the activities you’re struggling to do the way you’d like. What does this look like?

While a physiotherapist may provide manual therapy for a sore wrist, the OT may provide an ergonomic assessment so the client can still work at the office.

While a counsellor may delve into the index trauma which led to a PTSD diagnosis, the OT on the client’s team may teach coping/grounding skills, or complete graded exposure to feared places and situations in the community together.

For more details on what OT can do for you, scroll down to our Services section below. Still not sure? Book a free 15-minute discovery call!

Services

  • Enhance Comfort, Boost Productivity, and Prevent Injury.

    An ergonomic assessment is designed to address and optimize your work environment. Here’s what you can expect from your workstation assessment:

    • Individualized Recommendations: Personalized recommendations, including seating adjustments, desk modifications, and equipment selection that support your body’s natural mechanics.

    • Injury Prevention Strategies: Education on proper techniques and postures to minimize the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other work-related conditions.

    My approach to ergonomics is rooted in evidence-based practices and a deep commitment to your overall well-being. We won’t just adjust your chair; we will help you to make sustainable changes that enhance your health and performance in the long run.

  • Sleep is essential for your physical health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. However, for many people, getting a good night’s sleep is a challenge. If you’re struggling with insomnia or other sleep-related issues, Occupational Therapy (OT) services at Flourish are here to help.

    Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep. It can lead to daytime fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and a range of other physical and mental health issues. Over time, chronic insomnia can significantly impact your quality of life.

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold-standard treatment for insomnia, showing results equal to medications but longer lasting! I am trained in this approach and work with you to develop personalized strategies that address the root causes of your sleep difficulties. Here’s how I can help:

    • Sleep Education: On the science of sleep and the factors that influence it. Understanding how sleep works and what disrupts it is the first step toward making positive changes.

    • Cognitive Restructuring: Learn to identify and challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to your insomnia. By replacing these with more positive and realistic thoughts, you can reduce the anxiety and worry that often interfere with sleep.

    • Sleep Hygiene and Environment Optimization: Practical advice on how to create an optimal setting for sleep. This may include recommendations on light exposure, noise control, temperature, and bedtime habits.

    • Behavioral Techniques: Specific behavioral strategies, such as sleep restriction therapy and stimulus control, which are designed to retrain your body and mind to associate your bed with sleep rather than wakefulness.

    • Tracking Progress: Throughout the process, we will monitor your sleep patterns and progress, making adjustments as needed to ensure that you achieve the best possible results.

    Transform Your Sleep Today. Get started on the path to better sleep and improved well-being with CBT-I.

  • Mental health is a vital component of overall well-being, influencing every aspect of our lives—from our relationships and work to our physical health and daily activities.

    I work with you to identify barriers, build resilience, and create practical solutions that enhance your ability to engage in meaningful activities and lead a more satisfying life.

    I take a holistic approach to mental health, considering all aspects of your life. Here’s how I can support you:

    • Routine and Structure: Establish daily routines that provide stability and a sense of purpose. Whether it’s organizing your day, managing your time, or balancing responsibilities, we'll create a structure that works for you.

    • Coping Strategies: Practical coping strategies for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. This may include relaxation techniques, sensory modulation strategies, mindfulness practices, and problem-solving skills that you can integrate into your daily life.

    • Community Engagement: Support to make your way back to or explore new community activities, hobbies, and social interactions that bring joy and connection. Engaging in meaningful activities can significantly enhance mental health and reduce feelings of isolation.

    • Vocational Support: If work-related stress is affecting your mental health, vocational support can help you manage workplace challenges, improve work-life balance, or navigate a gradual return to work (GRTW).

    • Targeted Psychotherapy: I have significant additional training and mentorship in order to support you with evidence-based approaches including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassionate Inquiry, Behavioural Activation (BA), and more.

    My OT services are designed to support individuals facing a wide range of mental health challenges, including:

    • Anxiety and Depression

    • Stress and Burnout

    • PTSD and Trauma

    At Flourish, we believe that mental health is as important as physical health. Book your free 15-minute discovery call today to see if we're a good fit.

  • A concussion can disrupt your life in unexpected ways, affecting everything from your ability to focus to your overall sense of well-being.

    A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs when a blow or jolt to the head causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull. This movement can lead to a range of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and emotional changes. While concussions are often considered "mild," their effects can be significant and long-lasting if not properly managed.

    OTs specialize in helping individuals recover from concussions by addressing both the physical and cognitive challenges that may arise. Here’s how I can assist in your recovery:

    • Symptom Management: Manage symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and visual disturbances. This may include recommending lifestyle adjustments, visual-motor exercises, and relaxation techniques to ease discomfort and promote healing.

    • Cognitive Rehabilitation: If your concussion has affected your memory, attention, or problem-solving abilities, I provide cognitive rehabilitation and strategies to help you regain these skills and improve your mental clarity.

    • Gradual Return to Activity: Personalized plans that allow you to safely and gradually return to your normal activities, whether it’s work, school, or sports. This includes pacing strategies and guidance on how to balance rest with activity.

    • Sensory Processing Support: Concussions can sometimes affect how you process sensory information, leading to sensitivity to light, sound, or movement. I can provide sensory integration techniques to help you adapt and reduce these sensitivities.

    • Emotional and Behavioral Support: Concussions can impact your emotional well-being. I can offer strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and mood changes, ensuring a holistic approach to your recovery.

  • Living with a chronic health condition can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to limit your ability to enjoy life. At Flourish, Occupational Therapy (OT) services are designed to help you manage the physical, emotional, and practical challenges of chronic conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, long COVID, and more.

    Our occupational therapists work closely with you to develop personalized strategies that help you manage your condition and lead a more active, balanced life. Here’s how OT can help:

    • Activity Modification: Adapting daily activities to reduce strain and fatigue, ensuring that you can continue to engage in the tasks that matter most to you.

    • Pain Management Techniques: Strategies, including relaxation techniques, energy conservation methods, and ergonomic adjustments that can minimize discomfort and prevent flare-ups.

    • Self-Management Skills: Tools and knowledge needed to take control of your health, from medication management to nervous system regulation and more. These tools will help you build awareness to avoid flares and know what to do when they happen.

    • Adaptive Equipment Recommendations: Assistive devices or equipment can make daily tasks easier and safer, whether at home, work, or in the community.

    • Emotional Support and Stress Management: Chronic conditions often come with emotional challenges. I integrate mindfulness practices and stress management techniques to support your mental well-being.

    • Building Healthy Routines: Establish routines that promote consistency and balance, making it easier to manage your condition while maintaining your independence.

  • Your home should be a place of comfort, security, and independence. However, as we age, recover from an injury, or manage a chronic condition, the safety of our living environment becomes increasingly important. That’s where OT services comes in.

    Occupational therapists are experts in assessing and adapting environments to meet the unique needs of each individual. Here’s what a home safety assessment includes:

    • Personalized Evaluations: We go through your home from top to bottom, considering your specific mobility, cognitive, and sensory needs. This includes evaluating entrances, bathrooms, kitchens, stairs, and other key areas of your home.

    • Hazard Identification: We identify common risks such as tripping hazards, inadequate lighting, and unsafe stairways. We also consider factors like clutter, improper furniture placement, and the accessibility of essential items.

    • Tailored Recommendations: Based on our assessment, we provide practical solutions to enhance safety and accessibility. This might include installing grab bars, improving lighting, rearranging furniture, or recommending assistive devices like stairlifts or shower chairs.

    • Fall Prevention Strategies: We offer guidance on fall prevention, including techniques for safe movement, transferring, and navigating your home. Our goal is to help you maintain your independence while minimizing the risk of injury.

    Whether you are dealing with a new injury, you've had a recent surgery, or you are wanting to feel more confident living in your home for any reason - a home safety assessment may be right for you.

  • Heading back to work after an injury or change in your health status? I have nearly a decade of experience with gradual return to work planning and monitoring.

    Not sure if you're ready to return yet? My approach involves assessment as well as work simulation, so we can both feel confident when the right time to transition back to work is.

    Key Services

    • Assessment
      Evaluating job tasks and environment. Assessing physical, cognitive, and/or emotional abilities to meet job demands. Combining this information, we can get an idea of the current "fit" between you and your job, and how we can close the gap!

    • Work Simulation
      Providing a graded program of work-like activities along with activity/symptom tracking will allow us to get an idea of when you're really ready to begin a gradual return to work (GRTW).

    • Injury Rehabilitation
      Customized programs to restore your capacity back to what is needed for you to return to work.

    • Ergonomic Solutions
      Recommendations for workplace adjustments to prevent reinjury for physical injuries.

Wondering about something not listed above? Curious if OT is the right fit?

Feel free to let me know a little bit more about you and what interests you about OT services here. I can send you an email back or we can arrange a Discovery Call - a free 15-minute call to explore if we might be a good fit to work together.