Occupational Therapists take a therapeutic approach to everyday activities, using therapeutic techniques to rehabilitate a patient's ability to perform them. They carry out programs to treat physical, mental, developmental, and emotional ailments, aiming to restore a patient's ability to be independent in the activities that are important to them.

Health centers, schools, and Social Services agencies are the usual places where Occupational Therapists work. Some of these professionals, however, choose to be self-employed and offer their services to individuals or groups independently.

Many Occupational Therapists work with children born with developmental delays or disabilities from a very young age. They educate the parents on ways to provide their children with whatever they require and teach them how to adapt to have a good quality of life. These Occupational Therapists often advocate for the children with the help of charitable organizations looking to provide medical care and special equipment (e.g., wheelchairs, prosthetics, or hearing aids) when necessary.

Occupational Therapists working with adults often help people who have incurred some injury and have lost mobility or mental capacity. In these cases, they provide the necessary counseling and psychological help these individuals need, as well as training to re-adapt to regular life after the trauma in return-to-work programs. They may also work with patients who have dementia and chronic pains.

Personality of an Occupational Therapist 
Occupational Therapists have a few common personality traits that help them succeed in their job. Here are a few of them:  

• Patience

Working with patients with a wide range of abilities can be challenging but rewarding. Occupational Therapists must be patient to effectively work with each individual patient and their unique needs to help them reach their goals. Patients may also be frustrated, impatient, or rude due to the stress of the challenges they are undergoing. A good Occupational Therapist understands this and can keep a smile on their face throughout the exchange. 

• Creativity

Occupational Therapists often need to think outside the box to come up with new and innovative ways to help their patients. They need to be creative in their problem-solving to tailor their treatments to each patient's specific needs.

• Compassion

Occupational Therapists must have compassion for their patients to truly understand what they are going through. This compassion allows them to better connect with their patients and provide them with the care and support they need.