What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a collective term for occupational therapy professions. These include art therapy, dance and movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, psychomotor (child) therapy, and play therapy.Â
A professionally trained occupational therapist systematically uses the body, imagery, dance, movement, drama, play, or music to bring about a change tailored to you. Action and experience are central to this process.
Activating processes
In occupational therapy, (neuro)psychological processes are activated that ensure the functioning of our mind and body, and that determine much of our behavior in everyday situations. These processes can be disrupted, for example in response to a traumatic event, resulting in psychological and physical symptoms. Â
Because these psychological processes take place largely autonomously, we are not always aware of our behavior and do not always have words for our emotions. As a result, these processes are mostly influenced by doing and experiencing.
Body sensations and emotions
Experientially-oriented work helps to become aware of, allow, express, and regulate bodily sensations and emotions that are often avoided during trauma. The therapeutic action takes a constructive and interactive approach. It creates space to try other ways of acting and to break free from unconscious patterns that hinder healthy functioning.
By (together with the therapist) looking at something from a different perspective, you can become aware of patterns in your own functioning and can assign a different meaning to them. This can contribute to relaxation, restoring balance, self-management, self-compassion, flexibility, adaptive ability, and meaning in life.
How did occupational therapy originate?
Occupational therapy is a relatively young form of therapy but has a long history. The origins of occupational therapy can be traced back to just after the Second World War. Patients with tuberculosis were offered, among other things, music and painting during their isolation. It turned out that patients who could express themselves in this way suffered fewer symptoms of their illness and recovered more quickly.Â
Creative therapy
In the years that followed, play, creativity, and self-expression became important aspects of the dominant human vision, and creative therapy developed. Previously, the term ‘creative therapy’ was used for the professional therapeutic professions that originated in the arts. Creative therapy and psychomotor therapy (PMT) were combined in 2000 under the term ‘professional therapeutic professions’. In 2017, play therapy was added to this.
How do the different therapeutic treatments work?
There are various types of therapeutic approaches that can be used in the treatment of trauma. Below is an overview of the most commonly used therapeutic approaches:
Art therapy
In art therapy, various materials are used, such as: pencil, paint, wood, stone, clay, textiles, and digital media. The choices regarding material, technique, and assignment are tailored to your needs. In the art therapy process, your strengths and weaknesses are made visible, tangible, and concrete. It can provide you with the opportunity to become aware of, tolerate, and express your experiences and feelings. Together with the therapist, you will find creative solutions and translate them into everyday life.
Dance therapy
Dance therapy is aimed at treating psychological, mental, and physical complaints. Dance therapists work with dynamic forms of movement, such as dance, movement, and play. Participants explore personal movement possibilities and explore new possibilities.
Dramatherapy
In drama therapy, you work with fantasy and real-life situations. You do this through movement play, role-playing and improvisation games, and the creation of self-authored scenes. You can practice different behaviors in these activities by, for example, changing roles or imagining a different ending for a staged scene. By playing, drama therapy can give you the space to learn, grow, and deal with problems while you’re doing it.
Music therapy
Music can be deeply emotional and has an impact on emotions and mood. Music therapy makes use of this, among other things through improvisation, performing existing music, listening to music, and the use of the voice. These forms of work aim to offer new possibilities for interaction and expression.
Psychomotoric therapy (PMT)
Physical activity, a realistic body image, and the ability to listen to your body are important elements of your psychological well-being. The psychomotor therapist takes these elements as the starting point of the treatment and uses movement- and body-oriented work methods.
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With children, the therapist aligns with what the young child is already capable of naturally: singing, movement, play, and rhythm. These means give the child the opportunity to express what they often cannot express in words.Â
Game therapy
In play therapy, a child is encouraged to play with various materials and objects, such as toys, paint, and clay. Role-playing games can also be used. The goal is for the child to express emotions and feelings in a playful and non-verbal way and to experiment with new behaviors.
For which complaints can occupational therapy help?
Occupational therapy is often a complement to other forms of (trauma) therapy. Occupational therapy is a good fit when you prefer to work on your problems in an experiential way. You don’t have to be particularly good at the type of occupational therapy you choose. For example, you don’t need to be musically talented to benefit from music therapy or physically active to benefit from psychomotor therapy.
Occupational therapy is suitable for children who are too young to talk about it properly, or for people where spoken communication is not easy. It may also be that the problem is too extensive or overwhelming for you to talk about. Or that you have noticed in other treatments that talking does not help you sufficiently. The treatments can be carried out individually, in a group, but sometimes also with a partner and/or the family.
Where can I get occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists work in institutions in the fields of somatic and mental health care, youth care, care for people with intellectual disabilities, judicial institutions, special education, refugee care, and welfare institutions. There are also freelance occupational therapists with their own practices.
An overview of Registered occupational therapists can be found in the Register of Occupational Therapy.. They meet the quality criteria in terms of work experience, further training, supervision and peer review.
Find a vocational therapist at the Federation of Vocational Therapeutic Professions (Choose Extended search for e.g. specific therapy and/or target group).
Where can I find more information about occupational therapy?
- See Federation of Occupational Therapeutic Professions about trauma and PTSD.
Viewing recommendations
- Occupational therapy in action about various therapeutic treatments.
- HAN Research I The powerful experience: occupational therapy.
Watch tip
Occupational therapy in action
Series of short videos about different forms of occupational therapy
In collaboration with
Ingrid Pénzes
Art therapist, psychologist, and PhD in social sciences. She received her doctorate on the relationship between visual arts and mental health and, based on that, ArTA developed. She offers schooling about arts therapies and trauma and writes blogs about experiential therapy and trauma.
