Occupational Therapist Amber Watson gives an insight into the world of Occupational Therapy.
There is a famous quote in Occupational Therapy (OT) that OTs ask ‘what matters to you?, not ‘what’s the matter with you?’ – and this is the basis for our work at Cup-O-T.
We know that life can feel overwhelming, and that when it feels that way knowing where to start can be really challenging. This often extends into daily tasks – showering or brushing your teeth, replying to emails, meeting up with friends, preparing meals. In OT we believe that doing is an important part of healing – our daily occupations (the things that we do) have a huge influence on our feelings and perception of the world and ourselves.
However, we also know that the occupations have to have meaning for you – otherwise where is the motivation to do them? People can have huge lists of things they are being told they need to return to (such as a return to school, or work), but if that isn’t the priority for that person then we would argue it isn’t the priority for our work together. It is my belief that if we don’t have meaningful occupations to get well for it is very hard to engage in all the difficult parts of recovery.
What is a ‘Meaningful Occupation’?
The short (and unhelpful!) answer is – an occupation that is meaningful for you! When OTs talk about occupation we aren’t talking solely about work, we mean everything that shapes our day. Dancing, cooking, showering, brushing your hair, skating, swimming, hiking, photography, painting, crochet, quality time with people important to you, working, driving, gaming…they are all occupations, and the list is endless. So if we assume that anything can be an occupation, we know that not all occupations are things that we are interested in doing – so we don’t prioritise them. For an occupation to be meaningful it has to have importance and purpose for us.
At Cup-O-T we primarily work with children and young people – these meaningful occupations are the building blocks for developing our identity, confidence, and independence. When mental health difficulties (or the general pressures of life!) get in the way, this can cause young people to lose touch with the things that allow them to feel connected, fulfilled, and capable.
Why it matters for our mental health
Engaging in meaningful occupations means:
The role of Occupational Therapy
At Cup-O-T we work alongside young people to explore what matters to them and rebuild their ability to participate in those meaningful occupations. This may look like:
At each stage of our intervention, we support young people to do what matters most to them, at a manageable pace, with the right tools and encouragement.
Finding Meaning in Everyday Life
Whilst mental health recovery can be about doing ‘more’ it is ultimately about doing what is meaningful. Overwhelming somebody with activities that don’t feel meaningful is unlikely to positively impact on recovery.
Activities may seem small but can be the start of feeling like yourself again – it could be taking a walk after a difficult day, catching up with a friend, or planting a seed and watching it grow.
Our challenge
And remember – it doesn’t have to be a big task, nor does it have to be a ‘productive’ one. It could be planting some seeds, getting back into photography, arranging regular meet-ups with friends…or finding a way to stay on top of your “floordrobe”. As long as it’s meaningful it’s valuable!
Look out for Occupational Therapy Week 2025 taking place on 3rd -9th November if you are interested in finding out more.
