What Is Occupational Therapy? Understanding Its Impact on Everyday Life
At Pacific Neuroscience Institute, our team covers many fields of treatment—including occupational therapy. To give a better sense of what OT looks like in practice, we sat down with our occupational therapist, Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS, for a Q&A. She shares what OT involves, examples of treatment approaches, and insights from her work.
What is Occupational Therapy and How Does it Work?
To offer a brief history, the field of occupational therapy emerged from the mental health reform movement, highlighting enhanced recovery when a person was engaged in “meaningful occupations”.
In neuro rehab, an occupational therapist will likely assess your motor, cognitive, and visual perceptual skills. It is also important to consider lifestyle habits and routines, which may include stress and anxiety management, sleep patterns, exercise routines, and social participation. Treatment programming requires individualized care plans to match the unique needs and goals of each person.
After potential barriers are identified, we can start to brainstorm possible solutions to get you back to doing the things that are important to you. Whether it’s getting dressed, making yourself a meal, going on your favorite hike, or exploring your potential to return to driving, it is our goal to provide the best quality healthcare services to help our patients and community.
Examples of Occupational Therapy in Action
I quickly realized that when an individual experiences a neurological change, it can be quite challenging to maintain their rhythm of living or their sense of self. However, with the right resources and support, we were able to navigate challenges to optimize safety, improve their sense of independence, confidence, and emotional well-being. Through the tears and laughter, hardships and celebrations, we will do our best to work through the challenges as a team.
Real-World Occupational Therapy Successes
It’s exciting to see the research and advocacy for this field. A memorable patient of mine often said, “You can shock the world.” I believe it, too.
A few of my memorable patient interactions include:
- Writing a birthday card to a grandchild, or typing a few sentences to write a book (her book is now published!)
Purpose: motor strength and coordination, thought organization, and visual-spatial reasoning
- Cooking a favorite enchilada recipe from scratch
Purpose: motor strength and coordination, memory, sequencing, and kitchen safety
- Preparing for a 5k walk/run
Purpose: visual spatial orientation, depth perception, navigation, endurance, use of energy conservation strategies
- Using an orthotic with a robotic joint to help them use both arms when folding laundry
Purpose: motor strength and coordination, body awareness, functional use of both arms
- Adapted painting, or adaptive rock climbing
Purpose: motor coordination, use of adapted equipment, exploring community resources
My Journey Into Occupational Therapy
As an occupational therapy graduate student, my fieldwork experience included an outpatient brain injury rehab program in Lexington, KY. It was my first time seeing a neuro rehab clinic, and I was amazed by the unique stories people shared about their recovery journeys. After graduating, I continued to pursue a specialty in neuro rehab, developing more specific skill sets to work with those navigating life after stroke and Parkinson’s. In addition, I learned there is a high prevalence of visual impairment and dysfunction correlated with various neurological conditions. In hopes of being a better advocate for my patients, I pursued a sub-specialty in neuro vision rehab. I thought it was fascinating to consider how visual processes could impact dressing, navigation, balance, and social interactions! I can appreciate the importance of utilizing a holistic approach, engaging with other team members to build a comprehensive interdisciplinary team model.
At Pacific Neuroscience Institute (Santa Monica, CA), I am fortunate to work closely with rehab therapists, neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neuro-optometrists, psychologists, psychiatrists, otolaryngologists, nurses, clinical social workers, registered dietitian nutritionists, and health coaches. I realize our patients and their family members are relying on us to help them better understand the complexities of their health condition(s). I’m grateful to be surrounded by other driven healthcare professionals who are committed to excellent patient care, advocacy, education, research, and development.
What Motivates Me as an Occupational Therapist
I like to think of my role as an occupational therapist as equal parts science-driven, relationship-focused, and creative. I appreciate the pursuit of a better understanding of my patients to better serve their needs. I frequently say, “You know yourself best”. If I have the privilege to learn about your passions, interests, and goals, I will do my best to use that information to steer your OT program.
As an endurance athlete (with 3 marathons and a sprint triathlon under my belt), I found a close connection between endurance sports and neuro rehab.
Lessons That Guide My OT Practice
I found three exciting commonalities:
- Consistency can promote positive change
- Adequate sleep and a healthy diet can boost mental clarity and physical performance
- Rehab and exercise offer opportunities to sharpen the mind-body connection
I often think, “What else can I do?” My team and I will try to problem-solve with patients and families to ensure carryover and generalization of skills. As challenging as life can be, allow us to be your quarterback. Life doesn’t stop after therapy, life IS therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Occupational Therapy
What does occupational therapy do?
Occupational therapy helps people of all ages perform daily tasks more easily after illness, injury, or disability. It focuses on restoring or enhancing skills that support independence, productivity, and participation in meaningful activities—from self-care and mobility to work and leisure.
What is the difference between PT and OT?
While both physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) aim to improve function, PT primarily focuses on movement, strength, and mobility. OT emphasizes helping individuals perform everyday activities—like dressing, cooking, or returning to work—through customized interventions that address physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.
What is an example of occupational therapy?
A common example is helping someone regain the ability to cook a favorite meal after a stroke. This might involve strengthening motor coordination, improving memory, and ensuring kitchen safety—all tailored to the individual’s goals. Other examples include handwriting support for children or energy conservation strategies for people with chronic fatigue.
Why would a person need occupational therapy?
People may need occupational therapy after a neurological event (like a stroke), surgery, injury, or when managing a chronic condition such as Parkinson’s or arthritis. It’s also commonly used in pediatric care and geriatrics to support developmental milestones or aging in place.
Is an OT a doctor?
Occupational therapists are licensed healthcare professionals with a master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy, but they are not medical doctors (MDs). They are trained in clinical evaluation and rehabilitation techniques to help patients live more independently and safely.
Does occupational therapy focus on daily tasks?
Yes, one of the main goals of occupational therapy is to support people in performing daily tasks—such as bathing, dressing, driving, cooking, or managing medication—safely and confidently. OT tailors interventions to match the patient’s unique routine and lifestyle.
About Gina Kim
Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS is the Senior Occupational Therapist for Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, California. She is experienced in outpatient neuro-rehabilitation with an emphasis on neuro-vision rehabilitation. She is passionate about targeting motor recovery, vision rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, mental health, and community reintegration to support a patient’s recovery journey.
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Last updated: October 1st, 2025