An occupation is anything you do that occupies your time.
Acknowledging the Mind-Body Connection
The holistic nature of Occupational Therapy acknowledges clients’ health and well-being. Health is defined as the absence of illness. But what happens when a person receives a new diagnosis? That does not mean that their life has come to an end. What about a person’s right to lead a happy and fulfilling, meaningful life?
This presents an opportunity for OTs to collaborate with patients, restructure, and re-envision what their future lives will look like. Conversely, a person without a physical illness or condition may benefit from support in living a fulfilling, meaningful life.
Occupational Science acknowledges that our identities are made up of the occupations that we engage in.
Are we our physical bodies? As the term “health” or “absence of illness” suggests? Are we our thoughts? Or are we observers of our thoughts? What role does consciousness, intelligence, and awareness play in defining our existence/who we are?
OT recognizes that there is more to life than a diagnosis and focuses on well-being in addition to health, life satisfaction, and quality and approaches its clients as humans and authors of their own narratives. OT focuses on building resilience - the physical and mental adaptations that are required to move forward regardless of what life presents.
Read more about Occupational Therapy on the American Occupational Therapy Association website (click here).
An occupation is any activity that you engage in within your life. Whether it be a seemingly small, mundane, routine task like brushing your teeth, or a defining, impactful engagement like writing, teaching, or playing a sport, occupations add value, meaning, and purpose to our lives.
Occupational Therapy is a health and wellness profession that enables participation in daily living. Occupational therapists help you focus on the things that you want and need to do, with special consideration of the roles clients play on a daily basis. Occupational Therapy combines top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (physiological) approaches to support holistic health and wellbeing.
An occupational therapist is a health professional that collaborates with people of all ages to promote health, well-being, and life quality and satisfaction. Occupational therapists can provide assessment and recommendations and formulate treatment plans and maintenance goals.
Occupational science is concerned with “doing.” Some people say “you are what you eat.” Occupational science says “you are what you do.”
It examines what we do, how we engage in activities that are meaningful to us, and why - and how the answers to these questions relate to our identity, well-being, and life purpose. It is an exploration of human beings as agents of change and action on an individual, societal, and global scale and propagates that occupational therapists have a moral and ethical obligation to clients in viewing social interaction and occupational engagement as innate human rights.
Occupational Therapy can help patients manage chronic conditions by helping to identify barriers in their lives, problem solve, and create actionable plans to motivate patients to engage in health transforming behaviors and meaningful activities.
Collaborative approach
Can be used preventatively
Enables participation in occupations that promote life meaning
Skills-based focus
Individualized interventions to foster participation, health, & well-being
Occupational Therapy is designed to address mental, physical, cognitive, and developmental delays and illnesses.
Increase your awareness of the thoughts, behaviors, and habits that shape your reality.
Regain a sense of control in consciously deciding how to lead your life narrative.
In today's fast-paced world, many of us find ourselves overwhelmed by the demands of modern life. Stress, burnout, and a lack of fulfillment can often result from a mismatch between our aspirations and our daily realities. Lifestyle design offers a solution by empowering individuals to intentionally craft their lives in alignment with their values, passions, and priorities. By incorporating neuroscience-based interventions, we provide scientifically proven strategies to facilitate lasting behavioral change, making it easier to implement and sustain positive habits and routines.
We help you identify your goals, assess your current habits and routines, and develop tailored strategies for creating the life you envision.
We offer practical techniques to optimize your brain function, enhance your decision-making skills, and cultivate resilience in the face of challenges.
We equip you with the tools and support you need to thrive.
Provide strategies for occupational adaptation
Lifestyle modification
Engage in activity analysis
Modify habits and routines
Support adherence to treatment plans
Educate and advocate for patients
Provide caregiver / family assistance
Promote access to community resources
Lifestyle design is tailored for individuals seeking to redefine their lifestyles, manage their time effectively, and incorporate sustainable habits for long-term success and fulfillment.
This is for anyone that is looking to support lifestyle habit development and routine implementation for concerns such as chronic disease management and preventative care.
Lifestyle Design interventions have been especially effective with populations that:
Are looking to increase motivation
Are struggling to find meaning, purpose, direction, or value in life
Stress
Uncontrolled diabetes
Weight management
Depression/Anxiety
Social Participation
Cognitive and executive functioning skills
Acute or chronic pain
Fatigue
Poor sleep/sleep disorders
Migraines
Daily routine
Addiction cycle disruption
Medication management
Bereavement/Grief
Psychosomatic disorders
Academic and learning disabilities
Neurodiversity and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Ergonomics
COVID-19 related stress
Hypertension
Eating disorders/body dissatisfaction
Chronic illness
Habit formation/lifestyle management
Are looking for lifestyle skill-building to support resilience and knowledge of coping strategies
What happens after you receive a diagnosis?
The healthcare system can be difficult and stressful to navigate for patients seeking balance in their lives. It can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to apply all the information that they are told by healthcare professionals into tangible strategies to integrate into their lifestyles. OTs are able to provide a holistic and human touch to empower clients to write their own narratives in the midst of receiving often impersonal healthcare. Primary care maintains its focus on the heart of occupational therapy – working alongside clients to improve their life satisfaction and quality.
Holistic
Narrative medicine-based
Psychosomatic
Polyvagal
The Bliss Doctor combines a variety of approaches to suit the individual needs of a client. The goal of OT treatment is to design a life of engagement that aligns with the values of an individual. Work together with your OT on a journey towards identity formation, self-concept development, and self-actualization through conscious lifestyle changes and modifications.
Read more about The Bliss Doctor’s approach below and in the About page of our website.
Executive functioning is the cognitive powerhouse that drives our ability to plan, organize, strategize, and execute tasks effectively. It's the control center of our mental processes, influencing everything from decision-making to impulse control. We specialize in optimizing executive functioning skills to empower individuals to excel in all the roles that they adopt over the course of their daily lives.
We equip you with the tools and techniques to sharpen your focus, manage time efficiently, and regulate emotions with ease. Whether you're striving for peak performance in the workplace, seeking academic success, or aiming for personal growth, our proven strategies will help you harness the full potential of your executive functioning abilities.
Executive functioning skills are the backbone of our daily lives, influencing every aspect of our behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
In essence, executive functioning skills form the foundation upon which we build our lives. They empower us to navigate the complexities of life with confidence, resilience, and purpose, ultimately unlocking our full potential for growth and fulfillment.
These executive functioning skills are interconnected and play a vital role in various aspects of daily life, academic performance, career success, and interpersonal relationships. Strengthening these skills can lead to improved productivity, resilience, and overall well-being.
Executive functioning skills refer to cognitive processes that govern higher-level thinking and behavior, while nervous system regulation involves the body's ability to maintain homeostasis and respond appropriately to internal and external stimuli.
Impact of Nervous System Regulation on EF:
Arousal Levels: The nervous system, particularly the autonomic nervous system, regulates arousal levels in response to environmental demands. Optimal arousal levels are essential for effective executive functioning; too much arousal can lead to stress and overwhelm, impairing cognitive abilities such as attention and decision-making.
Emotional Regulation: Nervous system regulation influences emotional responses through the limbic system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Dysregulated emotions can interfere with executive functioning skills such as impulse control, problem-solving, and goal-directed behavior.
Attention and Focus: The reticular activating system (RAS) within the brainstem helps regulate attention and alertness. Dysregulation of the RAS can lead to difficulties in sustaining attention, which is crucial for tasks requiring executive functioning skills like planning and organization.
Impact of Executive Functioning on Nervous System Regulation:
Stress Response: Executive functioning skills play a role in how individuals perceive and respond to stress. Effective problem-solving and coping strategies can mitigate the impact of stress on the nervous system, promoting resilience and adaptive responses.
Self-Regulation: Executive functioning skills contribute to self-regulation, the ability to modulate emotions, behavior, and attention. Enhanced self-regulation can lead to more adaptive nervous system responses to stressors, reducing the likelihood of overactivation or dysregulation.
Cognitive Flexibility: Executive functioning skills such as cognitive flexibility enable individuals to adapt to changing circumstances and regulate emotional responses. This adaptability can help maintain nervous system equilibrium in the face of challenges.
Interventions and Strategies:
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Practices such as mindfulness meditation and deep breathing exercises can promote nervous system regulation by modulating stress responses and enhancing self-awareness, which in turn supports executive functioning.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT interventions target both executive functioning skills and nervous system regulation by addressing maladaptive thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors. This holistic approach can foster more adaptive coping strategies and improve overall functioning.
Physical Movement: Regular physical activity has been shown to benefit both executive functioning and nervous system regulation. Exercise promotes neuroplasticity, reduces stress hormones, and enhances mood, all of which contribute to improved cognitive function and emotional well-being.
The relationship between executive functioning skills and nervous system regulation is bidirectional and reciprocal. Enhancing one can positively influence the other, leading to improved cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. Integrating interventions that target both systems can be particularly effective in supporting individuals' ability to thrive in various domains of life.
Planning: The ability to set goals, create strategies, and outline the steps needed to achieve objectives.
Organization: Effectively arranging tasks, materials, and information in a systematic manner to facilitate efficient completion of goals.
Time Management: Allocating time appropriately to tasks, prioritizing activities, and meeting deadlines.
Task Initiation: Starting tasks promptly and independently without undue procrastination or hesitation.
Response Inhibition: Exercising control over impulsive behaviors, thoughts, and emotions to make thoughtful decisions.
Working Memory: Holding information in mind temporarily while manipulating it or using it to complete tasks.
Attention Control: Focusing on relevant stimuli while filtering out distractions to maintain concentration on tasks.
Flexibility: Being able to adapt to changes, shift strategies, and revise plans as needed in response to new information or circumstances.
Emotional Regulation: Managing one's emotions effectively, including recognizing and appropriately expressing feelings.
Metacognition: Understanding one's own thinking processes, including self-awareness, reflection, and monitoring of cognitive performance.
Problem-Solving: Analyzing situations, identifying obstacles, generating potential solutions, and implementing strategies to resolve issues.
Decision Making: Evaluating options, considering consequences, and making choices based on informed reasoning and preferences.
Goal Setting: Establishing clear and achievable objectives, both short-term and long-term, to guide behavior and efforts.
Task Monitoring: Assessing progress, evaluating performance, and making adjustments to ensure goals are being met effectively.
Self-Regulation: Regulating behavior, emotions, and attention to maintain focus and persistence in the face of challenges.
The effect of the sensory input our nervous systems receive on a daily basis is understated in the health community.
Sensory health and processing are fundamental aspects of our daily lives, influencing how we experience and interact with the world around us. Our senses provide crucial information that guides our behaviors, emotions, and responses.
Understanding sensory health is essential for everyone, as it directly impacts the state of our nervous systems and, consequently, our overall well-being. Our senses are not just tools for perceiving the world; they are crucial components of how our nervous system functions.
Sensory processing, the way our nervous system receives, interprets, and responds to sensory input, is at the core of our daily experiences. For most of us, this process occurs seamlessly, allowing us to navigate our environment effortlessly. However, variations in sensory processing can lead to challenges or sensitivities that affect how we interact with the world around us.
Some individuals may find certain sensations overwhelming, while others seek out intense sensory experiences. These differences in sensory processing can impact our emotions, behaviors, and interactions with others. By understanding our own sensory preferences and sensitivities, we can better manage our responses to sensory input and create environments that support our well-being.
Occupational therapists, educators, and caregivers play essential roles in helping individuals understand and navigate their sensory health. Through education, awareness, and practical strategies, we can learn to regulate our sensory experiences, optimize our environments, and promote inclusivity for all individuals, regardless of our sensory differences.
Ultimately, by embracing the importance of sensory health, we empower ourselves and others to live more comfortably, confidently, and fully engaged in the world around us
References
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