Some mental health symptoms can be mediated with Occupational Therapy. Sydney-based Direct Focus Solutions (DFS) promotes mental health and wellbeing through engagement with purposeful activities using a neurodevelopmental approach to connect the brain and body.
Occupational therapy teaches practical strategies that can be implemented in everyday life. These techniques support attachment/engagement, sensory integration and self-regulation to improve mental health and wellbeing. Consequently, by making use of familiar activities, such as cooking, cleaning or listening to music, you can develop mechanisms for coping when you feel agitated or unsafe.
Most people associate occupational therapy with paediatric or physical concerns but its origins were in mental health. Occupational therapy benefits from holistic approach, and in addition to their skills in physical wellbeing, occupational therapists are also trained in treatment areas associated with mental health disorders, such as:
Sydney-siders who are struggling with adverse circumstances in their lives, including grief and stress, as well as people with mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety, can benefit from occupational therapy. Developmental conditions, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), may also be improved by an OT practitioner.
This protocol is used in children with sensory defensiveness, which is to say they react excessively to sensory input with what most people would interpret as negative behaviours or emotions. The protocol is referred to as brushing therapy as it involves brushing the body with a small brush throughout the day. Sensory defensiveness may derive from touch, hearing, smell, vision and balance and include:
Children who have experienced trauma may be impaired in their ability to develop healthy emotional attachments. In order to support them, we have a range of strategies to enable children to function well at home, school and in the community. By providing focussed ways of strengthening emotional connections, self-esteem, emotional resilience and trust can be rebuilt to enable children to feel safe, secure and worthy.
The ALERT program is an Occupational Therapy program run at our Sydney clinic. It offers self-regulation for both children and adults that can help with a wide range of scenarios, from staying centred to aiding concentration. It includes Group Programs, such as:
Learn how to handle life’s challenges better with occupational therapy at our Sydney-based clinics. Get in touch with us so we can schedule an appointment at one of our offices, or online with a telehealth consultation.