What to Know About the Different Types of Occupational Therapy

Published on: March 19, 2025

Animation of an occupational therapist working with a patient in a wheel chair and an elderly person to water plants on a table.

Through specialized interventions, the field of occupational therapy (OT) helps individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life. With various types of occupational therapy, practitioners support diverse needs, from stroke recovery to workplace injury recovery. Occupational therapy specialties also offer advanced expertise within broader OT fields. Understanding these distinctions helps individuals and caregivers make informed decisions about the right OT approach for their needs.

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What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession focused on helping individuals develop, regain or maintain the skills needed for daily activities. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who face physical, cognitive or emotional challenges that impact their independence. Whether assisting with stroke recovery, chronic pain management or fine motor skills, OT interventions are tailored to each person’s needs. Using therapeutic exercises, adaptive tools and environmental modifications, OTs help individuals improve mobility, self-care and overall well-being.

Types of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy covers a range of specialties designed to meet the unique needs of different populations. OT types include pediatric, geriatric, physical rehabilitation and mental health-focused therapy, among others. Each approach is shaped to help individuals regain independence — be it recovering from injury, managing chronic pain or improving fine motor skills for daily tasks.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Fostering independence in home, school and community settings, pediatric occupational therapy helps children develop essential skills for daily activities. OTs assist children with developmental delays, helping them improve coordination, balance and fine motor skills needed for tasks like handwriting and self-care. They also support children with sensory processing disorders using strategies to manage sensitivities to sound, touch and movement. For children with autism or neuromuscular conditions, therapists develop customized interventions to enhance communication, mobility and social participation. Within schools, clinics and homes, pediatric OTs help children overcome challenges and build confidence in their abilities.

Geriatric Occupational Therapy

Geriatric occupational therapy focuses on assisting older adults in maintaining independence and enhancing their quality of life. Therapists address challenges such as age-related physical declines, cognitive impairments and chronic health conditions. Interventions often involve exercises to improve mobility, recommendations for home modifications to ensure safety and strategies to manage daily activities effectively. For individuals with dementia, occupational therapists implement techniques like reminiscence therapy and cognitive stimulation to support memory and engagement. By tailoring interventions to individual needs, geriatric occupational therapists empower older adults to participate fully in meaningful activities.

Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy

Physical rehabilitation occupational therapy helps individuals with strength, mobility and independence after injuries, surgeries or medical conditions (such as stroke recovery). Therapists assist with daily activities — focusing on fine motor skills, coordination and adaptive strategies to enhance function. They may introduce exercises to rebuild muscle control, recommend assistive devices or modify home and work environments to promote safety. OTs in rehabilitation settings help individuals regain function and adapt to improve their overall quality of life.

Mental Health Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists play a crucial role in mental health care by helping individuals engage in meaningful activities that promote well-being and recovery. They address various mental health challenges (including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia) by focusing on daily routines and social participation. Interventions may involve developing coping strategies, enhancing social skills and implementing stress management techniques. Designing activities around each person's interests and goals, OTs help build self-esteem and encourage community involvement in a way that supports mental health.

Neurological Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists specializing in neurological rehabilitation assist individuals with conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and traumatic brain injuries. They aim to restore and enhance motor functions, cognitive abilities and daily living skills. Interventions may include exercises to improve strength and coordination, strategies to compensate for memory loss and training in the use of adaptive equipment. Tailoring therapy to each person's unique challenges, OTs help patients regain independence and elevate their quality of life.

Occupational Therapy for Autism and Sensory Processing Disorders

For individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sensory processing disorders (SPD), occupational therapists deliver support to enhance daily functioning and social participation. Therapy focuses on developing social skills, improving daily living tasks (like dressing and eating) and enhancing sensory integration to regulate responses to environmental stimuli. OTs may use sensory integration therapy to help individuals manage hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sound, touch and movement. Additionally, they recommend environmental modifications — such as reducing noise levels or adjusting lighting — to create supportive spaces at home and school. These interventions empower individuals with ASD and SPD to participate more fully in their environments.

Oncology Occupational Therapy

For patients undergoing cancer treatment and recovery, occupational therapists provide essential support to help manage physical and emotional challenges. They address cancer-related fatigue by introducing energy conservation techniques and therapeutic exercises that promote sustained participation in daily activities. Pain management strategies, such as relaxation techniques and adaptive tools, help patients cope with discomfort. OTs offer psychosocial support, too, assisting individuals in managing anxiety, depression and stress related to their diagnosis. Through personalized interventions, OTs help patients navigate daily routines more comfortably, regain a sense of control and stay engaged in activities that enhance their well-being.

Palliative and Hospice Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists involved in palliative and hospice care focus on boosting quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses. They assist patients in maintaining independence and participating in meaningful activities, even as their conditions progress. Interventions may include energy conservation techniques, adaptive equipment recommendations and environmental modifications to ensure safety and comfort. Through addressing physical, emotional and social needs, OTs help patients engage in daily routines and leisure activities that bring joy and satisfaction. This holistic approach supports not only the patients but also their families — providing guidance on caregiving strategies and coping mechanisms during challenging times.

Occupational Therapy Specialties: Advancing in the Field

While types of occupational therapy focus on broader practice areas, occupational therapy specialties involve advanced expertise within those fields. Specialization allows therapists to develop deeper skills in targeted areas that often require additional training and OT certification. These specialized credentials enable OTs to refine their practice, thereby improving outcomes for individuals with complex conditions.

Examples of Common OT Specialties

Occupational therapists can specialize in numerous areas to provide targeted interventions for specific conditions. The following occupational therapy specialties develop expertise in OT types that address rehabilitation, sensory integration and mobility challenges.

Hand therapy – This specialty focuses on hand and wrist rehabilitation, helping patients regain fine motor skills for tasks like writing, dressing or tool use. OT certification in hand therapy allows practitioners to treat carpal tunnel, fractures and tendon injuries.

Driving rehabilitation – OTs help individuals regain safe driving abilities after injury or illness by improving coordination, reaction time and cognitive skills. This specialty helps restore independence among those undergoing stroke recovery or workplace injury recovery.

Lymphedema therapy – OT specialists manage fluid buildup and swelling caused by surgery or chronic conditions. Treatment includes manual lymph drainage, compression therapy and exercises to improve circulation and prevent complications.

Low vision therapy – OTs assist individuals with vision impairments by teaching adaptive techniques and recommending assistive devices. This therapy supports those with macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy in maintaining independence.

Sensory integration therapy – This specialty helps individuals regulate sensory responses, in turn improving engagement in daily life. OTs use controlled sensory experiences and movement-based exercises to support autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders.

By advancing their expertise in these specialties, OTs expand their impact across diverse settings — from hospitals and clinics to schools and community programs — to help others lead more fulfilling lives.

Make a Difference in People’s Care With a Degree in OT

Understanding the various types of occupational therapy can help individuals find the right path for treatment or career advancement for professionals. Whether working in pediatric care, rehabilitation or specialized fields like hand therapy or sensory integration, OTs play a vital role in improving lives.

Ready to take the next step in this rewarding profession? Consider earning your Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) at Husson University. Learn more about this graduate degree program by requesting more information today.