Occupational Therapy: A Holistic Practice For Embracing Life Despite Physical or Mental Limitations

Thrive • December 8, 2021

By Thrive Reno Occupational Therapist Dr. Meadow Deason, OTD, OTR/L

WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

Certain injuries, illnesses, and disabilities can limit an individual’s abilities to engage in everyday activities. Occupational therapy helps individuals adapt to health limitations so they can carry out daily activities that are meaningful to them.

Occupational therapist, Rayya Ghul said, “It isn’t until we are prevented from doing the things we want and need to be able to do that we realise how important it is to us.”

Through creative and holistic approaches, occupational therapy attempts to enhance the lives of those struggling with physical or mental impairment in meaningful ways. The practice focuses on empowering clients’ active engagement in self-care, productivity, and leisure.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

Individuals can benefit from occupational therapy if they experience conditions that limit their ability to take part in essential activities.

Occupational therapists support people with conditions such as:

Developmental delay
Sensory dysregulation
Chronic disease
Pain
Injury
Illness
Mental illness
Cognitive impairment
Neurological injury
Disability

When individuals are affected by these conditions, occupational therapists work hand-in-hand with them to improve their ability to engage in meaningful activities, such as:

Caring for themselves, such as by bathing, dressing, or eating.
Completing household chores, such as doing laundry, taking out the trash, or sweeping the floor.
Moving around one’s home, workplace, or anywhere in between.
Performing schoolwork.
Participating in a job.

Occupational therapy empowers people to:

Learn new ways of doing things.
Regain skills and develop new ones.
Use materials or equipment that makes life easier.
Change their environment in ways that fit their needs.
Modify the ways they do things for improved functionality.

FOUR COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy is often misunderstood. Some of the more common misconceptions about the practice are below.

Occupational therapists only help with issues related to employment.

While occupational therapists can assist with physical and mental struggles related to employment, their broad scope includes helping individuals participate in any activities that occupy their time and impact their quality of life.

Occupational therapists only work with children.

Although pediatric occupational therapy is an important aspect of the profession, occupational therapists work with individuals of all ages and often throughout their lifespans.

Occupational therapy is limited to helping people improve their fine motor skills.

While occupational therapists do help individuals improve their fine motor skills, this is only one element of the profession. Occupational therapy is comprised of many different specializations including:

Sensory integration therapy: Helps individuals process sensory information and regulate emotions.
Hand therapy: Focuses on conditions relating to upper extremities, including the shoulders, arms, elbows, forearms, wrists, and hands.
Vision therapy: Seeks to improve the way individuals interpret visual information.
Driving rehabilitation: Assists clients in overcoming obstacles relating to transportation.
Brain injury therapy: Aids individuals in achieving the highest level of functionality possible following a brain injury.
Vestibular therapy: Designed to alleviate concerns caused by vestibular disorders including vertigo and imbalance.
Lymphedema therapy: Helps individuals manage chronic swelling caused by an infection, injury, or cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Equine therapy: Uses interactions with horses to promote strength, coordination, sensory integration, social skills, and more.

Occupational therapy and physical therapy are the same.

Physical therapy focuses on a person’s ability to perform certain movements, while occupational therapy focuses on an individual’s ability to perform daily activities. For example, a physical therapist will work with a stroke patient to restore muscle strength, while an occupational therapist will work with a stroke patient to practice basic skills like walking, eating, bathing, and dressing.

HOW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WORKS

Occupational therapists take a holistic approach, focusing on adapting the client’s environment and tasks to fit their needs while also recovering or developing their skills. Upon beginning occupational therapy, clients receive a personalized evaluation during which the client, family, and occupational therapist determine the client’s goals. From there, the therapist customizes interventions to help the client reach their goals and achieve a better quality of life.

Examples of occupational therapy interventions include:

Participation in meaningful activities to develop, maintain, or recover physical or mental function.
Adaptation and modification of daily activities.
Recommendations for adaptive equipment, home modifications, or durable medical equipment.
Movement and exercise in preparation for daily activities.
Therapeutic modalities such as the use of ice and heat, electric stimulation, splinting, manual therapy, and virtual reality.
Education and training to teach clients and their families strategies and skills that promote clients’ independence and ability.
Advocacy on behalf of clients to garner educational and workplace support and resources for them.
Development or recovery of motor skills and/or cognitive skills.
Sensory integration and regulation.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT THRIVE

Thrive Wellness provides integrated treatment to address clients’ mental, emotional, and physical health. In addition to its other medical and therapeutic services, Thrive Reno also offers occupational therapy.

Below, discover some of the ways that Thrive Reno clients can take advantage of our occupational therapy services.

Many eating disorder clients undergo an occupational therapy evaluation and receive a personalized treatment plan.
Eating disorder clients are also able to attend group therapy sessions led by a Thrive occupational therapist where they focus on the basics of daily living, health and household management, intuitive meal planning and preparation, as well as expression and leisure.
Perinatal mental health clients may also attend group therapy sessions led by a Thrive occupational therapist where they learn about ergonomics, sensory development, sleep hygiene, routine establishment, child development, and pain management strategies.
Outpatient occupational therapy services are also available for referred clients.

Explore occupational therapy at Thrive.

You can learn more about all of Thrive’s services by reaching out to us.

About the Author

Thrive Reno Occupational Therapist Dr. Meadow Deason, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Meadow Deason earned her doctorate of occupational therapy at Huntington University and is a licensed doctor of occupational therapy (OTD). As an occupational therapist, she has extensive clinical experience in neurological and physical rehabilitation, fall prevention education, community-based services, home health, and mental health. Dr. Deason is also trained in oral motor function assessment, feeding therapy, therapeutic pain education, home modification, aging in place, brain injury rehabilitation, sensory integration, integration of primitive reflexes, neuromuscular rehabilitation, upper extremity rehabilitation, behavioral management, ergonomics, and mindfulness. She partners with individuals and their loved ones to overcome emotional, physical, and social barriers to holistic health through meaningful activities designed to develop, recover, modify, or maintain skills for thriving in everyday life.

Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, Dr. Deason gained years of experience in early childhood intervention, social services, treatment foster care, special education, and business.

The post Occupational Therapy: A Holistic Practice For Embracing Life Despite Physical or Mental Limitations first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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When Mealtimes Become Battlegrounds: How ARFID Impacts Families

August 21, 2025

When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. Parent Support: Educating caregivers that ARFID is not their fault, offering psychoeducation, and helping them reframe mealtime struggles as part of the disorder — not a parenting failure. Family-Based Interventions: Coaching families in structured meal support, communication strategies, and gradual exposure work so parents don’t feel powerless. Holistic Care: Involving therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical providers ensures that the family does not shoulder the weight of treatment alone. When families are validated, supported, and given practical tools, the entire household can begin to heal. Treatment is not only about expanding a child’s food repertoire but also about restoring peace, resilience, and connection at home. Moving Forward ARFID may begin with one individual, but its ripple effects are felt across the entire family system. By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.

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Is It OCD or an Eating Disorder? What Parents Need to Know

July 17, 2025

As a parent, noticing alarming behaviors around food or routines in your child can raise some important questions. You might be asking yourself, “Is this an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or something else entirely?” Understanding the signs and differences between these disorders is key to getting your child effective, timely treatment. In this blog, we’ll break down the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, what signs to watch for, and how to get professional help. If you're a parent wondering “Is my child’s eating disorder actually OCD?” or “OCD vs eating disorder in teens,” know that you’re not alone and you’re in the right place to find specialized care for your child. What Is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to ease that anxiety. OCD can be focused on any subject. Common obsessions include contamination, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and harm, but sometimes, the content of obsessions can be focused on food, body image, or weight. What Is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders , like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involve disturbed eating behaviors and intense concerns about body weight or shape. These conditions go beyond dieting or “picky eating” and can become life-threatening without professional intervention. The Overlap: Why It Can Be Confusing OCD and eating disorders often share similar symptoms : Ritualistic eating (e.g., needing to eat foods in a certain order or at a certain time) Rigid rules about food (like only eating certain food groups or certain amounts of food) Excessive checking (like weighing food or body or repeated checking of expiration dates or thorough cooking) Avoidance behaviors ( like avoiding carbs, fats, or other food groups or avoiding places or objects that can trigger obsessions) Distress when routines are disrupted (either around mealtimes or exercise routines) So, How Can You Tell the Difference? Use the following chart to compare and contrast symptoms of OCD and eating disorders.