When you hear the term occupational therapist, what comes to mind? For many people, it’s someone who helps people get back to work—but that’s just a small part of what they do.
In truth, occupational therapists (OTs) help people across the UK regain their independence, confidence, and ability to live life on their own terms. Whether you’ve had an injury, are managing a long-term condition, or simply want to keep doing the things you love, an OT can make a life-changing difference.
In this article, we answer the most common questions about occupational therapists in the UK, with real-life examples and practical insights you won’t find in typical explanations.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational therapists are highly trained health and social care professionals who focus on helping people carry out daily activities that matter to them, especially when illness, disability, or ageing gets in the way.
Here’s what an occupational therapist actually does:
- Assess what you can and cannot do safely. Whether you’re recovering from a stroke, managing arthritis, or living with a mental health condition, OTs look at your specific challenges and goals.
- Recommends practical, real-world solutions. These can include home adaptations like stairlifts, specialised kitchen tools, mobility aids, or tailored exercises to improve everyday function.
- Focuses on meaningful activities. OTs help you return to things that make life enjoyable—like gardening, cooking, or even getting back to work—by finding safe, achievable ways to do them.
- Works across all ages and abilities. They support everyone from premature babies to elderly adults.
- Adapts environments, not just people. OTs often make recommendations to change your home, workplace, or school to remove barriers and prevent accidents.
In short, occupational therapists empower people in the UK to live as independently and fully as possible.
How Does an Occupational Therapist Change Lives?
One of the most powerful examples of occupational therapy comes from John, a 56-year-old man from Sheffield who survived a severe stroke. He was left with limited movement in his right arm and struggled with daily tasks like dressing, cooking, and walking without fear of falling.
When his occupational therapist, Anna, began working with him, she didn’t start with a checklist—she started with a question: “What do you want to be able to do again?”
John’s answer was simple: “I just want to hold a cup of tea in my garden.”
Anna helped John build towards that goal with small, practical steps:
- One-handed aids for the kitchen
- Grab rails and home safety adjustments
- Special cups that wouldn’t spill
- Confidence-building exercises to reduce his fear of falling
Over time, John achieved his goal and beyond. He regained independence not just in his home but also in his community. He now regularly meets friends at the local café and is even volunteering at a nearby charity shop.
John’s words say it best:
“Occupational therapy didn’t just help me move—it helped me live again.”
Where Do Occupational Therapists Work in the UK?
If you’re wondering where you might come across an occupational therapist in the UK, the answer is: almost everywhere. OTs are key players in both health and social care, and you can find them working in:
- NHS hospitals: Supporting recovery after surgeries, strokes, or major injuries.
- Community rehabilitation teams: Helping people regain independence at home after illness or hospital stays.
- Mental health services: Providing tailored support to people living with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more.
- Schools and children’s services: Helping children with developmental delays, sensory issues, or disabilities fully participate in school life.
- Care homes and assisted living facilities: Ensuring elderly people stay active, safe, and as independent as possible.
- Private clinics and charities: Offering specialised support outside of NHS pathways.
Occupational therapists work quietly in the background, but their contribution to improving lives across the UK is enormous.
How Is Occupational Therapy Different from Physiotherapy?
This is one of the most common questions in the UK: What’s the difference between occupational therapy and physiotherapy?
Here’s a simple comparison:
- Physiotherapists focus on improving physical movement, strength, flexibility, and reducing pain.
- Occupational therapists focus on helping you do the things you need or want to do in everyday life—through equipment, new techniques, or environmental changes.
For example:
- A physiotherapist may help you strengthen your leg muscles after surgery.
- An occupational therapist will help you safely climb stairs again or modify your kitchen so you can cook with one hand.
They often work together, but occupational therapists focus on your life goals and daily function—it’s a truly person-centred approach.
Can Occupational Therapists Help with Mental Health?
Yes—this is a part of occupational therapy that many people in the UK don’t realise. Occupational therapists play a vital role in mental health support.
When someone is struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or long-term stress, daily routines can collapse. People may stop cooking, socialising, or even leaving the house. This is where OTs step in to:
- Help rebuild meaningful daily activities
- Support a gradual return to work, school, or hobbies
- Create structured routines that promote better mental well-being
- Teach coping strategies for managing stress and low mood
- Improve confidence through achievable goals
Occupational therapists work in mental health hospitals, community services, schools, and GP surgeries across the UK. They are often part of crisis intervention teams and long-term recovery programmes.
They don’t just treat symptoms—they help people rediscover life.
How Can You Access an Occupational Therapist in the UK?
If you need occupational therapy support in the UK, there are a few main routes:
- NHS Referral: Speak to your GP, hospital consultant, or community nurse. Most occupational therapy is free through the NHS, but waiting times can vary.
- Local Council Services: You can request an occupational therapy assessment through your local authority, especially for home safety checks, mobility equipment, or adaptations like stairlifts.
- Private Occupational Therapists: You can contact private OTs directly, which often leads to faster support, though it does involve self-funding. Prices typically range from £50 to £120 per hour, depending on the service and location.
Some charities and voluntary organisations also offer free or low-cost occupational therapy services, particularly for specific conditions or age groups.
Why Does Occupational Therapy Matter Now More Than Ever in the UK?
The UK’s ageing population, rising mental health challenges, and increasing demand for independent living have made occupational therapy more essential than ever.
Here’s why occupational therapy is a growing priority:
- It helps people stay safely in their own homes, reducing pressure on hospitals and care homes.
- It speeds up recovery, which means shorter hospital stays.
- It supports mental health by restoring purpose and routine.
- It promotes independence in children with disabilities, helping them thrive in school and at home.
- It empowers people to return to work, hobbies, and meaningful community activities.
Occupational therapists are vital in making the UK’s health and social care systems more sustainable. Their work improves lives today and shapes a more accessible future for tomorrow.
Final Thoughts: Why Are Occupational Therapists Everyday Heroes?
Occupational therapists are often the quiet heroes behind people’s most important life milestones—helping a father walk his child to school again, supporting an elderly woman to make her own meals, or guiding a teenager back into education after a mental health crisis.
They don’t just help people recover—they help people live fully and on their own terms.
So, the next time you ask, what does an occupational therapist do?, remember:
They give people their lives back, one day, one goal, one meaningful activity at a time.
