OT Psychotherapy: Choosing the Right Mental Health Partner to Support Work and Life

Mental health challenges don’t just affect how someone feels—they affect how they function. Burnout, anxiety, depression, and trauma can spill over into work, home life, self-care, and relationships. In the workplace, this can lead to extended time away from work or difficulty keeping up with job demands. Supporting employees with the right kind of psychotherapy can make the difference between ongoing struggle and a successful recovery.

Psychotherapy can help people manage stress, process difficult experiences, and build healthier ways of thinking and coping. It not only supports recovery from mental health conditions but also strengthens resilience and daily functioning. For organizations, psychotherapy can be the timely, work-relevant support needed to help individuals maintain their occupational roles during or after life’s challenges.

What Is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a systematic approach to assessing and treating patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Psychotherapy can be delivered by a range of trained professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Psychotherapists, Registered Nurses, and Physicians such as Psychiatrists.

It usually takes place in one-on-one sessions and involves guided conversations where the therapist helps the individual reflect, reframe, and practice new strategies. Depending on the approach, therapy might include talking through stressful experiences, learning tools to manage symptoms, practicing problem-solving or communication skills, exploring values and personal goals, and gradually facing situations that feel overwhelming in a safe, supported way.

Some of the approaches to psychotherapy include:

• Psychodynamic therapy – exploring unconscious processes and past experiences
• Person-centered therapy – focusing on self-growth and self-acceptance
• Behavioural therapy – addressing maladaptive behaviours through reinforcement and exposure
• Existential therapy – exploring meaning, choice, and responsibility

OT Psychotherapy: A Unique, Functional Lens

Occupational Therapy (OT) psychotherapy is unique because it focuses not just on thoughts and emotions but on helping individuals regain daily functioning, routines, and work/life roles. Mental health challenges can disrupt daily life by affecting focus and motivation at work, straining relationships at home, reducing self-care, and diminishing enjoyment or participation in leisure activities. By applying mental health strategies directly to real-world activities, OT psychotherapy bridges the gap. It recognizes that health is not just about how we feel but about how we participate in our social roles and activities. It is also strengths-based and goal-directed, helping individuals build on their abilities while working toward meaningful change.

How OT Psychotherapy Differs from Other Providers

Examples of OT psychotherapy in practice:

• Supporting an individual with depression to restore a daily routine and gradually re-engage in  self-care (hygiene, eating, exercise), hobbies, and childcare tasks
• Helping an employee with anxiety develop symptom-management strategies to return to work successfully
•  Supporting trauma recovery by  facilitating gradual community exposures to meaningful places and activities that allow individuals to complete  everyday tasks with more confidence

When Should You Refer to an OT Practicing Psychotherapy?

While all mental health professionals offer valuable support, choosing the right therapist  depends on the goals. OT psychotherapy is valuable when mental health challenges interfere with an employee’s ability to function at work or in daily life. It is especially effective for employees on short- or long-term leave who are working toward a safe and sustainable return to work.  By focusing on participation in functional tasks, OTs help employees regain the confidence, routines, and coping strategies they need to resume work and other life roles.

An OT practicing psychotherapy may be the best fit when:

• An employee is struggling to return to or stay at work due to mental health symptoms
• Mental health is affecting sleep, energy, or ability to complete daily tasks
• There are difficulties accessing the physical environment or community (e.g., leaving the home, driving, grocery shopping)
• Chronic pain or physical health challenges are contributing to mental health concerns
• Cognitive challenges, such as attention, memory, or problem-solving, are present
• A goal-oriented, activity-based plan is needed to support recovery and daily functioning

Benefits of OT psychotherapy for return to work

Occupational Therapists can collaborate directly with workplace stakeholders to create practical return-to-work plans, while also teaching employees skills that are specific to their job demands, such as managing focus, memory, energy, and communication. Therapy is tailored to help individuals apply coping strategies to their specific occupational role and may include recommendations for adapting the physical or social environment to reduce barriers. This approach supports a faster, more sustainable return to work, reduces the likelihood of relapse or extended leave due to unaddressed challenges, and gives employees the tools to balance work with other areas of life.

How to Access OT Psychotherapy Services

• Self-referral directly to an OT psychotherapy provider
• In some provinces, OT psychotherapy may be covered under “mental health” or “paramedical” in extended health benefits. Some public programs may also provide coverage.

How Can Gowan Consulting Help?

At Gowan Consulting, our team of Occupational Therapist psychotherapists provides assessments, therapy sessions, and return-to-work planning tailored to individual needs. We offer flexible delivery options, including both virtual and in-person sessions. Employers can partner with us to provide timely, accessible mental health support for employees. Referrals are simple, and our team collaborates closely with organizations to ensure employees have the tools they need to function at their best. Contact us to learn more or make a referral today.