Gowan Consulting helps support individuals who are off work to return to work successfully. Our structured return to work program is designed for individuals that have mild to moderate functional limitations due to mental health or physical conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, chronic pain and fatigue, concussion, recovery following illness or surgery, etc.). Our team provides objective functional assessments with focused recommendations to reduce time away from work and disability-related costs.

When employees are away from work, routines, confidence, and work-related skills can decline. Our Occupational Therapists help individuals rebuild these foundations through structured, goal-oriented interventions that focus on practical skill development and gradual re-engagement with work.

Individualized Treatment

Based on the assessment, the Occupational Therapist develops a customized reactivation plan designed to help the individual rebuild the skills to return to work. Treatment falls into three stages:

• Early Intervention: Re-establishing healthy routines, self-care habits, and positive coping strategies.
• Recovery and Re-Integration: Building emotional regulation, confidence, and participation in meaningful activities and life roles.
• Return to Work and Sustainability: Developing and supporting a gradual return-to-work plan that builds on the employee's strengths and resiliency to promote long-term success in the workplace.

Return to Work Planning and Facilitation

As recovery progresses, the Occupational Therapist works with stakeholders to develop a structured return-to-work plan that aligns the individual’s functional abilities with job demands. Meeting with the employee, manager, HR, and union is important to ensure that the plan works well for everyone. This is a time to discuss concerns, workplace changes, or barriers and develop a strategy to proactively support the employee back into the workplace. This may include discussing:

• Graduated work hours or duties
• Workplace accommodations
• Strategies to manage workload, stress, or fatigue
• Ongoing monitoring and adjustments

Progress Report and Monitoring 

It may be determined that long-term accommodations are needed. Throughout the program, the Occupational Therapist helps implement accommodations, monitors progress and return-to-work readiness, communicates with healthcare providers involved in the individual’s care, and provides updates to the referring organization or funder as required. If the employee cannot return to work to their own job, the report can outline next steps and supports or help employers determine a suitable alternate job for the employee.

Trauma-Informed Approach

We recognize that trauma and psychological injury can profoundly impact recovery and workplace functioning. Employees with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other Operational Stress Injuries (OSIs) require specialized tools, strategies, and training to manage the impact of that trauma.

Treatment of individuals with trauma often includes:

• Building emotional regulation and coping skills to manage trauma responses
• Reactivating healthy routines and participation in meaningful life roles
• Cognitive skill building and endurance
• Restorative sleep strategies, including insomnia intervention, nightmare treatment, and trauma-specific recommendations
• Gradual exposure to workplace environments or work tasks

Our Occupational Therapists are trained in trauma-informed care and understand the unique demands of trauma-exposed professions, including first responders, healthcare professionals, and others regularly exposed to distressing events. For individuals recovering from mental health injuries, we provide occupational therapy services through the WSIB Mental Health Program of Care.