Occupational Therapy

UT Southwestern provides occupational therapy for people who have trouble performing everyday activities. Our occupational therapists use the most advanced methods to help patients regain independence in various aspects of their lives.

Customized Occupational Therapy in Dallas

Occupational therapy is a branch of rehabilitative medicine that helps people who have physical or cognitive challenges that affect their daily activities (or “occupations”). It helps people of all ages and abilities perform everyday tasks such as eating, getting dressed, or writing. Occupational therapy can also help someone improve skills in the areas of social interactions, hobbies, or work life.

At UT Southwestern, our compassionate occupational therapists are specially trained to treat the whole patient. We create customized treatment plans that consider each patient’s unique needs with the goal of empowering patients to live independently.

Conditions We Treat with Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy can benefit people with a range of physical and cognitive problems. At UT Southwestern, we see patients who have conditions such as:

Autism
Brain injuries
Cancer
Hand injuries
Learning disabilities
Mental health disorders
Multiple sclerosis
Post-surgical complications
Sensory processing disorders (conditions in which someone has trouble processing information from sound, touch, or other senses)
Spinal cord injuries
Workplace injuries

Occupational therapy can be used to help people in a variety of different situations, including:

Someone who is recovering from a stroke and needs to relearn how to eat without help
A child with autism who needs help navigating social situations
Someone with a spinal injury who is using a wheelchair for the first time

What to Expect

We see patients who’ve received an occupational therapy referral from their physician; additionally, if they’re receiving inpatient care at a UT Southwestern hospital, their care team may recommend occupational therapy as part of their treatment or recovery process.

Each visit begins with a thorough evaluation from an occupational therapist, which includes a:

Physical exam
Discussion of personal and family medical history
Discussion of symptoms, risk factors, and goals

Our occupational therapists create individual treatment plans that encourage recovery and help each patient reach their therapy goals. Throughout the process, we monitor patients’ progress and make changes to the treatment plan as necessary. Our approach focuses on creating a successful therapeutic journey while helping patients maintain a positive outlook.