Occupational Therapy (OT) originated in 1789 when mentally ill patients were treated through

activities (Schell, 2018). The future of OT has become a controversial topic on where it should be
heading as a profession. A common view expressed is that OT should reclaim activities and
occupational based practise as the core of the profession. However, others may argue that OT as a
profession should head towards Occupational science and addressing occupational risk factors as
the core of the profession. This essay will provide different facts supporting the stance that OT
should reclaim activities and occupational based practise as the center of the profession. They are:
using activities as an intervention, how engaging in occupations plays a role in one’s life and lastly
occupational enablement is the main purpose of OT.

In Occupational Therapy activities are used as an intervention to help people who struggle with
everyday tasks. Activities are tasks that engage a person’s time and energy specifically self-care,
productivity, and leisure. This intervention or treatment of using different activities improves
clients’ performance skills which are goal directed actions clients use to engage in daily life
activities. Activities works to improve fine and gross motor skills, sensory skills, perceptual and
lastly cognitive skills. The therapy is tailored to each client’s specific needs. Before the therapy
begins, an occupational therapist looks at the client’s strengths and challenges. The OT will create a
program containing purposeful activities which will allow clients to engage in goal-directed
behaviours. However, looking at a Southern African context, there is not enough funding to buy
resources to make these activities. With no resources the therapy sessions may not be as effective.
But activities must happen within a therapeutically designed context. Meaning it does not need to be
exorbitant or pricey resources but the available resources can be used in activities. So activities may
be regarded as essential feature of OT used to achieve goals related to performance skills for
everyday tasks.

Occupational based practise is considered as the foundation of Occupational Therapy as it was

established to expedite the enlarged use of occupations as intervention (Lloyd & Gee, 2016). This
practice is aimed at the attainment of good health, sense of well-being and life satisfaction through
enabling people to engage in meaningful occupations. Occupation is explained as a person
personally created, one-time experience within a certain context (Pierce 2001). Occupations are
necessary to life like food and water (Danton,2019). Barriers that may reduces a person’s ability to
engage in occupation has the potential to negatively affect health and well-being, even generate
pathology. Furthermore anything that overextends a persons need to engage can result in
occupational imbalance and negatively affect health, increase stress, and may actually result in
depression. Sick minds, sick bodies and sick souls may be healed through participation in
occupations (Schell & Gillen, 2019). Purposeful action and self-actualization is based on the idea
that doing is the remedy. Some may say we must look into Occupational science as it studies and
implements new ways humans can live their occupational lives as occupational beings. It also
studies how people can meet their occupational needs (Schell , 2019). But all this development and
growth and change may result in the profession becoming too centered on the medical aspect and
forget about occupations. Therefore using activities and occupation-based practice methods is
preferred to ensure that occupational engagement remains as the goal of the profession.

Occupational enablement is the main goal of occupational therapy. Occupational enablement

becomes an important part of occupation-based practice. It is defined as the process of working with
people to develop their ability to engage in the occupations they need or choose to do. Or by
adapting their occupations or the environment to enhance their occupational engagement. It
encompasses reintegrating clients into their respective life roles and tasks. Activities and
occupational based practices improve the satisfaction and capacity of individuals, groups, and
society, for engaging in desired occupations where and when they naturally occur. Such engagement
enhances valued roles, positively influences overall quality of life, and assists in developing and
reaffirming the identity of individuals or groups. An independent study published in Medical Care
Research and Review, found that occupational therapy is “the only spending category where
additional spending has a statistically significant association with lower readmission rates” (Rogers,
Bai, Lavin & Anderson, 2016).Occupational based practise is centered around clients. During
occupational enablement practitioners turn occupations into therapy using their knowledge and
experience (Schell & Gillen, 2019).To enable clients, so they can engage in activities barriers are
uncovered and altered so they to be suitable for client needs, goals, and priorities. Adaptations may
also be used to enhance participation and satisfaction in the performance of desired occupations.
Occupations may be modified to match each client’s abilities, the context where occupation takes
place or the environment may be adapted for improved occupational performance and participation.
On the other side, Occupational science implements new ways humans can live meaningful lives by
participating in occupations they find meaning in. Nevertheless, occupational science fails to study
the clients context in depth while the OBP does.This makes OBP the best approach because of it’s
focus on occupational enablement.

Therefore, OT should continue using activities and occupational based practise as the center of the
profession. As activities improve peoples skills for those who struggles with everyday tasks.
Moreover this practice uses occupations as an intervention so clients can have a meaningful and
fulfilling life. All clients should engage in occupation as it is their right so this approach enable
clients to engage in occupations to promote health and prevent dysfunction. Doubtlessly
Occupational Therapy should go back to its roots and continue using activities as it was established
as the profession which uses occupations as treatment. The profession should also introduce new
methods so that new ways to explore the complexities of human engagement in occupation may
develop and to make this therapy an evidence based one.