Going along with the theme from the previous post, here are two of the most frequently asked questions that I (and I think most other OT’s) have been asked:

• Is occupational therapy like physical therapy? (Variations: How is OT different than PT? OT is just another name for PT, right?)
• So you help people find jobs?

No, we don’t help people find jobs (although some OT’s do work in vocational centers). I think that the best way to describe the difference between OT and PT is in the following quote I once saw:

“A Physical Therapist will teach you how to walk. An Occupational Therapist will help you get a date and enjoy the dance”

In other words, we take the basic skill of walking, and make it into something meaningful to the client.