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Mental Health and Occupational Therapy

The field of occupational therapy is often misunderstood and many are unaware of our scope of practice or areas that we address. Occupational therapy actually started in the area of mental health in which we provided therapeutic activities or meaningful occupations for adults struggling with a variety of mental illnesses. Mental health has changed dramatically within our society and many OT’s no longer work in this setting.

 

How Mental Health Relates To OT

“Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity. This definition affirms the view that mental health is not merely the absence of mental illness but also the presence of something positive.” (www.everymomentcounts.org, 2014) As an OT who works with kids, this is something I try to remember and incorporate within my treatment sessions. In our sessions, I hope to develop a bond, an environment of acceptance, and a sense of trust with my students and clients. Emotions are often shared as activities are completed and I gain an understanding of my student’s sense of self.
The children I see and work with are often receiving therapy because of something that is very challenging for them, such as writing, tying their shoes, cutting, etc. Feelings of frustration and failure often reveal themselves in our time together. I spend much time motivating and developing self-confidence needed to be more independent in tasks such as these. Oftentimes, they are so used to hearing “you can’t do that” that they truly start to believe that and give up trying. Words can be very powerful both in a negative and positive way.
I became involved with and passionate about this area of practice in a project entitled “Every Moment Counts.” It is a mental health promotion initiative developed by Occupational Therapists that is carried out in school systems and after-school programs. Its aim is to empower school staff and professionals to be aware of the issue of mental health and teach strategies to address it. It is also a resource for families and professionals for both families and professionals who are interested in learning more and incorporating mental health within their practice.
Poor mental health or sense of self is something that is not observable, but can greatly impact a child’s daily life. If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, please discuss this with your therapist so that he/she may be aware of these needs and assist them in developing a more positive sense of self and well-being.

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Patient Reviews

LLA Therapy

Patient Reviews

Crystal Scheibe

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Great place, glad we found them. Been going to Medina over 2 months now and he loves Lauryn and Kyler. Wish they had more ABA therapy places available... live in Wooster and long drive everyday.

Karrie Swan LaRock

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My 11 year old son has dyslexia and has made noticeable gains in working At LLA THERAPY. Katie is strong in her approach toward him and also keeps him comfortable enough to perform well. We will continue visiting both the Fairlawn and Hudson offices and recommend them highly.

Ron Monroe

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My 9 year old just completed about 9 months of weekly speech sessions (due to his stuttering) with Matt Hagge at LLA and we are thrilled with the experience and results. What I thought might be a negative (what kid really wants to go to speech class?) was made very positive by Matt, and my son never hesitated or complained when we talked about class. He really enjoyed it and really took what Matt taught him to heart. His speech has been greatly improved and we definitely recommend LLA. Thank you so much!

Heather Dougherty-Pantoja

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My son’s Occupational Therapist, Jess, is an amazing OT! She gives practical tips on working with my son at home and school!

Terri Apgar

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I cannot say enough good things about LLA Therapy. My daughter was a client of Teal Simmons’ for approximately 2 years and was just released from speech therapy! She was diagnosed with Apraxia in 2015 and worked with Teal twice a week. Through Teal’s application of PROMPT therapy, my daughter had age-appropriate speech after one year. All of the staff we interacted with at LLA were absolutely wonderful. They really care about what they do and making sure your child achieves their goals.

Kelli Geisler Davisson

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LLA Therapy has been an excellent experience for my son as well as my family! My son always asks, "When can I go see Ms. Jeannine again, is it Monday??" He has also made huge gains in only 5 months! I would highly recommend LLA and have already shared my experience with friends looking for services!

Victoria Hansford-Price

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We are so grateful for our Speech Therapist Ms.Teal. We have seen a great improvement with our sons confidence and communication abilities since we have started "Prompt" therapy. What we love the most about LLA and Ms. Teal is that Kohl feels comfortable and relaxed which has played a critical role in his progress. Thank you Ms. Teal for all you have done.

Laura Lee Hogsett

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They have helped in numerous ways. Speech, OT and behavioral. I've had numerous compliments on my son's progress thanks in very large part to LLA. I would recommend LLA before I recommend our local children's hospitals, though they are good, they don't have the staff that LLA does.

Amy Furukawa

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We had a great experience with Matt Hagge at LLA! Our Middle School age son was becoming very conscious of his voice, which is nasal due to a cleft palate. Matt helped him to better form his sounds and project his voice in a way that makes the unavoidable nasality less noticeable.Our son is more confident and outgoing & even took on a speaking role in the church play. Matt has the perfect personality to relate with our son, and we would recommend him to anyone needing speech therapy services!

Jessica Havalotti

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LLA Therapy has been an excellent experience for our daughter. I would highly recommend LLA. Miss Grace was so amazing and I can't believe how quickly our daughter showed improvement. Thank you!
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