DrSensory Clinic Directory
Occupational Therapy for Children and Adults
924 occupational therapy clinics across 103 cities — search by name, city or state.
Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) helps children take part in the everyday activities — or "occupations" — of childhood: play, self-care, learning, and social participation. An OT looks at why a child is struggling with a task and what would help, working on fine-motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, handwriting, feeding, dressing, and daily routines. The goal is function and participation in real life, not fixing an underlying process for its own sake. OT is provided in early-intervention programs, schools, clinics, and homes, and for children under three in the US a parent can request an evaluation directly. Occupational therapy is not only for children — see occupational therapy for adults below.
What occupational therapy helps with
OTs work on the practical skills daily life depends on — and often on the reason those skills are hard. Common areas include fine-motor skills and handwriting, sensory processing differences, self-regulation and emotional coordination, feeding and mealtime difficulty, dressing and self-care, visual-motor and coordination skills, and school participation. An OT explains the condition-specific detail on its own page; this hub explains what the therapist does.
Who it helps, and at what ages
From infancy through the teen years. Early on, OT supports feeding, motor development, and regulation; at school age, handwriting, attention, and self-care; in adolescence, independence and daily-living skills. OT is common for autistic children, those with ADHD, sensory processing differences, coordination difficulties (DCD), and many neurological and genetic conditions.
What assessment and a session involve
An OT evaluation combines a developmental history, standardized measures, and observation of the child doing real tasks. From there, goals are set in daily-life terms — "does up buttons independently," not "improves fine-motor skills." Sessions are play-based for young children — if it doesn't look like therapy, that's usually a good sign — and much of the work happens between sessions, so a good OT coaches parents on what to do at home.
When to consider a referral
Consider an OT assessment if a child is struggling with age-expected daily tasks (dressing, feeding, handwriting), is very over- or under-responsive to everyday sensory input, has coordination or motor-planning difficulty, or if regulation and self-care are interfering with school and family life. You don't need to be certain something is wrong — that's what the assessment is for.
How to choose a provider
Look for a licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L) with pediatric experience relevant to your child's needs. Reasonable questions: what's your experience with children like mine; how do you set and measure goals; how do you involve parents; and what does progress look like. A good fit between the child, family, and therapist matters as much as the credential.
Access and coverage
Under 3: free early-intervention evaluation through your state's IDEA Part C program — a parent can refer directly. 3 and over: school-based OT where a child's needs affect education (request an evaluation in writing), plus clinic-based OT through insurance or privately. Coverage varies, so it's worth confirming what your plan includes.
Occupational therapy for adults
Adult OT asks the same question as pediatric OT — what is getting in the way of the things you need and want to do — and answers it differently. It is less play-based and more focused on work, home, routine, and the environments you cannot avoid. Adults see occupational therapists after a stroke or brain injury, for hand and upper-limb rehabilitation, to stay independent at home in later life, for fatigue and energy management in long-term conditions, and where sensory processing differences affect daily life.
That last one is the least well known and one of the most useful. Sensory differences do not end at eighteen, and OT is the discipline most often involved where they affect work, sleep, or getting through a day — though far less has been written for adults than for parents.
Adult therapy · Neurodivergent adults · Staying independent in later life
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a pediatric occupational therapist do?
A pediatric OT helps children take part in everyday activities — play, self-care, learning, and social participation — by working on fine-motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, handwriting, feeding, and daily routines. The focus is real-life function, not an underlying process for its own sake.
How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?
Consider an assessment if your child struggles with age-expected daily tasks like dressing or handwriting, is very over- or under-responsive to sensory input, has coordination or motor-planning difficulty, or if regulation and self-care are interfering with school and family life.
What happens in an occupational therapy session?
For young children, sessions are play-based — building skills through activities that don't look like formal therapy. The OT sets goals in daily-life terms, works on them through play and practice, and coaches parents on what to do between sessions, which is where much of the progress happens.
How do I get occupational therapy for my child?
Under three, request a free evaluation through your state's early-intervention program — you can refer your own child. Three and over, school-based OT is available where needs affect education (request it in writing), and clinic-based OT through insurance or privately.
Is occupational therapy the same as physical therapy?
No. Occupational therapy focuses on daily activities, fine-motor skills, sensory processing, and self-care; physical therapy focuses on gross-motor skills, strength, mobility, and movement. Many children see both. See our physical therapy hub for the distinction.
Do occupational therapists treat adults?
Yes. Adult OT focuses on work, home, routine, and the environments you cannot avoid — after a stroke or brain injury, for hand and upper-limb rehabilitation, for staying independent in later life, and where sensory processing differences affect daily life. Occupational therapy licensure is not divided by age group, but individual practices choose who they see — ask whether a clinic takes adult referrals.
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List your business →This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Provider listings are for information only and are not an endorsement; verify credentials directly.