Occupational Therapy - Purcellville, VA
Here at Full Distance, our mission is to work together with clients, their families, caregivers, and healthcare team to address every factor that impacts overall well-being. Occupational Therapists help individuals gain greater independence and satisfaction in all areas of life. Our goal is to implement preventative and proactive measures to promote longevity while reducing client risk for injuries, falls, hospitalizations, social isolation, and caregiver burden. We strive to improve the quality of life for each and every client.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps people of all ages successfully participate in meaningful daily activities. Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with a variety and wide-range of abilities to enable individuals to be successful while safely navigating any physical, mental, and/or emotional limitations. OTs help people live their best lives regardless of the challenges they face, while assisting them in maintaining and/or regaining their independence.
What do our Occupational Therapists do?
Physical: Our Occupational Therapists (OTs) provide skilled services to improve strength, flexibility, movement, coordination, balance, and endurance to reduce the risk of falls, injuries, and pain. We work with individuals struggling with chronic pain and/or post-surgical recovery, to customize strategies for pain management for successful engagement in daily activities. We assist in regaining function and learning new or adaptive ways to complete tasks when faced with physical limitations.
Mental/Cognitive: As part of a collaborative team, our Occupational Therapists (OTs) help clients improve and/or regain skills related to memory, organization, time management, focus, and problem-solving. We assist clients in learning and implementing adaptive techniques to successfully engage in daily routine tasks. Our OTs also help clients develop healthy coping skills and mindfulness strategies to improve self-esteem & increase motivation to participate in meaningful activities.
Social/Emotional: The Occupational Therapists, here at Full Distance, help clients overcome barriers and incorporate effective coping strategies to be able to “Live their life to the fullest”. Common social/emotional challenges that impact daily function for many clients include: anxiety, depression, emotional expression, motivation, self-esteem, isolation, fear, relationship skills, caregiver burnout, and interpersonal skills. We utilize our specialized skill set to assist clients in establishing meaningful connections & new relationships with individuals & groups within their community.
How Occupational Therapy Improves Everyday Life
Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with you and your family to create solutions, to overcome specific challenges resulting from injury, illness, disability, mental health issues, social factors or simply aging. Our OTs are often coined “Professional Problem Solvers” who turn challenges into successes through personalized strategies, active listening, skilled observation, clinical reasoning, and the incorporation of useful resources.
Here at Full Distance, our Occupational Therapists specialize in observing clients in their home, workplace, classroom, and even their car to recommend simple changes to improve success and safety in their everyday routines. As collaborative team members at Full Distance, we are passionate about caring for and treating the whole person: mind, body, and soul!
The Benefits of an Integrative Approach
Physical therapists (PTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) often work together as part of a comprehensive treatment team to address a client’s physical, cognitive, emotional and functional needs. Following the evaluation process both the OT & PT will collaborate to establish functional & physical goals, plan integrative treatment strategies, problem solve challenge areas, and in some cases treat the client simultaneously. PTs and OTs communicate regularly throughout the client’s treatment plan in order to discuss progress, adjust treatment strategies as needed, and coordinate care with other members of the clients healthcare team. Overall, PTs and OTs work together to provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to patient care and by working together, they can help clients achieve and often surpass their goals while improving their overall quality of life.
Why Physical Therapists Refer Clients to Occupational Therapy
A physical therapist (PT) may refer their client to occupational therapy (OT) based on the client’s report of physical, cognitive, and/or emotional limitations that impact daily function. PTs may recommend a referral for occupational therapy services based on observations of challenge areas identified during a client’s evaluation and/or treatment sessions. Often, challenge areas addressed by PT’s are also targeted when clients are working with an OT with specialized attention to how those challenges impact a person’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Skilled OT addresses these challenge areas by analyzing everyday activities and daily routines in order to identify, adapt, or modify a task to meet the unique needs and abilities of the individual.
Have questions? Please feel free to speak to a member of our integrated team to discuss or contact us to schedule your occupational therapy evaluation!
Occupational Therapy Testimonial
Having had two orthopedic surgeries in less than three months l am happy to have made it to the other side and feeling the benefits of both. I have long known the benefits of therapy but had never before experienced Occupational Therapy personally. Our very own Liz, from Full Distance, has turned me into a huge fan of OT. Prior to my knee replacement surgery Liz came to the house and helped to prepare my surroundings to suit my post-op needs. There were many things I did not consider or anticipate. Liz’s expertise helped me to feel more prepared for the surgery and made my first two weeks post-op much more tolerable.
Additionally, Liz is a certified Lymphedema therapist. I had a considerable amount of swelling after my surgery and Liz’s expertise helped to reduce my inflammation in record time, which aided in increasing my mobility. Liz also helped with my scar healing, through use of massage and moisturizing.
Physicians are quick to order Physical Therapy after surgery but often overlook Occupational Therapy. I am here to testify that my recovery has been vastly improved due to OT.
~Carolyn B.
Ms. Margret’s Occupational Therapy Success Story
