Occupations are the activities that make up our day such as dressing, making a meal, grocery shopping, playing, going to school or work, and much more. So what is occupational therapy (OT)?

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages and abilities either get back to doing or adapt what they want and need to do. We find out what is intrinsically motivating to our clients and utilize that motivation to increase engagement and participation in therapy sessions.

So what does occupational therapy look like at The Shea Center? Well…it looks like PLAY. And when horses are included in that play…it is a magical mixture of movement and motivation!

The movement from the horse stimulates our sensory and motor systems that activate the muscles needed for balance and postural control. When these muscles become stronger, we are able to stabilize our body so we can complete finer tasks such as buttoning a shirt, brushing our teeth, or holding a pencil. Play is the work of children. Incorporating fun games while on the horse engages gross motor, fine motor, visual motor, executive functioning skills, and sensory processing as well as building therapeutic rapport between client, therapist, and horse. The barn environment can also be a fun world to explore whether it is looking for birds out on the trail, climbing hay bales, or making horse treats.

Occupational therapy helps everyone live life to the fullest.

Occupational therapists: Karen Yamasaki, Jennifer Lee, Melissa Braun, and Sandra Joyce.