What is occupation as a means in occupational therapy?

In occupational therapy, occupation as a means refers to the strategic use of specific activities or tasks to promote functional changes in a client's performance. This concept emphasizes that engaging in meaningful occupations can improve a person's ability to perform tasks and enhance their overall well-being. For instance, if a therapist is working with a client recovering from a stroke, they might use the act of cooking as a way to help the client regain motor skills and cognitive function. The occupation of cooking serves not only as a practical task but also as a therapeutic tool to facilitate improvement in various areas of functioning.

This approach highlights the idea that by engaging clients in their desired occupations or activities, therapists can effectively drive the therapeutic process and achieve specific goals related to their clients' independence and quality of life. The focus is on the process of using occupations intentionally to foster change, rather than on the final outcomes or the rights of the client to make choices independently, which are other important aspects of occupational therapy but not the focus of occupation as a means.