OT Outside

Occupational therapy takes place in various settings. Usually, the settings are indoors like inside an outpatient clinic, inside a hospital, inside a rehabilitation facility, etc. However, some occupational therapists have started practicing outside.

By doing occupational therapy outdoors, clients get a natural simulation. An indoor clinic is very controlled, and unwanted noise or distractions can usually be eliminated. Nature based therapy provides natural sensory and "natural distractions." For example, rather than having a client play with sand in a contained area, an occupational therapist may choose to take the client to the beach for natural simulation activities. For clients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, clients learn to adapt with daily distractions from the environment.

One of the concerns of nature based therapy is safety. Since a natural environment is not as controlled as an indoor environment, safety precautions are higher. However, nature based therapy teaches clients every-day skills that an indoor environment cannot provide. For example, a client is able to learn visual perception skills in order to cross the street when a car is approaching. The client will learn how far away the car is, how fast the car is going, and whether or not there is enough time to cross the street before the car passes.

Even though not all therapists choose nature based therapy, many therapists have had successful outcomes with nature based therapy. In nature based therapy, clients still have goals, and therapists evaluate the clients the same way as indoor therapy. Nature based therapy can be very beneficial for many clients, especially those with sensory processing disorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.