Trauma-Focused Treatment for Individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of Occupational Therapy

This article shares clinical experiences and offers practice recommendations for occupational therapists working with individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder. We propose that occupational therapists can effectively collaborate with psychologists and make unique contributions to trauma-specific treatment by focusing on function in the areas of self-care, leisure and productivity, addressing symptom management, and supporting clients in approaching feared and avoided situations. We provide a detailed description of the different therapy components that are relevant for occupational therapists working with individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder and illustrate how occupational therapists can effectively deliver psychoeducation, reactivation, coping skills building, exposure, and return-to-work support.