occupational therapy (OT), the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation in roles, habits, routines, and rituals in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. Occupational therapy practitioners use their knowledge of the transactional relationship among the person, his or her engagement in valued occupations, and the context to design occupation-based intervention plans that facilitate change or growth in client factors and performance skills needed for successful participation. See also occupational therapist.
