Social participation is about feeling confident and supported to connect with other people, access the community and take part in meaningful activities.
Total Health Choice Occupational Therapists work with people to create practical routines and strategies that support participation at home and in the community.
The Occupational Therapists at Total Health Choice understand the importance of socialisation and support clients with social participation.
Our team works alongside people to help them get back into the community and connect with others again.
For many clients, our focus is on developing actionable routines that make participation feel more achievable and sustainable.
Our Occupational Therapists help people through:
A common scenario is visiting a client at home who says, “I’d love to go to the local shopping centre but get overwhelmed and anxious about getting there.”
Where indicated, our OTs can go with the client to their social setting to assess mobility, behaviours and requirements. We can also help identify appropriate care staff and support ratios.
In other cases, our OTs are engaged for home assessments and modifications, with social participation forming one part of the broader service.
For every client, we develop an individualised plan. Our communication helps build rapport and confidence so people can become social again.
When formulating goals and treatment plans, it is important to understand a person’s comfort level, sensory requirements, fatigue management, anxiety and behavioural considerations.
The support of friends, family and available support workers can also be important in developing the skills that help someone feel comfortable going out into the community.
Recommendations remain individualised and are shaped around the person’s goals, current routines and support network.
At Total Health Choice, we aim to build the skills and capacity of both the participant and their support network, such as family members or support workers, to help achieve meaningful and relevant goals.
We do this through in-depth assessment and individualised strategies that reflect the person’s current skill level and learning preference. Strategies may be visual, aural, verbal, physical or a combination of approaches, depending on what works best for the person.
Total Health Choice looks for innovative ways to encourage social participation and communication.
We worked with a gentleman with autism whose meaningful goal was to play video games with another member at his housing and improve his muscle memory to input complex controller-button patterns.
This goal helped him socialise with his friend and develop a sense of achievement from a new skill.
We worked with a woman who had historically enjoyed shopping but was feeling daunted by the task due to fatigue connected to her mental health.
Her goal was to make the experience enjoyable again. Our OT discussed energy conservation and suitable durations of walking per day.
They created a plan and a social story to set the scene in pictures, helping her visualise the steps needed to return to the shops and community.
Her confidence improved. Combined with Physiotherapy support to build strength and endurance, she was able to achieve her goal.
From the first time we meet you, we make it a priority to get to know you as an individual.
Our therapists take the time to understand your goals, needs and expectations, and to identify how we can work together towards the best possible outcomes.
At Total Health Choice, we work as a team and support people to engage comfortably and confidently in day-to-day activities and routines at home and in the community.
Our purpose is to improve the lives of vulnerable people in our community every day.
Occupational Therapy can assist someone with social skills by integrating social interaction within current day-to-day activities. In contrast, a Psychologist uses cognitive-behavioural therapies that aim to change how a person perceives and comprehends their environment, including their understanding of appropriate social behaviours.
As community-based Occupational Therapists, we aim to practise social skills in their natural setting. Depending on the goal, this may occur at home, school, work or the shops. Where a natural setting cannot be used due to environmental barriers, we use available supports or props to recreate the environment and scenario as closely as possible.
Behavioural assessments and reports need to be completed by a trained Positive Behaviour Support clinician. Total Health Choice does not currently have trained PBS clinicians. However, our therapists can recommend PBS funding in functional reports where this support is considered relevant.
When making a referral to Total Health Choice, relevant documents such as NDIS plans, medical history, previous assessments and reports can be very helpful. These documents help the therapist build a clearer understanding of the person and their history before attending the appointment.
Speak with Total Health Choice about Occupational Therapy support for social participation, community access and meaningful everyday goals.
