Find an Occupational Therapist

Medically reviewed by Gabriela Asturias, MD on June 24, 2024
Written by the MiResource team

Occupational therapists focus on daily activities that make life meaningful—sleep, school, work, social roles—they can help you translate insight into tangible routines. If you want practical, action-oriented strategies for anxiety, depression, trauma, or serious mental illness, an OT can be a powerful ally. This article will help you understand if working with an occupational therapist is right for you.

See 8 Occupational Therapy Services Near You

  • Edward Lucky, Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)

    Edward Lucky

    Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (MFCC), Massage Therapist, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist, Nurse Psychotherapist, Other

    4735 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50322

    Edward Lucky is a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) in Des Moines, Iowa. They treat Body Image, Performance Anxiety, Anorexia Nervosa.

    did

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  • Aristotle Fernandez, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

    Aristotle Fernandez

    Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Audiologist, Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Academy of Certified Social Workers License (ACSW), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Certified Social Worker (CSW), Certified Trauma Professional, Community Resource, Counselor, Credentialed Sexual Abuse Youth Clinician (CSAYC), Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Education Specialist (EdS), Executive Function Coach, Hypnotherapist, Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Level Psychologist (LMLP), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent, Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Work (LSCSW), Limited Licensed Master Social Worker (LLMSW), Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (MFCC), Massage Therapist, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Neuropsychologist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Psychotherapist, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist

    1951 Tavern Court, Alpine, California 91901

    Aristotle Fernandez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in Alpine, California. They treat Medication Concerns, Hoarding, Eating Concerns.

    tt

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  • Steven Booker, Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC)

    Steven Booker

    Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Pre-Licensed Professional, Physician Assistant, Primary Care Physician, Peer Support, Pastoral Counselor, Psychotherapist, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

    5678 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23502

    Steven Booker is a Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) in Norfolk, Virginia. They treat Learning Disorder, Infidelity, End of Life.

    xccx

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  • Lina Park, Pastoral Counselor

    Lina Park

    Pastoral Counselor, Occupational Therapist

    1101 West McKinley Avenue, Pomona, California 91768

    Lina Park is a Pastoral Counselor in Pomona, California. They treat Burnout, Aging, Alcohol Use.

    test test

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  • pro 3 test, Counselor

    pro 3 test

    Counselor, Occupational Therapist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist, Registered Dietitian

    califo, Long Beach, California 90840

    pro 3 test is a Counselor in Long Beach, California. They treat Loneliness/Isolation, Men's Issues, Divorce.

    test

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  • Adria Terrell, Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW)

    Adria Terrell

    Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW), Academy of Certified Social Workers License (ACSW), Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Audiologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP), Certified Social Worker (CSW), Certified Trauma Professional, Community Resource, Counselor, Credentialed Sexual Abuse Youth Clinician (CSAYC), Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (DCSW), Education Specialist (EdS), Executive Function Coach, Hypnotherapist, Independent Substance Abuse Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Level Psychologist (LMLP), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Masters Addiction Counselor (LMAC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Psychological Examiner-Independent, Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Work (LSCSW), Limited Licensed Master Social Worker (LLMSW), Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (MFCC), Massage Therapist, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Neuropsychologist, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Psychotherapist, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist, Other, Pastoral Counselor, Peer Support, Physician Assistant, Pre-Licensed Professional, Primary Care Physician, Psychiatric Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Registered Dietitian, Registered Nurse, Speech-language Pathologists

    Vista Alpine Road, Alpine, California 91901

    Adria Terrell is a Certified Clinical Social Worker (CSW) in Alpine, California. They treat Obsessive-Compulsive Personality, Dependent Personality, Antisocial Personality.

    tyyuyt

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See all 8 providers

What do Occupational Therapists do?

Occupational therapy services for behavioral health include:

  • Functional assessments of self-care, cognition, and sensory processing
  • Skills training for stress management, emotional regulation, and executive function
  • Activity-based group therapy and community reintegration
  • Environmental modifications to make home, school, or work more supportive
  • Care-coordination with psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) guidelines recognize OTs as qualified mental-health professionals, case managers, and group facilitators across the lifespan.

Education, certification, and state licensure

Step National standard Why it matters to you
Accredited degree Master’s or doctoral program accredited by ACOTE Guarantees evidence-based coursework in mental health and research
NBCOT exam Pass the OTR (therapist) or COTA (assistant) exam and maintain good standing Confirms competence and continuing-education every three years
State license All 50 states plus D.C. require licensure and background checks Lets you verify status through an online board lookup

Some practitioners pursue Board Certification in Mental Health (BCMH)—a voluntary credential requiring three years’ experience and 3,000 mental-health hours. Seeing “OTR/L, BCMH” on a profile signals advanced expertise.

Geographic Differences & the OT Compact

Licensure rules come from state law, so practice parameters—such as referral rights or supervision ratios—vary. To simplify cross-state care, 29 states have enacted the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. The Compact Commission will begin issuing multi-state privileges later in 2025; until then, your therapist must hold a license where you sit for each session.

In-person, virtual, and telehealth occupational therapy

Demand for virtual occupational therapist visits exploded during the pandemic. Congress and CMS responded by adding OTs to the list of practitioners who can bill Medicare telehealth through December 31 2025, with a proposed permanent rule under review. Commercial insurers typically follow Medicare’s lead, but policies differ by state. cms.gov/mocs.govota.gov

Telehealth occupational therapist sessions can cover:

  • Live video coaching on sensory-modulation, mindfulness, or ADL routines
  • Guided home or workplace ergonomics walk-throughs
  • Digital cognitive-behavioral activity journals
  • Caregiver training for youth or older-adult clients

If you prefer on-screen support, search directories filtering for online occupational therapist or telehealth occupational therapist to see who is licensed in your state.

Paying for occupational therapy services in mental health

Payer Mental-health coverage for OT Key actions
Commercial / Marketplace plans Subject to Mental Health Parity; check copay vs. medical copay, session caps, and telehealth rate Call member services or use portal before booking
Medicaid All states reimburse OT, but mental-health billing codes and rates differ; some states require prior auth for community behavioral-health sites Ask the clinic whether they accept your plan
Medicare OTs can furnish outpatient and telehealth services under Part B; the 2025 rule streamlines certification and extends telehealth flexibilities Verify the therapist is enrolled as a Medicare provider
Private pay / sliding scale Typical rates run $90–$180 for 50-minute sessions; many OTs reserve reduced-fee slots Request a Good-Faith Estimate up front

Tip: If every in-network OT has a wait list longer than 10 business days, ask your insurer for a network-adequacy override so you can see an out-of-network clinician at in-network rates.

What does a first occupational therapy session look like?

  • Intake & occupational profile. You’ll describe daily routines, challenges, and goals.
  • Assessment. Standardized tools may measure executive function, mood impact on ADLs, or sensory processing.
  • Collaborative plan. Expect concrete, measurable objectives tied to meaningful activities (“prepare dinner three nights a week,” “attend two social events a month”).
  • Home program. Many OTs use secure apps for between-session assignments—perfect when working with a virtual occupational therapist across state lines.

Special considerations by state

Topic Example state variations What to ask your OT
Referral requirements Some states (e.g., NY) need a physician order for outpatient OT; others are direct-access “Do I need a doctor’s script before we start?”
Reimbursement rates Medicaid pays 110% of psychologist rates in MN but only 70% in TX “Do you take my state Medicaid, and what is the copay?”
Telehealth parity CA law requires telehealth OT be reimbursed the same as in-person; FL allows market-rate negotiation “Will my share of cost differ for video visits?”
Scope for psychosocial diagnosis OT Acts in IL and MA explicitly authorize mental-health evaluation; a few states still limit diagnosis to OTs with advanced training “Can you officially diagnose, or will you coordinate with another provider?”

How Occupational Therapists Differ From Other Mental-Health Providers

Dimension Occupational Therapist (OT) Psychologist Licensed Professional Counselor / Clinical Social Worker Psychiatrist / Psychiatric NP
Core training & credential Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy services; NBCOT-certified (OTR/L) Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology Master’s in counseling (LPC) or social work (LCSW) Medical degree (MD/DO) or advanced nursing degree
Primary focus Restoring or enhancing the daily activities (occupations) that give life meaning—self-care, work, school, social roles Cognitive, emotional, and behavioral assessment & psychotherapy Talk therapy, case management, community resources Diagnosing and prescribing psychotropic medication
Typical interventions Activity-based skills training, sensory-modulation, executive-function coaching, ergonomic & environmental modifications Psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, psychodynamic), psychological testing Psychotherapy, care coordination, crisis intervention Medication management, brief therapy, medical monitoring
Outcome measures Functional independence in ADLs/IADLs, role competence, participation levels Symptom reduction, cognitive change, test scores Symptom reduction, coping-skill acquisition, social functioning Symptom stabilization, side-effect management
Insurance coding OT evaluation & treatment codes; billed as rehab or mental-health service depending on setting Psychotherapy & testing CPT codes Psychotherapy CPT codes E/M plus psychotherapy codes
Best when you need… Practical, hands-on strategies to bridge insight → daily routine; support with sensory or executive challenges; home/work adaptations Comprehensive psychological testing or in-depth psychotherapy Low-barrier talk therapy or community-resource navigation Medication or combined med-psych treatment for complex disorders

Bottom line: An occupational therapist translates mental-health goals into concrete, everyday actions—think “How will I get out of bed, cook, study, or work tomorrow?” Psychologists and counselors focus primarily on insight-oriented or skills-based talk therapy, while psychiatrists manage the biological side through medication. Many people benefit from a team approach: an OT for functional change, a counselor for emotional processing, and a prescriber for medication, all coordinating care around your priorities.

Find care for Occupational Therapist

Remember, recovery is possible. With early intervention, a supportive network, and the right professional care, you can overcome the challenges of Occupational Therapist and build a fulfilling life. We are here to help you find care.

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