What's the Difference Between an OT and a Mental Health OT?

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While all Occupational Therapists (OT’s) are trained to support individuals in improving their daily functioning, a Mental Health Occupational Therapist (MHOT) specializes in mental health and psychosocial disabilities. Our expertise lies in assessing risks and vulnerabilities associated with mental health conditions and advocating for holistic, person-centred support. This includes skilful safety planning, risk assessment, and management of complex cases involving multiple stakeholders, such as police, Community Treatment Orders, Family and Community Services, Centrelink etc. While we can perform the tasks of a general OT, our focus and specialisation in mental health allow us to provide targeted interventions for clients having functional difficulties because of their mental illness.

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What Age Group Do We Support?

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​At The Online OT, we provide telehealth services primarily for individuals aged 18 and above, where the primary disability is a mental health condition. For adolescents aged 12 to 17, we consider each referral on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that all factors are carefully reviewed to determine the best course of action. Our tailored approach ensures that all clients receive appropriate and effective support.​

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What Does Your Billing and Appointment Structure Look Like?

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Our billing structure is designed to be transparent and client focused. 

As an online provider, we never bill for travel. We are mindful of our clients’ budgets and always strive to maximize the value of their funding packages.

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Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) are quoted at 15-20 hours (depending on complexity). 

Appointments for FCAs are flexible and can be conducted in two 1.5-hour sessions or three 1-hour sessions. After these sessions, we dedicate time to reviewing documentation, compiling assessment results, collaborating with other care providers, and writing the FCA report. If you're interested in learning more about our billing and appointment options, please reach out to us directly.

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How Do You Complete a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)?

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​At The Online OT, Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) are conducted through telehealth appointments to ensure comprehensive and convenient evaluations. We begin by reviewing supporting documentation and conducting interviews with the client’s support network, including family, friends, and other therapy providers. This approach helps us gather a holistic understanding of the client's needs. Recognising that some clients may have difficulty advocating for themselves, we utilise a thorough process that combines interviews, assessments, and our extensive experience to deliver a detailed FCA that accurately represents the client’s functional capacity.​

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How Do You Conduct Online Support?

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Our online support services are designed to integrate seamlessly with clients' existing support networks. We coordinate with nominated support persons, such as support workers, family members, Support Coordinators or the client directly, to arrange appointments and handle all the associated logistics of setting up an appointment. 

Once we have identified a clients key contact, we reach out to schedule appointments and provide all necessary meeting links. On the day of the appointment, the support person or the client simply click on a link and join in on the telehealth appointment. 

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At The Online OT, we strive to work with our clients and their supports to ensure smooth and effective engagement with our online services. We are always happy to help our clients and their supports to work through any technology/access related matter. 

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During the session, we conduct formal assessments with the client and/or their support person to provide the best possible support. Once goals have been identified, we then engage with our clients in regular therapy to help them build their independence and improve their functional capacity.

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Your Privacy and Confidentiality

 

Privacy of a person’s information is protected under the Privacy Act. As health providers who handle a person’s health information, we strive to ensure that our systems and processes support the privacy of our clients information; this includes making sure our team understand their legal obligations in line with the privacy act, committing to the preservation and protection of clients information and ensuring that our systems support this in practice.

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Confidentiality refers to keeping information or knowledge secret and preventing unauthorised access to personal information. It also includes how information is collected, handled and used and who has access to it. At The Online OT we do everything in our power to preserve our clients confidentiality and anonymity through our practice methods, information handling strategies and by regularly reviewing our procedures to ensure our clients privacy and confidentiality is preserved.  

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Is Online Therapy right for me

 

At The Online Occupational Therapist, we can respect that telehealth is still a new way of receiving support, and for some people the process can be intimidating or may feel uncomfortable. However, we want to assure you that we have put together systems and processes to ensure that all you have to do is access your emails and click a link to access our online sessions- the process is as seamless as possible!

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Online therapy is an evidence-based practice which allows people to remain in the comfort of their home and access support for their mental health comfortably and by minimising access barriers. We strive to ensure that our online sessions are safe, practical, and allows for effective assessment and intervention of our clients' mental health concerns. 

Through meaningful participation in online therapy, we have helped many clients across Australia improve their mental health and regain their functional independence. 

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Finally, if you or your client is still apprehensive, please reach out and we can schedule a free discovery call to see if online support is suitable!

 

Benefits of Online Support

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Online support with The Online OT offers numerous benefits, including:

• No Travel Costs: As an online provider, we never charge for travel time, saving you money and maximizing your funding.

• Evidence based practice: There is extensive evidence which demonstrates that online therapy is a powerful means to enabling client recovery and supporting ill mental health. 

• Comfort and Safety: Receive therapy from the comfort and safety of your own home, creating a more relaxed and familiar environment.

• Increased Availability: Our therapists have more availability for appointments since there’s no need to travel, allowing for more flexible scheduling options.

Experience the convenience and effectiveness of telehealth with The Online OT, where your mental health needs are our priority.

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Collaborative Care

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We understand that recovery requires a holistic approach for our clients to be able to meet their functional needs. So, with our clients' permission, we endeavour to foster a wrap around holistic approach to our client’s mental health and recovery journey. 

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The team at The Online OT are always open to collaborating with our clients’ families, mental health support teams, doctors, support coordinators, BSP's, recovery coaches or any other supports that our clients may have.

 

Our Culture and Practices

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The Team at The Online Occupational Therapist are sensitive, respectful and quite experienced working with people who come from all walks of life. 

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Our therapists strive to be inclusive, sensitive and neuroaffiriming in all of our practices.

Our clinicians believe that all people should be treated with dignity, respect, humility and that the highest level of consideration should always be placed onto our client’s individual health needs and safety.