Find an occupational therapist in the UK
An occupational therapist can help people of all ages when physical and mental illness, disability, long-term condition, or the effects of ageing prevent them from doing the activities they need or want to do.
Find an occupational therapist
How do I get an Occupational Therapist's assessment?
An occupational therapist will work with you to find different ways of carrying out activities regardless of how your circumstances are affecting you. We have a range of leaflets that explain how an occupational therapist can help in different situations.
Where do I start?
Your first point of call should be to talk to your GP about contacting an occupational therapist locally. If you regularly see a social worker, nurse or other health care professional, they can also help you contact an occupational therapist via health or social services.
- Be prepared to describe any difficulties that you have and how they are affecting your daily life, or the lives of those who care for you.
- You may want to know how long it will be before you get an appointment, so remember to ask if there is a waiting list.
Tips for finding the right occupational therapist for you
An independent occupational therapist works outside the national health and social care services, so there will be less waiting time, but these practitioners will charge for their services.
Search for an Occupational Therapist
You can search our online directory using either your location or the service you are looking for (occupational therapists nearest your location will be listed first). All the occupational therapists in the directory are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), are members of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) and the Communities and all have professional indemnity insurance.
We would suggest that, where possible, you should make contact with more than one occupational therapist and compare the information given. But please note the Royal College of Occupational Therapists cannot recommend any particular therapist or company.
What qualifications will my occupational therapist have?
All occupational therapists are required to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before they can practice. The HCPC is responsible for the conduct, performance and ethical behaviour of its registrants. You can check that an occupational therapist is registered with the HCPC on their website.
How can occupational therapy help me?
Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else. It’s about being able to do the things you want and have to do. That could mean helping you overcome challenges learning at school, going to work, playing sport or simply doing the dishes. Everything is focused on your wellbeing and your ability to participate in activities.
Who can benefit from occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists typically work with:
- Children and young people
- People with physical disabilities and long-term conditions
- People with learning disabilities
- People with mental health conditions
- Older people
- People at the end of life
Find out more about how occupational therapy can help you
GDPR and Data Protection
Please note, if you are searching for an occupational therapist for yourself, or for someone else, please also ensure you are mindful of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) best practice, and how data should be used accordingly. You can find out more about GDPR and individual rights at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website.