A Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Improving Performance and Satisfaction in Meaningful Occupations in the Outpatient Mental Health Occupational Therapy Setting

Abstract

This retrospective study explored the efficacy of integrating a cognitive behavioral frame of reference into outpatient occupational therapy treatment to improve performance and satisfaction in meaningful occupations in patients living with a mental health condition. Forty-eight medical records of patients aged eight to 78 years old were included in the study. The records included first and second administrations of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). This study strongly demonstrates that the incorporation of a cognitive behavioral approach into treatment for those living with a mental health condition creates positive, clinically significant change over time.

Keywords:

• Occupational therapy
• outpatient
• cognitive behavioral
• mental health

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express her gratitude to Dori S. Hutchinson, ScD, CPRP, CFRP and Dr. Peggy A. Johnson, Dean Emerita, Penn State University, for advisement on development of and editorial contributions to this research paper; Liat Gafni-Lachter, OTD, PhD, OTR for theory and problem mapping development and elucidation; Patty Dickson, CHC, CHPC, CRHCP, BA - HCM, CNMT, for technical assistance, privacy adherence advisement, and editorial contributions; Boston University for tuition support and for providing the post-professional occupational therapy doctoral program (PP-OTD) which supported my studies and research paper development; the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) for grant funding to participate in the PP-OTD program through Boston University; and Northern Inyo Hospital for continued support in endeavors to improve patient care. The author is grateful for the thorough revision recommendations provided by the reviewers that substantially improved this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Monica J. Jones

Monica J. Jones is a licensed and registered occupational therapist living in Bishop, California and has been practicing since 2014. She received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina in 2014 and is a post-professional occupational therapy doctoral candidate at Boston University. She received her Perinatal Mental Health Certificate (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International (PSI) in 2022 and is an approved provider for individuals living with a perinatal mental health condition. She works with children, teens, and adults to improve functional skills affected by one or more mental health conditions by integrating a cognitive behavioral approach.