Occupational Therapy

A transformative approach to wellness and mental health recovery

Hi, I’m Natalie.

I believe that what we do every day matters. What we do in one moment influences how we feel in that moment and the next. We gain momentum with each positive step, and during challenging times, we learn to show ourselves compassion, gain insight into what we need in that moment, and find the courage to begin again.

Wellness is a spiral. Being intentional with our time and routinely engaging in health-promoting and personally meaningful activities gives us the opportunity for power and control over our well-being and quality of life.

My goal is to support you in realizing the power you have over your life, in spite of your challenges and circumstances.

Natalie Freeman, MOT, OTR/L Occupational Therapist | Owner

  • I am an occupational therapist with a deep passion for helping others navigate life’s challenges—a passion rooted in my own lived experience with chronic health issues. I know firsthand how physical and emotional well-being are intertwined, and I bring both professional expertise and personal empathy to my work.

    As a wife and mother of three, I understand the complexities of balancing caregiving, self-care, and personal growth. I am especially drawn to supporting clients in finding resilience, reconnecting with what brings them joy and purpose, and helping them create effective ways to live a meaningful and satisfying life.

    I enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends, planning our next fun adventure, staying active, seeing live music, and experimenting with new ways of living. I believe in the healing power of connection, creativity, movement, and rest—and I bring those values into every therapy session.

  • Master of Occupational Therapy, Xavier University with Honors (2013)

    Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Xavier University with Honors (2004)

    Certifications:

    -ADHD-Clinical Rehabilitation Services Provider (ADHD-RSP)

    -Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP)

    -Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

    Post-graduate training and continuing education in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Lifestyle Redesign, Home Modifications, Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Nature-Based Therapy, Yoga Therapy, Trauma-Informed Yoga, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy

  • 10+ years of clinical experience as a licensed and board certified occupational therapist

    Experience working as an occupational therapist in adult and pediatric mental health, early intervention, and schools

    International travel, work, and volunteer experience in Australia, Mozambique, Japan, and Guatemala

As an occupational therapist, I help you look at how you occupy your time and the impact it has on your health and well-being. Are your daily activities and environment supporting your wellness and the life you want?

Occupational therapy is active in nature. Therapy sessions may include exploring values, interests, and lifestyle balance, goal setting, activity planning and time management, and brainstorming modifications to your environment to better meet your needs. We may also develop a personalized toolkit of skills and resources to help you navigate your toughest times with more ease and confidence.

The act of doing a meaningful activity provides the opportunity to practice mindfulness, creates a feeling of accomplishment and confidence, helps you develop new skills and interests, and gives you a break from the heavy thoughts you carry with you.

Focusing on you and your natural environment, the benefits of therapy transfer to your daily life more quickly and sustainably. Habits and routines are more easily established. Contextual and environmental influences are more easily considered. Ultimately, you feel better more of the time, in your daily life, outside of therapy.

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps individuals overcome challenges and limitations to live their best possible life. Occupational therapists help clients develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Meaningful Participation

Occupational therapy supports participation in every area of life, including:

  • Education — study skills, material organization, modifications to learning environment

  • Leisure/Play — hobbies, interests, activities that are enjoyable and intrinsically motivated (you do them because you enjoy them)

  • Work — job readiness, professional behavior, time management, productivity, planning skills

  • Social Participation — maintaining relationships, conversation skills, making new friends, navigating conflict and boundaries

  • Activities of Daily Living — bathing, hygiene, dressing, eating

  • Instrumental Activities of Daily Living — meal planning and preparation, shopping, managing money, household management

  • Sleep and Rest — sleep hygiene, self-care, relaxation

  • Health Management — making appointments, filling prescriptions, maintaining diet/exercise routines, avoiding hazardous substances

Occupational Therapy for Mental Health

Occupational therapy offers a unique skill set that is needed in mental health care. Individuals with chronic mental health conditions may continue to struggle in their daily lives despite taking medications and/or participating in psychotherapy. Others need support with executive functioning or sensory processing in order for other interventions to be effective.

The inability to engage in meaningful life activities, whatever the reason, profoundly and negatively impacts one’s mental and physical health, well-being, and quality of life. Occupational therapists consider the whole person — mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual, the person’s environment, and the activities the person wants and needs to do each day in order to live a satisfying life.

Harnessing a person’s strengths and intrinsic motivation, occupational therapists use everyday activities as the means to develop the skills that will enable a person to get beyond their disability or limitations. It is an active, experiential therapy where the person experiences the benefits of doing something that is meaningful and purposeful to them.

Occupational therapists are experts in understanding how a person’s environment can promote or hinder their ability to perform certain activities and engage in daily routines. Using practical, creative, and innovative solutions, occupational therapists can modify a person’s daily environment so it supports wellness and enables participation in daily life.

“The actual doing of occupations is believed to be transformative… promoting adaptation, creating personal and social identities, connecting people to their communities, and enabling on-going personal growth and development.”

— American Occupational Therapy Association