Structuring occupational therapy services in mental health: Roles, coping strategies, and teaching process (June 2026)

Online Workshop
 
Thursday, June 4, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

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Occupational therapists have a recognized importance in mental health care delivery given their unique strengths for task analysis and assessing function, but can be quite varied in how assessments and interventions are carried out. Four factors that promote positive mental health outcomes and decrease readmission to hospital include psychoeducation to improve well-being (Tyler et al., 2019), medication adherence, decreasing suicide, and ensuring transition of support to community (Tyler et al., 2019 ; Owusu et al., 2022). Having agreed upon core outcomes for mental health maintenance and wellness, as well as a clear description of occupational challenges that the therapy aims to address, will provide structure and transparency to service, and lead to greater understanding of effective therapy (Tyler et al., 2019).

This one-day practical skills workshop will focus on providing a structure for occupational therapy assessment and interventions and clarifying outcomes for mental health maintenance and wellness. The workshop will provide an overview of the following entry points for occupational therapists to assess needs: activation, assess/facilitate function, coping strategy training, and health maintenance. At each of these entry points, case studies will illustrate the content and process to deliver interventions. The benefits of task sessions, functional assessments, and standardized assessments will be overviewed to provide a cognitive functional profile for the client and team. Coping strategies will be organized in four coping categories, with a summary of what each category brings to managing the stress response, participating in valued occupations, and promoting function. Kolb's Adult Learning Model (Kolb, 2014) will be described and illustrated as a tool to teach coping strategy content. Four coping modules will be reviewed specifically to target outcomes for successful transition to the community from acute care OR to maintain wellness in the community. These modules will address healthy and meaningful routines, medication adherence, suicide safety, and communication tools to connect with personal and professional supports.

Small group discussions and practice opportunities in breakout rooms will be utilized to support occupational therapists in gaining efficiencies in clinical reasoning, decision making, and delivering interventions in mental health. By the end of this workshop, occupational therapists will have the tools and language to advocate and illustrate their role with clients experiencing mental health challenges.

Please note: The content and case studies are drawn from occupational therapy practice in acute mental health. There will be discussion of generalization in other settings.

Preliminary workshop agenda

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1. Structure mental health interventions based on four levels of needs (activation, assess/facilitate function, coping strategy training, health maintenance).
2. Identify six techniques to activate and empower clients.
3. Name one formal and one informal assessment to aid in determining functional cognitive profiles related to various occupations.
4. Define benefits for four coping categories and name corresponding coping strategies.
5. Demonstrate Kolb's Adult Learning Model (Kolb, 2014) .
6. Justify four coping modules for relapse prevention.

Target audience

Occupational therapist clinicians and educators who are seeking a structured approach for assessment and interventions to ensure greater transparency of service, inform clinical reasoning, and promote efficiencies in mental health service delivery.

Please note: The workshop is tailored to the occupational therapy community. Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Client age group

Adolescents (16-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old), Older adults (65+ years old)

Areas of practice

Acute Care, Advocacy, Education & Fieldwork, Mental Health, Psychotherapy

Workshop level

Beginner (0-2 years of experience in group therapy)

Please note: Participants with more than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 0-2 years of experience in this specific area of practice.

Presenter

Theresa Straathof, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Theresa Straathof has worked 32 years as a clinical occupational therapist in acute mental health. She completed her Diploma in Adult Education through St. Francis Xavier University, where she received the Lynn Irlam "Make a Difference Award" for her development of coping strategies modules. She has written two manuals to facilitate teaching a variety of coping strategy content using Kolb's Adult Learning Cycle (Kolb, 2014). She has presented nationally, internationally and is a guest lecturer with three Canadian universities on topics related to behaviour activation, coping strategy training, adult learning, and suicide prevention. She is a member of the CAOT network: Addressing Suicide in Occupational Therapy Practice.

Registration fees

Registration deadline: June 4, 2026 at 9:59 a.m. (Eastern Time)  

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.

*It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.  

Registration fee includes:

• Access to the online workshop platform
• Access to the workshop recording for 14 days following the live sessions
• An electronic copy of the presentation slide handouts
• Opportunities to network with other occupational therapists with an interest in this topic
• An electronic certificate of attendance

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by May 20, 2026 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after May 20, 2026. Substitutions and transfers requests received by May 20, 2026 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration. 

CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before April 24, 2026 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until May 8, 2026. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

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The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handout approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.  

This workshop will be facilitated in English.