How to choose an occupational therapist (Chapters 4 & 5 of Occupational Therapy in the Philippines)

One of the things that make me proud of being a Filipino is that we’ve made a lot of progress in raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs). Compared to a lot of low- and middle income countries, the Philippines is relatively more open to tackling the issues of disability and the need for allied health services. Nevertheless, we still have a long way to go when it comes to making them accessible to PWDs across the socio-economic strata. 

The therapy fees in the Philippines are very high. Clients still have to shoulder a lot of out-of-pocket expenses for allied health services given that state coverage for them is quite limited. To maximize the money spent for therapy, it’s crucial for clients to choose their therapists wisely.

Is this occupational therapist right for you?

In this From Pages to Practice article based on Chapters 4 & 5 of Occupational Therapy in the Philippines: Theory, Practice and Stories, we’ll discuss some important pointers on how patients and their families can choose an occupational therapist (OT). OTs are healthcare professionals that enable PWDs to learn skills for engaging in daily living activities to fulfill their life roles. OTs accomplish this through (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020):

• Skill training - teaching the patient how to do the steps of an activity

• Compensatory approaches - adapting the task and modifying the environment to ensure goodness-of-fit with the patient

• Remediation - restoring impaired body structures and functions

  
  

What OTs address

How then should you choose an OT?

1. Understand your needs and goals. Don’t seek out an OT just to comply with a physician’s recommendation. Rather, clarify the following to yourself:

   • Who needs an OT? Is it for an infant, a school-age child, a young professional, a senior citizen, etc.?

   • What is the patient’s medical condition?

   • What does the patient want to address?

   • What daily activities should the patient learn?

2. Verify the service provider’s credentials (Bulan, et al., 2025).

   • In the Philippines, your OT should be a graduate of a BS Occupational Therapy (BSOT) program that is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education. 

   • He should have passed the Philippine Occupational Therapy Board Exams. You can check an OT’s state license through the Professional Regulation Commission online verification. 

3. Inquire about the OT’s experience and expertise . 

   • Does he have experience with handling patients who have the same concerns?

   • How many years has he been practicing?

   • In what types of settings has he worked as an OT (e.g., hospital, standalone clinic, academe, etc.)? 

   • Is he a specialist or a generalist? Both have their advantages and disadvantages. 

   • What advanced training is he pursuing or has pursued (i.e., certificate course or graduate degree)? (Anabo & Fischl, 2025)

4. Consider the personal and practical aspects of the therapy process.

   • Do you like the OT’s personality, goals, and therapeutic approaches? Or can you at least give yourself time to see if the OT is effective?

   • Is the OT open to feedback?

   • Does he continuously assess if his approach is the best for the patient? (Anabo & Fischl, 2025)

   • Does the OT empower the patient and the family to take responsibility over achieving the therapy goals? 

   • Can you afford the therapy services?

   • How frequently can the patient attend the therapy sessions?

   • Will the patient avail of on-site or online services?

   • Is the location of the therapy center near the patient’s house?

   • Can you balance attending therapy sessions and implementing home instructions with your other responsibilities?

In the Philippines, regular treatment sessions conducted by licensed OTs can range from 800 pesos to 2000 pesos per hour. Evaluations and other specialized services are even higher! That’s why clients must take the time to assess if the OT is helping them achieve better outcomes. More importantly, the OT must cultivate in the patient and in the family the conviction that they themselves can take charge of their situation to make it better. 

REFERENCES

Anabo, I.F. & Fischl, C. (2025). Lifelong learning and continuing professional development. In M. Sy, R.C. Pineda, & C. Fischl (Eds.), Occupational therapy in the Philippines: Theory, Practice, and Stories (pp. 65-79). Routledge.

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: domain and process fourth edition. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001

Bulan, P.M.P., et al. (2025). Becoming a Filipino occupational therapist: the undergraduate story. In M. Sy, R.C. Pineda, & C. Fischl (Eds.), Occupational therapy in the Philippines: Theory, Practice, and Stories (pp. 49-64). Routledge.