Ms. Leah Gatti

Occupational Therapy is often a misunderstood profession, when in fact it can be the catalyst for change you are looking for. Many of the challenges we are experiencing in our everyday living can be improved with the addition of an Occupational Therapist.

Occupational Therapy treats an individual within the framework of who they are as a person, their occupations, and their environment. The definition of occupation to an Occupational Therapist goes beyond the traditional sense of the word “occupation.” It includes activities which are meaningful and purposeful to an individual, which can vary from person to person. For example, it can mean how we take care of ourselves, participate in leisure activities, and even how we interact with those around us in our everyday interactions and our community at large.

One of the core principles of Occupational Therapy treatment is to promote function and independence in everyday activities of daily living. These are the activities that when we look back on our life, make up the moments we want to remember. Therefore, our sessions may not always take place in the office. Often, they are out in the community, allowing you the opportunity to practice strategies that have been learned during individual treatment sessions in the real world, in real time.

In my ten years as a Registered Occupational Therapist, I have worked in community and rehabilitation settings, primarily with adults who have been diagnosed with trauma- and anxiety-related disorders, with a special interest in the first responder population. I hold a deep desire to assist clients recovering from trauma and other mental health related diagnoses, such as anxiety and depression, return to living a meaningful life. Although I am formally trained in the Prolonged Exposure Therapy protocol, I will often incorporate other therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. My approach to treatment is heavily influenced by my own interest in long distance trail running and the benefit of exercise in managing our mood and improving our overall health. Clients often describe my style as direct; however, I always strive to incorporate both humor and positivity within the recovery journey as they are core to who I am as a person. Treatment with me will incorporate the use of goal-directed treatment interventions along with evidence-based research to assist clients in reaching the goals they are working towards in therapy. For example, if you were an individual who used to love going on long walks with your dog, however, following a traumatic incident or bout of depression, you have found yourself unable to leave your house, our sessions can focus on helping you return to this activity (i.e., occupation). Our sessions may include identifying the barriers preventing you from going on walks, finding strategies to address those barriers, and going on walks together as a part of our session to help you regain confidence in this area of your life again.