How Can Occupational Therapy Help my Teenager?

By Kelly Budnick, MOT, OTR/L

Raising and supporting a teenager can be both rewarding and challenging. If your teen is struggling with daily activities, emotional regulation, or social interactions, occupational therapy (OT) can be a powerful resource, supporting teens in developing the skills they need to feel confident, independent, and successful in all areas, or occupations, of life. Let’s explore how OT can help your teen thrive.  

Sensory Processing & Regulation​

Occupational Therapists (OTs) help teens with sensory processing challenges by assessing how they respond to sensations like sound, touch, movement, and body position, and how these affect their daily life or occupations. OTs address interoceptive awareness, teaching teens to notice and interpret internal signals like heart rate or muscle tension that can influence emotions and behavior. OTs support both sensory-sensitive teens, who may feel overwhelmed by bright lights or certain fabrics, and sensory-seeking teens, who crave more intense input like movement or deep pressure, by using vestibular strategies like swinging and proprioceptive activities such as heavy work or resistance exercises. OTs often create “sensory diets” or “sensory schedules,” tailored to the client’s needs, incorporating sensory activities throughout the day to help teens stay regulated and focused. Along with environmental modifications like adjusting lighting or reducing noise, these personalized approaches empower teens to manage sensory challenges and engage more comfortably in school, social situations, and daily routines.  

Visual-Vestibular Skills​

The visual and vestibular systems work together to help your teen keep their balance, read smoothly across a page, and track a moving object during sports.  Occupational therapists design activities to improve the coordination of eye movements, improve balance, enhance body awareness, and overall, help teens feel greater body control in their preferred sports and leisure activities.

Social Participation and Social Skills​

Social life is a huge part of being a teenager, but some teens have difficulty reading social cues, starting conversations, and interacting in group social situations. Occupational therapists can help teens build social skills such as understanding body language, managing personal space, and handling conflict appropriately. Through role-playing, collaborative activities, and real-life practice, teens learn how to connect with peers and feel more confident in social situations. 

Gross Motor and Coordination Skills​

Teens who feel clumsy or uncoordinated might avoid sports, dance, or even PE class, which can affect confidence and fitness. In OT, teens can gain gross motor skills like dynamic balance, strength, and motor planning to participate in physical activities with greater confidence and ability. Therapists use engaging coordination circuits and dynamic movement activities to help teens move confidently and safely. 

Fine Motor Skills​

Fine motor skills are essential for everyday teenage tasks, from writing and typing on a computer or tablet, to managing buttons, zippers, or applying makeup. Occupational therapy helps teens improve hand strength, dexterity, and in-hand coordination, so these tasks become easier and faster, which boosts independence at school and home. 

Executive Functioning Skills​

Teens can struggle with organization, time management, planning and adapting when plans change, especially if they have ADHD, learning differences, or anxiety. OT can help teens learn strategies to prioritize tasks, create personalized organizational strategies as well as learn compensatory memory strategies. OT can educate parents or caregivers on how to scaffold tasks (the process of providing temporary, targeted support) to make them achievable for their teen. With tools like planners, apps, and visual routines, occupational therapy empowers teens to take control of their schedules and responsibilities. 

If your teenager faces challenges in daily life, occupational therapy could be the support they need to gain confidence, independence, and success. With personalized strategies and compassionate guidance, OT helps teens reach their fullest potential.