Psychosocial Recovery

Mental Health Occupational Therapy

Mental health occupational therapy supports individuals to develop routines, build daily living skills, and participate meaningfully in their community. At Youcentric Care Group, we provide evidence-based mental health occupational therapy services across NSW for NDIS participants and private referrals. We help you build meaningful routines, develop daily living skills, and reconnect with the activities and roles that matter most to you.

Make a Referral 1300 316 664

Registered Therapist

Recovery Focused

Trauma Informed

50+

Recovery Journeys

1:1

Personalised Care

NSW

Wide Coverage

Our Approach

Recovery-Focused OT Support

We believe recovery is possible for everyone. Our occupational therapists use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to support you in building a meaningful life on your own terms.

Person-Centred

Your goals, your pace, your journey

Trauma-Informed

Safe, respectful, and understanding

Strengths-Based

Building on what you can do

Flexible Delivery

Home, community, or telehealth

Areas of Focus

Daily Living Skills & Routines

Social Participation & Connection

Meaningful Activity & Occupation

Coping Strategies & Wellbeing

Home & Community Access

What We Offer

Mental Health OT Services

Tailored occupational therapy interventions to support your mental health recovery and help you achieve your goals.

Functional Capacity Assessments

Comprehensive assessment of your daily functioning, strengths, and support needs to inform your NDIS plan and recovery goals.

Routine Development

Support to establish meaningful daily routines that promote wellbeing, productivity, and a sense of purpose.

Social Skills Building

Develop confidence and skills for social participation, community engagement, and building meaningful relationships.

Independent Living Skills

Practical support with cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and self-care to increase independence at home.

Assistive Technology

Assessment and setup of apps, reminders, and technology solutions to support memory, organisation, and daily tasks.

Report Writing

Detailed NDIS reports including psychosocial assessments, functional capacity reports, and support recommendations.

who we help

Conditions We Support

Our mental health occupational therapists have experience supporting individuals with a wide range of psychosocial conditions.

Anxiety Disorders

GAD, social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias

Depression

Major depression, persistent depressive disorder

PTSD & Trauma

Post-traumatic stress, complex trauma

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar I, II, and cyclothymia

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Personality Disorders

BPD, avoidant, and other presentations

OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Dual Diagnosis

Mental health with substance use

Getting Started

How It Works

Getting started is easy. We handle everything from intake to report delivery with care.

Referral

Referral from your Support Coordinator, GP, or you can self-refer with NDIS funding.

Initial Chat

We’ll have a friendly conversation to understand your goals and what matters to you.

Assessment

Your OT completes a comprehensive assessment at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Therapy & Support

Ongoing therapy sessions focused on building skills and working towards your recovery goals.

“Recovery is not about becoming the person you were before. It’s about becoming the person you want to be.”

— Our guiding philosophy at Youcentric Care Group

Who it’s for

Who is mental health occupational therapy for?

Mental health OT is for people whose mental health is making everyday life harder. It focuses on the practical side of recovery, not just how you feel, but what you are able to do day to day.

Mental health OT may help if you, or someone you support:

✓ Are finding daily routines, self-care or sleep hard to manage
✓ Are withdrawing from work, study, activities or the community
✓ Want to rebuild structure and independence day to day
✓ Are an NDIS participant with a psychosocial disability
✓ Are returning to daily life after a hospital stay
✓ Want practical strategies that fit your real life and goals

Please note: mental health occupational therapy is not a crisis or emergency service. If you or someone you know needs urgent help, call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

How mental health OT is funded

We accept NDIS (plan-managed and self-managed), Medicare (with a GP mental health treatment plan) and private clients, with home visits across Greater Sydney.

Frequently asked questions

Is mental health OT different from seeing a psychologist?

Yes. A psychologist focuses on your thoughts, emotions and psychological treatment. A mental health occupational therapist focuses on daily functioning – the practical things like routines, sleep, self-care, getting out into the community and managing day-to-day life – and how your mental health affects them. The two can work well alongside each other.

Do you offer telehealth?

Where it suits your needs, yes. Some sessions can be delivered by telehealth, and others in person at home or in the community. We talk through what works best for you.

How do I get funding for mental health OT under the NDIS?

Mental health (psychosocial) OT is generally funded from the Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living part of a plan, depending on your goals and how your plan is set up. Your support coordinator or planner can confirm your funding.

For support coordinators and psychosocial recovery coaches: you can refer a participant directly through our referrals hub, by phone or email. We keep you updated and work alongside the participant’s existing support team.

Example scenario

Illustrative example, not a specific client.

Worked examples, written to show how we would approach common situations. They do not describe real people or real assessments.

Example – Rebuilding daily routines A participant living with a psychosocial disability is finding daily routines, sleep and community access difficult. The occupational therapist works with them on practical, achievable goals – a manageable morning routine, steps to re-engage with the community, and strategies that fit their life – and coordinates with their support team.

Ready to Start Your Recovery Journey?

Our compassionate mental health OTs are here to support you. Contact us today to discuss how we can help.

Make a Referral 1300 316 664

FAQs

Mental Health Occupational Therapy: your questions answered

Common questions about mental health occupational therapy from participants, families and support coordinators across Liverpool and Western Sydney.

What is mental health occupational therapy?

Mental health occupational therapy supports people experiencing mental health challenges to manage everyday life and take part in the activities that matter to them. The focus is practical, helping with routines, self care, daily structure and community participation.

Who is mental health OT for?

It can help people whose mental health affects their ability to manage daily tasks, routines, or social and community participation. NDIS participants with a psychosocial disability often access occupational therapy as part of their supports.

How is occupational therapy different from counselling or psychology?

Occupational therapy focuses on function and participation, meaning the practical things you do each day, rather than providing psychological therapy or counselling. An occupational therapist helps you build routines, skills and strategies to support your independence and wellbeing.

What does mental health OT involve?

Your occupational therapist works with you to understand your goals and daily challenges, then helps you develop practical strategies for things like daily routines, self care, managing your environment and engaging with your community. Support is tailored to what is meaningful to you.

Will the NDIS fund mental health occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy may be funded under your NDIS plan, including for participants with a psychosocial disability, depending on your plan and goals. Funding is not guaranteed, so it is best to check with your support coordinator or planner.

Who provides the support?

Support is provided by a registered occupational therapist with experience in mental health. Occupational therapists are registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia through AHPRA.

How long does support last?

This depends on your goals. Some people work with an occupational therapist for a short, focused period, while others have ongoing support. Your therapist will discuss a suitable approach with you.

How do I arrange mental health occupational therapy?

You can arrange mental health occupational therapy by contacting Youcentric Care Group directly, or by asking your support coordinator, GP or allied health professional to send a referral. Call 1300 316 664 or email [email protected] and our team will guide you through the next steps.

How we assess

Mental health occupational therapy uses the same method as every other assessment we write. Read our full assessment methodology, including the evidence standard every recommendation is written to.

Assessment evidence

Where the question is NDIS evidence rather than therapy, the functional half of the picture is what most requests are missing. See our guide to OT assessment for psychosocial disability, including how fluctuating capacity is evidenced.