Occupational Therapy
As an allied health profession, Occupational Therapy looks beyond diagnosis to understand the whole person. We explore how physical and mental health, thinking and processing skills, sensory needs, and everyday environments can affect an individual’s ability to participate in the activities that matter most to them.
Occupational Therapy at Leeds Conservatoire
At Leeds Conservatoire, our Occupational Therapists (OTs) provide one-to-one support and specialist assessments to help you navigate any difficulties that may be affecting your ability to thrive during your time with us.
We focus on enhancing your independence, wellbeing, creativity and academic engagement by working with you to address any physical, emotional, cognitive or sensory barriers that may be impacting your participation in student life.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a client-centred health profession that supports your wellbeing by helping you to engage with ‘daily occupations’ – the things you need and want to do as a student. These include everything from studying and managing your routine to socialising and self-care.
Occupational Therapists take a holistic approach, meaning they look at all aspects of your life, including your mental wellbeing, cognitive functioning, physical health, and sensory needs. They work with individuals to tackle challenges that may make it difficult to do the things you want or need to do, such as managing personal care, studying, working, or engaging in meaningful hobbies. The goal of occupational therapy is to help people live their best lives, no matter what challenges they may face.
Occupational Therapy Can Help You With:
Occupational Therapy can help if physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional, or practical challenges are making it harder for you to take part in your studies, creative practice, daily activities, or university life.
We work with you to understand how these challenges affect the things you need and want to do. Together, we identify meaningful goals and develop practical strategies, adaptations, and routines to support your participation, independence, and wellbeing.
- Developing routines and balancing the demands of university, work, creative practice, and daily life
- Tackling cognitive issues such as difficulty with; concentration, memory, organisation, planning, and managing academic tasks
- Managing stress, overwhelm, fatigue or burnout
- Understanding and managing sensory differences, including sensory overload
- Pain, physical health conditions, or physical difficulties that affect day-to-day activities
- Building confidence in social situations, group work, collaboration, and relationships
- Understanding how a health condition, disability, or neurodivergence affects your ability to study, create, work, and manage everyday activities, and identifying strategies that work for you
- Developing habits, routines, and coping strategies that support your goals
Where appropriate, we can also provide specialist assessments, recommendations, and referrals to other services.
Our aim is to help you participate more fully in your studies, creative work, and the activities that are important to you.
To note, Occupational Therapy is not counselling or what you might consider as ‘therapy’. Our aim is to work with you in a practical way to help you function and thrive whilst at university.
Our Approach
We understand that factors like mental health, neurodivergence, and life transitions can impact your day-to-day experience.
Whether you’re adjusting to university life, managing your health, or looking to build habits and routines, OT can help you develop strategies to feel more confident and capable both during your time at the conservatoire and beyond.
Access Occupational Therapy
To access support, you need to complete a short online referral form. Once we receive your form, we will match you with an appropriate member of our team. They will contact you via email with an invitation to an initial meeting.
Outside of term-time, we operate a reduced service for postgraduate students and those resitting assessments.
If you have any other questions or need support that isn’t covered by the referral form, please get in touch with us.