Bridging Psychotherapy and Occupational Function: A Scoping Review of OT Practices

Occupational therapists (OTs) have a longstanding role in mental health and are increasingly integrating psychotherapeutic techniques to address psychological barriers that interfere with occupational performance and participation. Functional goals, which include engagement in self-care, productivity, and leisure, are central to OT practice. While prior literature has explored psychotherapy within occupational therapy, there is limited synthesis describing how specific psychotherapeutic techniques are integrated into OT-led interventions to support functional goals. This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and reported using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A comprehensive search will be conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Web of Science, as well as relevant grey literature sources. Two independent reviewers will conduct screening and data extraction. Results will be synthesized descriptively and presented in tabular and narrative formats to map psychotherapeutic techniques used by OTs, practice concepts, and functional outcomes addressed within occupational therapy mental health practice .