As a parent, it can be difficult to know which professional to turn to when your child is struggling. Maybe they are having trouble at school, becoming overwhelmed by everyday routines, experiencing big emotions, or finding it difficult to focus and complete tasks. You may be wondering whether your child needs a psychologist, an occupational therapist, or perhaps both.
Understanding the difference between a child psychologist vs occupational therapist in Edmonton can help you determine what type of support may be most appropriate for your child.
Psychologists and occupational therapists have different areas of expertise, but their work can overlap when supporting children with concerns such as ADHD, autism, anxiety, emotional regulation, sensory challenges, developmental differences, and difficulties at school.
At J. Gordon Psychology Group, families can access both psychological and occupational therapy services, as well as a range of comprehensive assessments. This multidisciplinary approach can make it easier to understand the different factors affecting a child’s development and daily functioning.
What Does a Child Psychologist Do?
A child psychologist focuses primarily on a child’s emotional, behavioural, cognitive, social, and psychological functioning.
Parents may seek the support of a psychologist when their child is experiencing concerns such as:
- Anxiety or excessive worry
- Depression or persistent sadness
- Behavioural difficulties
- Emotional regulation challenges
- Social difficulties
- School avoidance or school-related concerns
- Attention and concentration difficulties
- Trauma
- Self-esteem concerns
- Grief and loss
- Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
- ADHD-related concerns
- Learning difficulties
- Autism-related struggles (neuroaffirming care)
A psychologist may provide therapy, consultation, or a formal assessment depending on the child’s needs.
For example, J. Gordon Psychology Group provides child and teen therapy as well as assessments for ADHD, autism, giftedness, learning difficulties, and social-emotional and behavioural concerns. Their assessment services are designed to help parents better understand their child’s strengths, challenges, and support needs.
An assessment may be particularly useful when parents know that something is not quite right but are unsure why their child is struggling.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational therapy for children has a different focus. Rather than concentrating primarily on psychological functioning, an occupational therapist looks at how a child participates in everyday activities and what may be getting in the way.
This can include activities at home, school, and in the community.
A pediatric occupational therapist may help a child with:
- Sensory sensitivities
- Sensory-seeking behaviours
- Fine motor skills
- Motor coordination
- Dressing
- Eating
- Toileting
- Sleep routines
- Daily living skills
- Executive functioning
- Emotional regulation
- Classroom participation
- Transitions between activities
- Independence with everyday routines
At J. Gordon Psychology Group, occupational therapy is designed to help children and teens develop the skills needed to participate more successfully in daily life. Their occupational therapy services address sensory needs, executive functioning, emotional regulation, motor coordination, self-help skills, ADHD, autism, developmental delays, and anxiety.
In other words, an occupational therapist may ask:
“What is making it difficult for your child to participate in everyday activities, and what skills or environmental changes could help?”
When Should I Consider a Psychologist?
A psychologist may be a good starting point if your primary concern involves your child’s emotional, behavioural, psychological functioning.
For example, you might consider speaking with a psychologist if:
Your child is anxious.
They may frequently worry, avoid certain situations, have difficulty separating from parents, or become distressed about school or social situations.
Your child’s behaviour has changed.
Persistent anger, withdrawal, aggression, defiance, or emotional outbursts may warrant a closer look at what is contributing to the behaviour.
Your child is struggling academically.
If your child is consistently having difficulty with reading, writing, mathematics, attention, memory, or completing schoolwork, a psychoeducational assessment may help identify their learning profile.
You are wondering about ADHD or autism.
A comprehensive assessment can provide a more detailed understanding of your child’s strengths and areas of difficulty rather than relying on a single checklist or observation.
Your child is avoiding school.
School avoidance can have many possible causes, including anxiety, learning difficulties, social concerns, or other emotional factors. Psychological assessment can help explore these factors.
When Should I Consider an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist may be particularly helpful when your child’s difficulties are affecting everyday activities.
For example, consider an OT consultation if your child:
Becomes overwhelmed by certain sounds, textures, clothing, or environments
Has difficulty getting dressed or completing personal-care routines
Struggles with fine motor activities
Has difficulty sitting and participating in classroom activities
Needs significant assistance with everyday routines
Has difficulty transitioning between activities
Appears to seek or avoid certain sensory experiences
Struggles with organization and executive functioning
Has difficulty regulating their body or emotions
Is experiencing developmental or motor coordination challenges
J. Gordon Psychology Group also offers sensory assessments. These can examine how a child responds to sensory experiences such as touch, sound, movement, and other environmental input. The assessment process can help identify strategies to support regulation and to make daily routines and transitions more manageable.
What If My Child Needs Both?
Sometimes the answer isn’t psychologist or occupational therapist.
It may be psychologist and occupational therapist.
Children are complex, and a challenge that appears to have one cause may actually involve several factors.
Consider a child who refuses to get dressed for school every morning. At first, this might look like a behavioural issue. However, the child may be extremely sensitive to the texture of certain clothing. They may also be anxious about school and struggling with transitions.
An occupational therapist could explore sensory processing and practical strategies for getting dressed, while a psychologist could assess the child’s anxiety and emotional response to school.
Together, these perspectives may provide a more complete understanding of what is happening.
This is one of the advantages of working with a multidisciplinary clinic. J. Gordon Psychology Group has registered psychologists and occupational therapists working within the same practice, and some assessments can incorporate both psychological and occupational therapy perspectives. Their autism assessment process, for example, involves collaboration between a psychologist and occupational therapist.
What About a Psychological Assessment?
Parents sometimes assume an assessment is only necessary when a child has a serious problem. That isn’t necessarily the case.
An assessment can be useful when you have questions that cannot be answered through observation alone.
For example:
Why is my child struggling at school?
Could ADHD be contributing to these difficulties?
Is anxiety affecting my child’s behaviour?
Does my child have a specific learning difficulty?
Why does my child become overwhelmed in certain situations?
What are my child’s strengths?
What accommodations or strategies might help?
J. Gordon Psychology Group offers psychoeducational, ADHD, autism, gifted, sensory, and social-emotional/behavioural assessments. Depending on the assessment, information may be gathered through interviews, standardized testing, questionnaires, and observations. The results can provide recommendations for supporting a child at home and school.
You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone
Perhaps the most important thing for parents to know is that you do not necessarily need to determine the correct professional before reaching out.
If you’re searching for a child psychologist vs occupational therapist in Edmonton, the right starting point depends on what your child is experiencing and what questions you need answered.
If the primary concern involves emotions, behaviour, learning, psychological functioning, anxiety, or questions about ADHD or autism, a psychologist may be an appropriate starting point.
If the primary concern involves sensory processing, motor skills, daily routines, independence, executive functioning, or participation in everyday activities, an occupational therapist may be a better fit.
And if the concerns overlap, a multidisciplinary approach may provide the most useful picture.
J. Gordon Psychology Group offers child and teen therapy, psychological assessments, occupational therapy, sensory assessments, psychoeducational assessments, ADHD assessments, autism assessments, and social-emotional/behavioural assessments in Edmonton. Families who are unsure which service would be most appropriate can contact the clinic to discuss their concerns and determine what type of support may be helpful.
The goal isn’t simply to choose between a psychologist and an occupational therapist. The goal is to understand why your child is struggling and what support can help them thrive at home, at school, and in their everyday life.
