Treatments

Occupational therapy focuses on helping people of all ages who may have difficulty participating in everyday activities due to physical, cognitive, or psychological challenges. The goal of occupational therapy is to help individuals achieve independence and improve their quality of life by helping them to engage in meaningful activities that are important to them.

Our team of dedicated Occupational therapists work with our clients to assess their abilities, challenges, and goals, and to develop personalized treatment plans to help them achieve their goals. Based on assessment results, our OTs can recommend a course of preventive or corrective action that can help our clients lead more productive and satisfying lives. This may involve teaching new skills, adapting activities or environments, and providing tools or equipment to make activities easier and more manageable. Compensatory strategy training may be used where required to maximize abilities in physical, cognitive and psycho-social domains of function.

We can help people with a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Spinal cord injury
• Mental health conditions
• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Parkinson's disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Orthopedic conditions
• Developmental disabilities

Physiotherapy is a health care profession with a significant role in health promotion and treatment of injury and disease. Physiotherapy focuses on the prevention, treatment, and management of movement disorders and physical disabilities. Physiotherapists work with individuals of all ages to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.

The goal of our physiotherapy program is to help individuals achieve their maximum potential for movement and function, and to help them lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Our Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques and interventions, including exercise, manual therapy, education, and equipment to help individuals achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. We provide both preventative and rehabilitation treatment for a variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions.

Our Physiotherapists can help people with a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, strains, and fractures
• Back and neck pain
• Arthritis
• Neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson's disease
• Respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Sports injuries
• Post-surgical rehabilitation

Kinesiology helps individuals to improve their physical function, prevent injuries, and enhance their overall health and well-being through the application of evidence-based strategies and interventions. Our kinesiologists are fully registered with BCAK and carry comprehensive liability insurance.

Our kinesiologists support our own results oriented rehabilitation programs, as well as are available to external organizations. Our kinesiologists/rehab assistants speak Punjabi, Hindi, Serbian, Croatian, and Korean. Services are offered throughout Lower Mainland. Our kinesiologists offer following goal directed programs:

• Aquatic therapy
• Gym programs
• Active rehab programs
• Community reintegration
• Cognitive rehabilitation
• Mental health activation programs
• Work conditioning/hardening programs

Neurological rehabilitation is a specialized form of rehabilitation that focuses on the treatment and management of individuals with neurological conditions or injuries affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. The goal of neurological rehabilitation is to help individuals regain function, independence, and quality of life through a personalized and comprehensive treatment plan.

Neurological rehabilitation can include a range of interventions, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation. These interventions may be used alone or in combination, depending on the individual's specific needs and goals.

The goal of our neurological rehabilitation program is to help the client return to the highest level of function and independence possible, and improve the overall quality of life. Our programs focus on minimizing difficulties using existing strengths, abilities, and individually appropriate strategies. Our therapists have special interest, and training in neurorehabilitation, and utilize a variety of treatment concepts based on your individual goals in order to achieve the best possible outcome.

We can help people with a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
• Guillain-Barre syndrome

The return-to-work process is often facilitated by healthcare professionals, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and physicians, who work with both the individual and their employer to ensure a successful transition back to work.

The purpose of our return-to-work program is to assist our clients to retain or regain the ability to participate in work after an injury or illness. This service includes one or more of the following:

• Ergonomic workplace assessments
• Adapting work equipment
• Modifying work environment
• Facilitating sustainable gradual return to work
• Promoting health; and injury prevention at work
• Education of the client, and employer on safe working methods

Return to work helps individuals to successfully reintegrate into their work environment, and can have positive impacts on both the individual and their employer. It is an important component of the overall rehabilitation process, and can help to ensure a successful recovery and return to a fulfilling life.

We provide rehabilitation counselling to clients recovering from catastrophic accidents, chronic illness, trauma and life crises. We provide evidence-based and person-centred counselling interventions including cognitive-behavioural therapy, exposure therapy, trauma-focused CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, narrative therapy and addiction counselling. Services are also available in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

Our specially trained therapists can administer the PGAP, a 10 week standardized evidence-based intervention program for reducing disability associated with pain, depression, cancer and other chronic health conditions.

PGAP aims to reduce psychosocial barriers to rehabilitation progress, promote re-integration into life-role activities, increase quality of life, and facilitate return-to-work. This is achieved through targeted treatment of psychosocial risk factors, structured activity scheduling, graded-activity involvement, goal-setting, problem-solving, and motivational enhancement. The PGAP has been shown to be effective in facilitating return to work in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries, chronic pain, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (pgapworks.com). We are very excited to offer PGAP. Call us now to make a referral.

We provide occupational therapy services to seniors at home and within residential care facilities. Services include:

• Falls prevention programs
• Seating and power mobility assessments
• Home safety assessments
• Assistive device prescription
• Cognitive assessment and rehabilitation
• Health promotion and education programs for residents, and care workers

In addition to the above, we also provide staffing solutions (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, rehab assistants) to long term care facilities based on their requirements. We are also able to establish full rehabilitation departments if required. Please feel free to speak with us for more information on how we can assist you with staffing needs.

A concussion is a mild brain injury. It is one of the most common injuries after a fall, crash or blow to the head. A blow to the head, neck or body can cause the brain to move quickly back and forth inside the skull. It is not yet known exactly what happens to brain cells in a concussion, but changes in chemical function appear to be involved. As a result, this injury to the brain can lead to a wide spectrum of symptoms and puts extra demands on the body to recover. There are a number of signs and symptoms you may experience after a concussion. These symptoms may start right away or after a few days. Some people may only experience a few symptoms while others may experience more. Recovery from concussion varies for each person. Not everyone will experience the same symptom.

What to expect at Life Skills Therapy?

At your initial appointment, you can expect to receive information about symptoms and recovery from concussion. You will be assessed by a team of physiotherapist and occupational therapist who possess significant experience in dealing with concussion and brain injuries. Based on the results of your initial assessment, we will develop a customized treatment plan. Your treatment plan may include a combination of education, aerobic exercise, manual therapy, vestibular therapy, individual symptom management strategies, cognitive therapy, return to work assistance and more. Our team works with your doctor and other specialists involved in your recovery (with your permission) to ensure you receive seamless care.

Hand therapy is the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of conditions and injuries involving an individual’s upper extremity (shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand). A hand therapist is a registered physiotherapist or occupational therapist, who has become proficient in treatment of upper extremity conditions through advanced education and clinical experience. At Life Skills Therapy, our hand therapists have obtained the CHT (Certified Hand Therapist) credential which requires a minimum of five years of clinical practice and passing a rigorous certification exam. Every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency every five years to retain their certification.

What to expect at Life Skills Therapy?

You will receive a detailed assessment, education, and a customized treatment plan based on the results of your assessment. Our hand therapists utilize a variety of treatment tools and techniques including but not limited to, exercise and activity prescription, soft tissue procedures, pain management, custom orthotic fabrication, nerve desensitization, and scar management. You will be provided with a home program to further your recovery. If you believe you can benefit from hand therapy, contact us to schedule an assessment.