Collaboration and Connections column*Mindfulness, Occupational Therapy and You
Neha Chugh-Gupta
Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention October 2, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/19411243.2025.2591011 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key points | Argues that occupational therapists' holistic perspective on health aligns with mindfulness and that practitioners can integrate mindfulness, both as a formal occupation and informally within daily activities, into school settings. Proposes collaboration with students, educators, and schools to create inclusive, supportive learning environments that support participation in daily school activities. |
Abstract
Occupational therapists (OTs) have a unique perspective on mindfulness that aligns with their holistic approach to health and well-being. Mindfulness, in the context of occupational therapy, is a valuable tool to enhance the overall quality of life and promote meaningful engagement in daily activities, especially in school settings. Mindfulness can be practiced formally, as an occupation, which would be like practicing meditation or breathing exercises (Chugh-Gupta & Bolton, 2025). Mindfulness can also be practiced informally, to achieve flow. For example, being mindful when cooking, or mindfully taking a shower. In this way, mindfulness can be embedded into the occupation itself (Chugh-Gupta & Bolton, 2025). By working collaboratively with students, educators and schools; occupational therapy practitioners can integrate mindfulness effectively and create inclusive and supportive learning environments where all students can thrive. This article presents information on mind-fulness, how it relates to occupational therapy, how it can support participation in daily school activities
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |