Cognitive Strategy Training in Occupational Therapy 

Beyond Occupation Companion Audio

Read the full companion article: Cognitive Strategy Training in Occupational Therapy: How to Use the Cognitive Strategies Worksheets

Giving a patient a list of memory tips is not the same as providing cognitive strategy training.

In this companion audio, Michelle Eliason discusses how occupational therapy practitioners can move beyond generic recommendations and help patients select, personalize, practice, and carry cognitive strategies into real daily routines.

The episode explores nine major cognitive strategy themes:

• Memory and recall
• Visual scanning and spatial awareness
• Planning and sequencing
• Attention and focus
• Executive function and problem-solving
• Expressive language and word-finding
• Social communication
• Environmental strategies
• Metacognitive and awareness tools

A case example involving an older adult with a recent Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis illustrates how strategy training can support meal preparation, morning routines, organization, memory, and continued participation in meaningful roles.

The discussion also explains why the worksheet itself is not the intervention. Skilled occupational therapy occurs through clinical discussion, patient choice, task analysis, environmental setup, functional practice, caregiver involvement, follow-through, and modification based on what the patient actually uses.

You will also hear practical guidance for:

• Selecting only the strategy categories most relevant to the patient
• Connecting recommendations to specific occupational problems
• Turning broad suggestions into concrete routines
• Observing awareness, problem-solving, flexibility, and strategy use
• Tracking adherence without overwhelming the patient
• Adjusting strategies that are forgotten, rejected, or difficult to use
• Supporting autonomy and internal locus of control

The goal is not for the patient to memorize a long list of cognitive strategies. The goal is to establish a few reliable supports that improve occupational performance in the moments that matter.

Member Resources

• Cognitive Strategy Patient Education Sheets
• Cognitive Strategy Master List

Continue Learning With Us

Did you find this information helpful? Please share this article with another occupational therapy practitioner, student, educator, or rehabilitation professional who may benefit from it.

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You can also explore our AOTA-approved courses and clinical resource packages for additional education, treatment resources, and practical tools you can use in rehabilitation practice.

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