Occupational Therapy in Bozeman, MT

Occupational Therapy in Bozeman: Hand Rehab, Ergonomics, and Body-Centered Functional Recovery

Occupational therapy is about restoring participation — in work, parenting, self-care, sport, and the activities that make a life feel like yours. Occupational therapy at Root Therapy and Wellness in Bozeman combines traditional OT (hand rehab, ergonomics, return-to-work) with body-centered, trauma-informed approaches (Somatic Experiencing, craniosacral therapy, and visceral manipulation) under one roof.

What sets the program apart is its integration: traditional OT delivered in a practice where Somatic Experiencing care is available through our founder, Kezia Peterson, OT, MOTR/L, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner candidate — so the nervous system is part of every plan of care, whichever therapist you see.

What Is Occupational Therapy?

OT is a licensed allied health profession that helps people regain functional participation in daily life. At Root, our OT services include:

• Hand and upper-extremity rehab — tendons, fractures, nerve injuries, arthritis, CRPS, and splinting when appropriate.
• Ergonomic and workplace assessment — workstation setup, repetitive-strain prevention, return-to-work planning.
• Somatic Experiencing — body-centered trauma resolution and nervous-system regulation, through our SE-trained founder.
• Craniosacral therapy — gentle, calming work as a complement to care for headaches, post-concussion symptoms, and chronic pain.
• Cognitive and sensory functional training — for post-concussion, long COVID, and executive function challenges.

Who Is OT at Root For — Adults or Children?

Both, through two distinct programs. Adult occupational therapy is led by founder Kezia Peterson, OT, MOTR/L, whose focus is adult rehabilitation — hand and upper-extremity injuries, post-surgical recovery, chronic pain and CRPS, post-concussion limitations, ergonomics, and body-centered care. Pediatric OT is a separate program with its own pediatric therapists; see Root Pediatrics.

Conditions OT Treats Best

• Hand and upper-extremity injuries — fractures, tendon repairs, nerve injuries, arthritis, CRPS.
• Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome — conservative care including splinting when appropriate.
• Tennis and golfer’s elbow — combined with eccentric loading and ergonomic correction.
• Post-surgical hand recovery — flexor and extensor repairs, fracture fixation, joint replacements.
• Workplace repetitive-strain injuries — desk workers, trades, ranching, healthcare workers.
• CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) — graded motor imagery, mirror therapy, and nervous-system regulation.
• Trauma-related physical symptoms — chronic pain, anxiety, sensory dysregulation that haven’t fully resolved with traditional care.
• Post-concussion functional limitations — cognitive load, sensory tolerance, return-to-school/work.
• Headaches, migraines, and TMJ dysfunction — gentle craniosacral and manual work for the neck, jaw, and nervous-system drivers, coordinated with our PT team.
• Long COVID functional recovery — pacing, energy management, sensory and cognitive symptoms.

What’s Different About Root’s OT Program

Most OT clinics deliver hand therapy and functional retraining well. Few pair it with formal Somatic Experiencing care under the same roof and body-centered approaches that address the nervous system’s role in chronic pain, trauma, and persistent symptoms.

That integration matters in cases where:

• Pain or symptoms persist after appropriate medical treatment.
• A history of trauma or chronic stress shapes the symptom picture.
• Standard OT alone hasn’t fully resolved the functional limitation.
• The nervous system is dysregulated (post-concussion, long COVID, chronic pain, anxiety).

What to Expect at Your First Visit

1. Comprehensive evaluation (about an hour) — your history, the daily activities that are hard right now, a hand or upper-extremity assessment if relevant, a sensory and nervous-system screen, your ergonomic context, and your goals.
2. Treatment plan with clear, measurable goals tied to your daily activities.
3. Hands-on treatment that same visit — manual work, exercise, splinting, or body-centered intervention as appropriate.
4. Home program — exercises, ergonomic changes, or self-regulation strategies.
5. Coordination with your physician, surgeon, employer, or workers’ comp case manager as needed.

Why Patients in Bozeman Choose Root Therapy for OT

• Body-centered OT program with formal SE practitioner care available in-house.
• Body-centered, trauma-informed approach integrated with traditional hand and ergonomic OT.
• Full 1-on-1 sessions — every minute with your therapist.
• PT + OT collaboration under one roof for complex cases.
• Direct access — no physician referral required in Montana.
• Most insurance accepted, Medicare welcome.

Take the First Step

Whether you’re recovering from hand surgery, dealing with persistent post-concussion symptoms, or trying to return to work after an injury, occupational therapy at Root meets you where you are. Request an appointment today — most patients are seen within the same week.