Choosing a therapist: occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology
· Everyday supports · Source checked 12 October 2026
Three common therapies with different focuses. Here is how to work out where to start and what to ask before booking.
Three therapies, three focuses
Occupational therapy generally focuses on doing everyday activities: daily routines, the home, equipment and how tasks are set up. Physiotherapy generally focuses on movement, strength, balance, mobility and pain. Speech pathology generally focuses on communication and, for some people, eating and swallowing.
Many people benefit from more than one, and the lines overlap. A therapist should be able to tell you honestly when another discipline would be better placed to help.
Start from the goal
Choose by what you want to be able to do, not by the name of the therapy. “Make it safer to shower”, “walk to the shops”, or “be understood by my family” each point to a different starting place. Write the goal down and take it to the first appointment.
Questions to ask a therapist
Ask how much experience they have with your condition and your age group, how an assessment works, how many sessions to expect and how you will know whether it is working. Ask whether they work in your home or community or only in a clinic, and whether some sessions can be done by phone or video.
Ask who else they will involve, such as family, support workers or school staff, and how they teach others to carry on the work between sessions. Ask what reports you will receive and when.
Costs, reports and plan reviews
Ask about the charge for the session itself and for travel, report writing and preparation, and check how these will appear on invoices. Therapies usually sit in a particular part of your budget, so check which one and how much is left.
Reports from therapists are among the most useful evidence at a plan review, so ask for one that links the recommendations to your goals. This is general information, not advice about your plan.
Make the sessions count between appointments
Therapy usually works best when what is practised in the session carries on at home and in the community. Ask for a short written or visual plan that you and the people around you can follow, and agree who will do what.
Tell the therapist plainly if something is not working, is too hard or does not fit your routine. A good therapist will adjust the plan rather than expect you to cope with one that does not suit you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology?
Occupational therapy generally focuses on doing everyday activities: daily routines, the home, equipment and how tasks are set up. Physiotherapy generally focuses on movement, strength, balance, mobility and pain. Speech pathology generally focuses on communication and, for some people, eating and swallowing.
How do I choose which therapy I need?
Choose by what you want to be able to do, not by the name of the therapy. “Make it safer to shower”, “walk to the shops” or “be understood by my family” each point to a different starting place. Write the goal down and take it to the first appointment.
What should I ask a therapist?
Ask how much experience they have with your condition and your age group, how an assessment works, how many sessions to expect and how you will know whether it is working. Ask whether they work in your home or community or only in a clinic, and what reports you will receive and when.
Can a therapist’s report help at a plan review?
Reports from therapists are among the most useful evidence at a plan review, so ask for one that links the recommendations to your goals.
Keep learning
- Assistive technology and the NDIS: where to start: From simple aids to complex equipment, assistive technology can make daily life easier. Here is how the process generally works and what to prepare.
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.
More in our NDIS updates and insights, our step-by-step guides, or the NDIS and aged care provider directory.
Official sources
Source checked 12 October 2026. Rules and guidance can change; verify current details with the responsible agency. How we write and check our guides.