Date of Award

4-2026

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Mycah Ridder

Second Advisor

Holly Grieves, OTD, OTRL

Abstract

Grief can disrupt individuals’ ability to participate in meaningful daily occupations (Hoppes & Segal, 2010), yet occupational therapy (OT) remains underutilized in grief support. Given OT’s focus on occupational performance, practitioners are uniquely positioned to address the functional and emotional challenges associated with grief. Despite this alignment, a gap exists in structured, occupation-based grief support, as well as limited integration of OT within community-based grief services. This capstone aimed to address this need by developing and implementing grief-informed, occupation-based resources and educational materials. Objectives included revising a grief resource manual, creating evidence-based handouts for community and school settings, promoting sensory and emotional regulation strategies, and providing educational materials for both practitioners and students. Additional outcomes included a grief-focused learning module, mindfulness and self-care resources, and sensory-based education for community use. Findings from the literature and site-specific needs assessment supported the integration of occupation-based and sensory-informed approaches to promote engagement, identity reconstruction, and participation in daily life while grieving. This project contributes to the field of OT by advancing grief-informed practice, supporting practitioner preparedness, and providing practical, evidence-based tools to expand OT’s role in interdisciplinary and community-based grief support.

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