Matthew TremblayA few weeks ago, a friend of mine called me in a panic – her dad had a bad fall, and suddenly, simple things like getting dressed and making coffee had become a struggle. His doctor suggested occupational therapy, but she had no idea where to start.
So, I decided to help her find someone good. I talked to people who had been through therapy, asked for recommendations, and even reached out to a few clinics.
After digging through all the options, I finally came up with a list of the best occupational therapists in Halifax. If you’re in the same boat, these are the professionals who can help make daily life easier again.
How much does occupational therapy cost in Halifax?
Occupational therapy in Halifax costs anywhere from $100 to $200 per session, depending on the therapist’s experience, the type of therapy needed, and the length of the session.
Initial assessments, especially for pediatric, neurological, or workplace injury cases, typically range from $200 to $400.
How We Chose the Best Occupational Therapists in Halifax
1. Your Nextdoor OT
Address: 5281 Duncan St
Phone: +1 514-506-5668
Business hours:
- Monday, Thursday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 7 PM
- Tuesday, Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 2 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Website: https://yournextdoorot.ca
Your Nextdoor OT is a cozy space in Halifax dedicated entirely to supporting children’s growth and independence. The owner, Bengisu, is super passionate about helping kids and providing a warm environment for them.
The wide range of services here cater to children with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, and more.
They also offer sensory solutions tailored to kids’ unique needs, along with coaching to help families better support their child’s development at home.
For shorter, lighter sessions, they also have specialized yoga sessions designed to improve focus, flexibility, and body awareness in a fun and engaging way.
Unfortunately, they don’t provide services for adults so older clients may have to look elsewhere.
Bengisu is resourceful beyond measure
“I cannot speak highly enough of Bengisu! From the moment we began working with her, it was clear that she is not only incredibly skilled but also deeply invested in her patients’ progress. Bengisu is resourceful beyond measure—whether it’s finding creative solutions to overcome challenges or tailoring activities to meet each child’s unique needs, she consistently goes above and beyond.
What truly sets her apart is her genuine care for the kids she works with. She has an innate ability to connect with them, making therapy sessions both engaging and effective. It’s clear that her passion for helping children shines through in everything she does. She takes the time to understand each child’s strengths and challenges, fostering an environment of trust and support.
I am incredibly grateful for her care and feel so fortunate to have her as part of our child’s journey.”
-Simay D, Google Review
I would highly recommend Benigsu’s OT services
“It has been an absolute joy to see my son working with Bengisu. She came into our home and was able to easily keep my son’s attention and make meaningful progress with him. She seems to effortlessly follow his needs and find ways to engage him through play. We tried taking him to a couple of OT clinic appointments, but he quickly lost focus. We would maybe get 15 minutes out of the hour where the OT was able to work with him. My son does so much better working in our home environment with Bengisu than he did in a new and distracting clinic environment. She has also been able to provide useful tools and direction to help me work with my son on his skills between appointments. I would highly recommend her OT services.”
-Amanda Kelly, Google Review
2. Cowie Hill Physiotherapy – pt Health
Address: 15 Shoreham Lane, Unit 213
Phone: +1 902-479-2063
Business hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday: 7 AM – 7 PM
- Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Monday: 8 AM – 8 PM
Website: https://www.pthealth.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ptHealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pthealth
With over 25 years of experience, Cowie Hill Physiotherapy – pt Health is a trusted name in Halifax for holistic health and rehabilitation services.
The clinic offers a comprehensive range of treatments, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and even acupuncture – all under one roof.
What sets this clinic apart is its ability to handle a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, developmental coordination disorder, mental health challenges, and spinal cord injuries.
They also provide virtual care for those who prefer to access services from the comfort of their home. This is great for clients who are short on time or just prefer the extra convenience.
Just note that their services do come with a higher price tag.
The staff are always friendly and helpful
“I’ve been coming to this clinic a few years now. The service is always great. The staff are always friendly and helpful. I see Lori-Lynn for my deep tissue massage. She’s been the best one I’ve tried. Highly recommend her and this clinic for your needs.”
-Heidi Dierickse, Google Review
The nicest group of folks you’ll meet
“I became a patient of Cowie hill physio due to an MVA . They have helped more than I could have imagined with my injuries. Especially my concussion. I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone who needs PT /OT or massage therapy. They are amazing . The nicest group of folks you’ll meet.”
-Em Higgins, Google Review
3. Lisa’s – Holistic Rehab & Neurofeedback Inc.
Address: 397 Bedford Hwy, Suite 310
Phone: +1 902-802-7542
Business hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 12 PM
Website: https://lisasholisticrehab.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisasHolisticRehab
Lisa’s – Holistic Rehab & Neurofeedback Inc. is a forward-thinking clinic in Halifax that’s been turning heads in the industry. In fact, they even won the 2021 Canadian SME National Business Awards as one of the best businesses that year.
They offer a range of treatments and specialize in sensory intervention, self-regulation, reflex integration, and improving gross and fine motor skills.
What’s great is that they cater to all preferences with both individual and group treatment options. This is great for finding a treatment that fits your budget and your preferences.
For those seeking shorter-term solutions, the clinic also hosts workshops, specialized programs, and unique classes tailored to specific goals.
We just noticed that their group classes book up fast, so it’s best to plan accordingly.
Lisa is a warm and approachable person with a passion for higher education
“I’m a business owner and a neighbour to Lisa’s Holistic Rehab. As such, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Lisa and the kind of work that she does. She a warm and approachable person with a passion for higher education and purpose to help people with brain-based disorders. She offers the most cutting-edge intervention treatments in Canada so her clients can lead meaningful, productive lives without taking medication. If you or your children suffer from brain-based disorders like ADHD, Lisa should be your first point of contact. I see her successfully help people day in and day out. More people need to know about Lisa’s Holistic Rehab!”
-Catherine Crosbie, Google Review
I feel better than I ever have
“I worked with Lisa doing neurofeedback therapy, finishing up my sessions about a year ago. To say this therapy has changed my life is an understatement. I suffered from post-partum anxiety very badly for about 18 months before I found this therapy, after about 3 sessions I was already able to feel a difference in myself! Before finding this therapy, the plan was to start an anti-anxiety medication, I had spent a very long time trying to manage my anxiety on my own and it felt impossible…this therapy was able to keep me off any of those medications and today, even a year after finishing these treatments, I feel better than I ever have mentally! Lisa is fabulous to work with, reliable, trustworthy, I have never had one issue and thank her more than I could ever say!!”
-Ashley Corbett, Google Review
4. Thrive Therapy Halifax
Address: 7071 Bayers Rd, Suite 325
Phone: +1 902-835-2021
Business hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Monday: 8 AM – 5:30 PM
Website: https://www.thriveotns.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveTherapy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivethots
Thrive Therapy Halifax takes a tailored approach to occupational therapy, with each therapist specializing in different areas.
Whether it’s working with younger children, promoting healthy living, supporting neurodiverse individuals, or addressing sensory processing challenges, each client is sure to get help from a therapist who truly understands their needs.
They offer a range of programs for both children and adults, covering everything from emotional regulation and concussion recovery to developmental disorders and injury rehabilitation.
For added convenience, they also provide virtual sessions, making it easier for clients to access support no matter where they are.
All that said, their services are on the higher end of the spectrum.
My son loved Hillary from the first moment as she was very engaging, kind, and attentive
“Hillary was my son’s occupational therapist for 10 sessions this year in London. We needed professional opinion and guidance in relation with his gross and fine motor skills and overall confidence. My son loved Hillary from the first moment as she was very engaging, kind, attentive and always had a great variety of new tasks to do. She advised me how I can contribute at home to his development and sent me so many different suggestions, recommendations to excel with it. We are very grateful we worked together. I highly recommend her as it is unique to find someone who is excellent at her job and is a lovely person at the same time.”
-Nikoletta Szabo, Google Review
The sessions were fun, varied, and engaging
“Hilary is a brilliant OT. My daughter did a block of 6 sessions with her which she thoroughly enjoyed and gained a huge amount from. The sessions were fun, varied and engaging and gave us great ideas for activities we could do together at home to help her development. Hilary’s detailed report has been a really valuable resource for our daughter’s nursery and allowed them to give her the right support. I would thoroughly recommend Hilary.”
-Sophie Hackforth-Jones, Google Review
5. ACCEL Health and Sport Performance Centre
Address: 137 Venture Run, Suite 101
Phone: +1 902-446-4004
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7 AM – 7 PM
Website: https://www.accelhealth.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accelhealthns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accelhealthns
ACCEL Health and Sport Performance Centre is the go-to spot for injury rehabilitation and athletic performance in Halifax. They’re also a certified provider for Nova Scotia’s high-performance athletes through the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic.
Specializing in sports therapy, their team of therapists holds advanced credentials in injury prevention, management, and peak performance training.
Their services include occupational therapy, massage therapy, and physiotherapy, with additional treatments like acupuncture, kinesio taping, and athletic movement assessments to fine-tune recovery and performance.
They also have special, short-term programs designed for specific needs. This includes their Get Fit With Arthritis for daily exercises to aid with arthritis, and their ACCEL at Work Program for encouraging injury prevention in the workplace.
Due to their reputation, we did notice that they can get especially during the summer, when sports training and competitions are in full swing.
Overall felt very comfortable
“They were super helpful and educated me on the core problem of the pain I was experiencing and gave me great recommendations and tools on how to fix it. Overall felt very comfortable and not rushed during my appointment and am planning to be a return customer.”
-Gabrielle Siddle, Google Review
I felt I was in very capable hands
“I saw Rebbecah yesterday for a concussion. She has changed my life. In just one treatment I have completely turned around. I feel remarkably better almost instantly. I feel hope for getting back to my life routine. I am so thankful! If anyone has a concussion, they need to see her as soon as possible. She’s a pro. So much knowledge and expertise. Many modalities to support your healing. I felt I was in very capable hands.”
-Colleen Tierney, Google Review
