Nature as an Occupational Therapy Modality

By Jane Sorensen, PhD, OTR, ND

I am planning on getting a naturopathic degree from a distance learning college. Would you tell why you decided on getting that degree, where you did your ND degree, and how that practice fits in with OT?


Sure! I've received a number of emails asking about OT and naturopathy. Glad to know you have heard of naturopathic medicine!

I had not heard of naturopathy or naturopathic doctors until about 18 years ago, when I had been in my OT practice over 20 years. It turns out that was, in part, because I was in New York, which did not license (and still doesn't) naturopathic medicine. It is only licensed in 13 states.

I called the New York OT Board to ask about learning to use herbs and incorporate them in my practice. They explained that recommending herbs to ingest would be practicing medicine without a license, and I could lose my OT license.

That information ruled out my idea of attending the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, a two-hour commute from New York City, for a four-year clinical ND degree and becoming a naturopathic physician. Naturopathic physicians have primary practices, but only in the 13 states where they are licensed.