Mental and behavioral health: what official sources say for OT, PT, and SLP
The three professions describe different roles, and this page keeps them apart. BLS says occupational therapists may work in mental health settings. APTA’s House of Delegates position says physical therapist services include the prevention and management of behavioral and mental health conditions, with interprofessional collaboration as the standard of care. ASHA says counseling about communication and swallowing disorders is within SLPs’ scope, but diagnosing or treating psychological disorders is not, and it describes when to refer to mental health professionals.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
Sources read on November 10, 2026: BLS’s Occupational Therapists handbook page; APTA’s position The Role of the Physical Therapist and the American Physical Therapy Association in Behavioral and Mental Health (HOD P07-25-49-19, PDF) and its anxiety screening news page; and ASHA’s Practice Portal page Counseling in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. AOTA’s mental health address returned an empty response in a plain read, so no AOTA material is quoted.
Occupational therapists: BLS
BLS states: “Occupational therapists also may work in mental health settings, where they help clients who have developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.” It continues: “Therapists assist and educate clients on improving skills such as managing time, using public transportation, and doing household chores. In addition, therapists may work with individuals who have problems related to drug or alcohol abuse, depression, or trauma.” BLS does not publish a separate mental-health share for OTs on that page; employer shares are on OT work settings.
Physical therapists: APTA
APTA’s position states: “The American Physical Therapy Association supports interprofessional collaboration as the standard of care in the management of behavioral and mental health conditions.” It also states: “Physical therapist services include the prevention and management of behavioral and mental health conditions, addressing the interconnected physical, psychological, and social health domains to ensure whole-person care.”
APTA’s anxiety screening page states: “In their role as primary care clinicians, with scope that encompasses screening for mental and behavioral conditions, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants should be prepared to take part in patient screenings for anxiety.” APTA’s practice advisory itself is members-only and was not read.
Speech-language pathologists: ASHA
ASHA’s counseling page states: “It is within the scope of practice of audiologists and of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to counsel people receiving services and their care partners about communication, cognition, swallowing, hearing, and balance disorders, as well as any thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that arise because of these disorders.”
It also states: “It is beyond the scope of practice of audiologists and SLPs to diagnose or treat individuals for psychological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety).” And: “Refer to a licensed mental health professional when individual or family dynamics are outside of the clinician’s knowledge and the client would like additional help.”
ASHA also publishes a separate page, Connecting Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists With Mental Health Resources, about clinicians’ own well-being. It states: “This information does not constitute mental health advice.”
What this page does not do
It gives no treatment protocols, screening tools, caseload numbers, or wages, and it does not say that any one profession’s role applies to the others. Scope of practice is set by each state. ASHA’s resources page begins: “If you are experiencing an emergency, or you know someone who is, call 911 immediately.”