Therapies

Kela provides access to various types of individually designed therapies for intensive medical rehabilitation clients. You may be eligible if you have a diagnosed illness or impairment that significantly limits your functioning and complicates your daily life.

Kela provides access to therapy on the basis of your personal rehabilitation plan. Typically, access to therapy is granted for one year or for up to three years at a time. The therapy can be individual or group based. In individual therapy, the therapist works with one client at a time. In group therapy, there are two or more clients.

Individual therapy can consist of

• aquatic therapy
• physiotherapy
• art therapy
• music therapy
• neuropsychological rehabilitation
• family therapy 
• psychotherapy
• speech therapy
• equine-assisted therapy led by a physiotherapist
•  equine-assisted therapy led by an occupational therapist
• occupational therapy

Group therapy can consist of

• aquatic therapy
• physiotherapy
•  music therapy
•  neuropsychological rehabilitation
• psychotherapy 
• speech therapy
• occupational therapy

Group therapy

Group therapy is particularly suitable to clients who stand to benefit from practising their skills in a group setting and from the interaction and peer support available from the group members.

Group therapy provides a safe environment in which to practise and upgrade skills required in daily life. The goal is to allow each client to become a more active participant in various everyday interactive settings and activities for example in school, at their job or during leisure time.

Group therapy is led by one therapist. Groups for children and adolescents can consist of 2–4 clients, while groups for persons over 18 can have 3–5 participants. 

However, aquatic therapy sessions are for safety reasons supervised by two physiotherapists. In aquatic therapy, groups for clients between 4 and 17 can consist of 3–6 clients, while groups for persons over 18 can consist of 3–8 clients.

Individual therapy at home, school or the day care centre

Individual therapy can take place either at the therapist’s facilities or in your daily environment such as home, school or day care centre. That way also your family members and others close to you as well as persons you are involved with in everyday life can learn how to support your rehabilitation process.

Usually, your family members and persons close to you are provided guidance during your therapy sessions.
Different therapies can be split into shorter periods and combined as necessary. You can also take a break from therapy and resume it later. In individual therapy, you can try out a form of physical exercise or hobby that could facilitate your rehabilitation process.

How to select a service provider

Select a service provider before submitting an application for rehabilitation. You can choose among service providers that have a contract with Kela. When choosing a service provider, please keep in mind that the rehabilitation you choose must be designed to be effectual and that the travel costs arising from the therapy must be reasonable and essential to the rehabilitation. Contact the service provider of your choice and make sure that the provider can start the therapy.

There are contracted service providers in each insurance region. In its tender document, each service provider lists the municipalities in which it offers Kela-supported therapy.

The basic rule is that you should choose a service provider that has indicated that it provides services in your municipality.

If your rehabilitation will take place at the service provider’s facilities, try to select a provider that has a contract to provide services in your municipality. To look up service providers, use the service provider search function. If you are looking for group therapy providers, select group therapy (‘ryhmäterapia’) as the type of therapy.