Empowering Voices
About Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry
Senior Occupational Therapist in India, Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry, is a highly esteemed professional recognised for his exceptional expertise, leadership, and lifelong dedication to advancing occupational therapy in the country. With a distinguished career across leading medical and rehabilitation institutions, he continues to strengthen the quality and impact of therapeutic services nationwide.
He currently serves as an Occupational Therapist at the Government Mental Health Center, Thrissur, where he provides specialised, evidence-based clinical care. Over the years, Dr. Joseph has contributed as a Consultant Occupational Therapist at several renowned institutions including CDC, Trivandrum Medical College, Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, and Dr. Mehta’s Hospital in Chennai.
A visionary in the rehabilitation field, he is the co-founder of Pebbles Rehabilitation Centre, Chennai, and the founder and Senior Occupational Therapist at Prayatna Center for Child Development in Cochin, where he leads comprehensive child development and therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry holds a Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy from Maharaj Vinayak Global University, Jaipur. He earned his Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, and his Master of Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics from SRM University, Chennai. He has further specialized in Neuro-Developmental Disorders through an advanced fellowship and is certified in Sensory Integration Therapy by Sensory Integration International, University of Southern California, USA. He is also certifies in ADOS 2, and the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum from the USA and Brain Gym.
Why Choose a Senior Occupational Therapist in India?
Senior Occupational Therapist in India, Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry, is renowned for his expertise in rehabilitation and child development. With extensive experience across major hospitals and centres, he delivers specialised, compassionate, and evidence-driven therapy to children and families.
Stronger Together
Current Roles & Leadership
Honorary Secretary, All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA)
Strengthening occupational therapy leadership across India.
President, Kerala Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA)
Leading the advancement of occupational therapy in Kerala.
Occupational Therapist, Government Mental Health Centre, Thrissur
Providing therapeutic care and rehabilitation for mental health.
Occupational Therapist, GMHC Thrissur
Rebuilding skills, restoring hope.
National leadership in OT. Better rehabilitation outcomes. Family-centred care.
As AIOTA Honorary Secretary and KOTA President, Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry leads national initiatives that raise OT standards and access.
His evidence-based, family-centred practice delivers better functional outcomes across paediatric and adult rehabilitation.-
His contributions to the professional community include serving as the Assistant Editor of the Indian Journal of Occupation Therapy (IJOT) and as an Executive Committee Member of the All India Occupational Therapist Association (AIOTA). He is currently serving as the Honorary Secretary of All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA) and President of the Kerala Occupational Therapist Association. He is an active Professional Member of Sensory Integration International, USA, and has been involved in organizing numerous national and international conferences, including the International Conference on Neurosciences and Rehabilitation in 2006 and OTICON (Annual National Conference of All India Occupational Therapist Association) 2013 and 2024. Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry has authored a bilingual handbook, “Occupational Therapy – A Gifted Profession,” and has presented numerous papers on the role of occupational therapy in rehabilitation. His research includes developing the Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) for the Indian population, a significant contribution to the field. His work has been published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), with notable studies on the cross-cultural adaptation and translation of the Short Sensory Profile 2. Dr. Joseph Sunny's achievements include scoring 1st rank in the examination conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC). He has also been recognized with AIOTA’s Young Occupational Therapist Achiever Award in 2019. Dr. Joseph Sunny's commitment to his field, extensive research, and leadership roles highlight his significant contributions to occupational therapy in India.
20+ yrs
Clinical experience
Senior OT, Government Mental Health Centre, Thrissur—paediatric & adult rehab.
PhD OT
Research-driven care
PhD (MVGU, Jaipur); work on FDT (India) and SSP-2 adaptations.
Leadership & Roles
Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry
Clinician, researcher & national OT leader — AIOTA Honorary Secretary, KOTA President; Founder, Prayatna; Senior OT, GMHC Thrissur.
Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry
Founder & Senior Occupational Therapist Prayatna Centre for Child Development, Kochi
Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry
Occupational Therapist Government Mental Health Centre, Thrissur
Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry
Honorary Secretary All India Occupational Therapists’ Association (AIOTA)
Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnacherry
President Kerala Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA)