Occupational Therapy and the Search for Meaning

The provision of education and training for health care professionals through the medium of the Internet

“…Occupational therapy remains a notoriously difficult profession to define, largely because of its wide sphere of practice; from cradle to grave, to meet needs of people with a wide range of both physical and psychological impairments, and always in line with a client's environmental and cultural needs. It is accepted that debate concerning definition continues (1), with many erudite writers joining the forum. There is however universal acceptance of basic values or core beliefs which all occupational therapists share, and that recognizes the central concept that a healthy human being will need to carry out personally meaningful activities.…”

Experiencing the relationship: the client and the community occupational therapist

“…His 1995 updated theory shows the living system of the individual interacting with their environment. Chevalier (1997) says that one of the strengths of this model is that it places 'the volition subsystem' which includes personal causation, values and interests, as primary to occupational therapy. This model does not however specifically address the client/therapist relationship other than to formulate a number of interview techniques.…”

“…While there is a new interest in the wholeness of human beings this stands alongside the way that people have been seen as divided into parts through the specialist approach to their bodies and minds (Yerxa, 1994a). Another tension within therapists' relationship with clients is described by Chevalier (1997) as the "ambivalence and discomfort of therapists working within a paternalistic and hierarchical framework which determines priorities on behalf of patients" (p. 539). It seems that occupational therapists, while having been strongly influenced by the medical system, have also been closely aligned with a view of the client embedded in their own world (Yerxa, 1992).…”

“…In contrast Lyons (1997) says that the confidence that health professionals have in their expertise can bring with it assumptions that they know best what the client needs. Yet Chevalier (1997) describes this as 'unempowering' for the person receiving the service. The challenge to at times lay aside their own role of 'expert,' a persona that therapists may use to shield them from closer involvement, comes from the need to be real with clients and to move their stance from that of expert to one of partnership (Chevalier, 1997;Lyons, 1994;Stewart, 1994).…”

“…Yet Chevalier (1997) describes this as 'unempowering' for the person receiving the service. The challenge to at times lay aside their own role of 'expert,' a persona that therapists may use to shield them from closer involvement, comes from the need to be real with clients and to move their stance from that of expert to one of partnership (Chevalier, 1997;Lyons, 1994;Stewart, 1994). Being 'real' may involve such things as putting aside some of the prejudgements that the therapist holds and being open to listening and 'seeing' the client, situated as they are, within the context of their life.…”