Occupational therapy and the therapeutic use of self

Abstract

The therapeutic use of self is a term used to encapsulate the therapist's role in working consciously with the interpersonal side of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate an optimal experience and outcome for the client. In occupational therapy, although the literature is replete in references to the topic, there is a paucity of current debate and it remains an elusive aspect of practice. This raises an intriguing point: if the therapeutic use of self is as central to the profession as the rhetoric suggests, why does a lack of clarity in its practice remain? The purpose of this opinion piece is to explore these issues, and consider the potential for refocusing on this aspect of our skills set to meet the challenges of contemporary practice.

Short-term changes in occupational therapy students’ self-efficacy for therapeutic use of self

“…In recent years, the Intentional Relationship Model (IRM) (Taylor, 2008) has been gradually incorporated into occupational therapy practice. Although therapeutic relationships have long been described as important for the occupational therapy process and its outcomes, this model is the first to provide a coherent conceptual framework for describing the therapeutic use of self within occupational therapy practice (Solman and Clouston, 2016). So far, however, only a limited amount of research has used the IRM as its theoretical framework.…”

Personhood in aloneness and in affinity: Satisfactory social participation among home care recipients

“…Elderspeak is considered a patronizing and demeaning approach, and a greater emphasis on respectful communication skills has been suggested to address this problem [65]. The concept 'therapeutic use of self' [68][69][70] describes how caregivers can foster therapeutic relationships in a professional way through self-awareness and intentional use of personality, language, perceptions, insights and judgements. Competence development among care workers, focussing on theory and language about professional relationship-building and respectful communication, might increase care workers' capabilities to reflect, discuss and enhance strategies towards building relationships with mutual characteristics, whilst also being empowering and person-centred [71].…”

Child and parent engagement in occupational therapy

“…The process of adapting and transforming oneself to meet the necessities for the client-therapist relationship is a significant practitioner skill which involves being authentic, empathic, reflective (understanding oneself and adapting oneself based on other's needs), collaborating with clients and enabling clients to make meaningful occupational change (Polatajko et al, 2015). Therapeutic use of self has been considered a mechanism to facilitate optimal experience and achieve outcomes of occupational therapy practice (Solman & Clouston, 2016). To date, current empirical literature consistently references therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy practice.…”

“…However, there is a paucity of research on therapeutic use of self and the concept remains an elusive aspect of practice (Solman & Clouston, 2016). The literature calls for more existential research to bridge the gap between a theoretical understanding of therapeutic use of self and its practical understanding (Solman & Clouston, 2016), which in turn will inform its use to engage children in occupational therapy.…”

“…Occupational therapists are taught therapeutic use of self to support a client's ideal involvement, develop a therapeutic relationship and achieve their therapeutic goals . Recent research on therapeutic use of self by Solman and Clouston (2016) A study on the engagement of children (aged 8-18 years) with unilateral cerebral palsy in a home-based interactive program has also identified some strategies to facilitate child engagement. This study gained child and caregiver perspectives through interviews.…”