Sexual Issues: An Area of Concern for Occupational Therapists?

Abstract

s Occ Is ati ue: Areaof Co nat Therap· t ? cern for Lorna CouldrickSexual expression is a motivating force that pervades all aspects of being human. Occupational therapists work at intimate levels with their clients. However, it is not clear if the profession regards sexuality and sexual function as much at the heart of its purpose as personal care, work and leisure. This article provides an historical perspective on the changing attitudes towards sex and towards the sexuality of the client. This is related 1.0 occupational therapy's professional values which suggest that occupational therapists could have a positive role in sexual habilitation and rehabilitation.

An Investigation of Stroke Patients Resuming Sexual Activity

“…Patients and partners could then have the opportunity to choose whom they wished to undertake this role. Couldrick (1996) investigated whether sexual expression was a legitimate domain of concern of the occupational therapist. She used depth interviews with 10 practitioners, representing a breadth of practice, to discover the attitudes, practice and confidence of occupational therapists to address sexual issues.…”

What do Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities Learn about Sexuality and Dating? A Potential Role for Occupational Therapy

“…understanding of the need for sexual education, along with their own lack of personal knowledge and training on the topic, may have led them to believe that a team approach would be the most beneficial in addressing the needs of adolescents with DD. Although OT practitioners also identify a lack of training related to the expression of sexuality (Evans, 1985;Hattjar, 2012), the Couldrick, 1998;Evans, 1985). Although much of the current literature is geared at helping adults with physical disabilities express their sexuality, OT practitioners may be able to translate their skills to the adolescent DD population and lead school teams in addressing sexuality to promote the safety and well-being of these adolescents.…”

“…Occupational therapists view the expression of sexuality as an area of occupation and address sexuality in various settings and with a variety of populations (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2013;AOTA, 2014;Evans, 1985). Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners have addressed sexuality since at least the 1980s (Couldrick, 1998). However, consumers often view sexual expression as an aspect of health that has been forgotten, or all together neglected, by health professionals (Couldrick, 2005).…”

Sexualidade E Envelhecimento: Percepções Sobre Habilidades E Possibilidades

“…For professionals, such as Occupational Therapists, sexuality is subject to intervention, since this professional understands the individual as an integrated being, therefore, "occupational therapists in their interventions consider sexuality its and sexual expression" not apart from the individual and their context 6 .…”