The importance of considering an individual's spirituality and the confusion over definition have been emphasised by the interest shown in this subject over the past decade. A working definition to help to reduce confusion was presented at the College of Occupational Therapists' annual conference in 2004 and it was felt that it would be useful both to review the attitudes and practices of occupational therapists in this area and to evaluate how they assess and meet spiritual needs. It appeared that practical spiritual needs were often thought of only in terms of religious and cultural traditions or rituals and, as a result, the potential of everyday meaningful occupations was not considered fully. Therefore, the use of occupation was reviewed in relation to meeting spiritual needs. Finally, the perceived barriers to incorporating spirituality into practice were investigated. The review showed that: (1) Although a majority of participants recognise the importance of spirituality to health and illness and the potential benefits to treatment, the number of therapists actually incorporating spiritual needs into daily practice does not demonstrate this recognition; (2) Some occupational therapists feel confident about addressing and assessing spiritual concerns explicitly, but this tends to be situation based and dependent on factors such as client-therapist relationship, therapist awareness of spiritual issues and the expression of spiritual need by the client; (3) Further exploration of the potential of everyday occupations that address the spiritual needs of both religious and non-religious clients needs to be undertaken; and (4) Spirituality needs to be addressed more fully in undergraduate occupational therapy programmes (Johnston...
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...l aspects of the person–mentally, physically, and spiritually. However, when the medical model assumed dominance in the United States health care system, OT practitioners were pressured to establish a scientific rationale for their practices. Succumbing to this external pressure the OT profession adopted the medical model to guide its practices, resulting in the abandonment of its holistic foundations. As a result, the reduction of pathology became the primary focus of practice. Pathology reduction is not sufficient to engage an individual however, because a focus on the pathology ignores many dimensions of the person, including the spiritual. Consequently, the adoption of reductionist practices pushed the profession away from its fundamental values of humanism and holism, resulting in the neglect of the spiritual context for many years (Schwarz & Cottrell, 2007).
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) categorizes feeding, eating and swallowing as occupations and activities that are essential to the basic well-being and survival of the individuals across the lifespan (AOTA, 2013 p. 19). The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has a long-standing position on the practitioner’s role on feeding, eating and swallowing. For example, feeding, eating and swallowing are included in official AOTA documents and publications such as AOTA Model Definition of Occupational Therapy for State Practice Acts (2007), and Scope of Practice Document official AOTA document (2006). These documents stipulate that feeding, eating and swallowing are within the domain and scope of occupational therapy
Occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistances work with a wide variety of populations throughout their career. Some of these different populations can include different types of backgrounds, genders, ages, economic statuses, ethnicities, and more. While working with these populations, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistances have to be aware of different types of influences that can not only affect the client, but the client’s occupations as well. In this article, “Psychosocial Aspects of Occupational Therapy,” it discusses the different types of psychosocial aspects that are in the field of occupational therapy.
Defined as a set of phenomena and relationships (Sladyk, 2015), a theory is the foundation of various concepts. Many of today’s inventions, companies, and practices all have one thing in common. They all a theory behind its purpose. A statement or idea of how a particular envisioned concept is supposed to be guided. There a theories about everything imaginable, such as, life on Earth, the Solar System, even religion. However, occupational therapy is no different. The theoretical foundation for occupational therapy comes from sciences like anatomy and physiology, for example (Sladyk, 2015). When working with a client a practitioner will likely use a Frame of Reference model, but to successfully cater to the individual in need
Townsend & Polatajko (2007) state that “Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life”.
The article I have chosen relates to our Introduction to Occupational Therapy (OCT 100) class by encompassing several of the topics we have covered throughout the spring semester. I believe this article relates to OCT 100 because the students use some of the most relevant components
In the US., the therapeutic group seldom has approaches to correspond with individuals of societies so drastically unique in relation to standard American society; even a great interpreter will think that it troublesome deciphering ideas between the two separate societies' reality ideas. American specialists, not at all like Hmong shamans, regularly physically touch and cut into the collections of their patients and utilize an assortment of capable medications and meds.
An understanding of occupation and its science dimension enables the therapist to gain knowledge about how patients orchestrate their lives through the doing of occupations in any given context. The occupational therapy proce...
A difficulty that has occurred commonly is that a definition of spirituality cannot be agreed on. In a broad explanation of both religion as well as spirituality, religion constitutes the organization of faith, implementing prayer, ministry and theology. Spirituality could be viewed as a more individualized experience with a higher being, creator or idea (Walker et al., 2004, p. 70). These expressions allow a vision of client diversity that is found in all counseling classifications. While defining religion and spirituality properly seems trivial, when training counselors to properly apply the use of such variables in their therapies, a concrete explanation is imperative.
Worthington, E. L. Jr., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., & McDaniel, M. A. (2011). Religion and spirituality. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press
Introduction Occupational therapy is a form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required of daily life (O’Brien & Hussey, 2012; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). The goal of OT intervention is to increase the ability of the client to engage in everyday activities, for example, feeding, dressing, bathing, leisure, work, education (O’Brien & Hussey, 2012; & AOTA, 2014). The Mental Health Act (MHA) is the law which sets out when you can be admitted, detained, and treated in hospitals against your wishes. It is also known as being ‘sectioned’ (Institute of psychiatry, psychology, & neuroscience, 2014).
Spiritual empathy is to be able to feel and understand what another person is feeling or trying to communicate. As social workers, we work with clients who are going through a life crisis. A life crisis would be anything that threatens the clients well being. Stress and anxiety can lead to health problems and damaging dysfunctional behaviors. To best serve our clients we have to show spiritual empathy. Spiritual methods of therapy are controversial among workers in the health field including social workers. Many are not comfortable using spiritual interventions. Being spiritually empathetic can help the social worker notice signs of spiritual need. I believe that spiritual empathy is crucial in order to help the client’s needs. In this paper I will go over the importance of spiritual empathy, recognize spiritual needs, and interventions.
I believe individuals live the highest quality of life by being as independent and functional as possible. When one loses their physical ability to participate in the activities of everyday life due to an injury or illness, it can also have an adverse effect on their mental health and well-being. Occupational Therapy is essential for people to improve and regain the skills needed to live life to the fullest. I want to pursue Occupational Therapy as a career because it is a rewarding profession that works with individuals to improve independence and live a better life given their circumstances. My immense passion to help people and the skills I have gained throughout my educational, professional, and healthcare experiences will allow me
Consistent with the concept that occupation is the foundation stone of occupational therapy, this research paper makes a case for the importance of acknowledging the central position of occupation in all definitions of occupational therapy. Having a clear and easily recognizable definition of occupational therapy is imperative if the profession is to survive the current challenges, such as competition for limited resources, other professions widening the scope of their practice, and pressure for generic rather than specialist workers.
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 36:2, 67-68. Simon, D. (2004). The 'Secondary'. Practicing Mind-Body-Soul Medicine. Alternative Therapies, 10:6, 62-68.
This paper will include a self-assessment of my own spirituality and how I view spirituality. Peer-reviewed scholarly articles will be included in the essay pertaining to spirituality and my belief. In the following paragraphs will also include the integration of spirituality within social work practice. I believe spirituality does various things for me in my life: it heals me, helps in a time of need, and guides me towards positive aspects of life, which many people believe the spirit does the same for them.