treatment can only be understood backward, but can only be practiced forward
By definition client centred means, individual autonomy and choice, partnership, therapist and client responsibility, enablement, contextual congruence, accessibility, and respect for diversity are discussed. Now I keep things simple, I define it as the client being at the centre of the intervention, after all we are OCCUPATION therapists. Intervention can only be therapeutic for the client if you priorities them.
You learn more from listening than speaking. This was my basis for planning for intervention, listening to the client and figuring how to meet their needs and wants as realistic as possible. With the client I had, we just had conversations, remove the assessment forms, remove structure even if you have to, do anything to understand the client holistically. My client had intellectual insight which allowed him to make or have realistic expectations. My job is to make sure that those expectations are carried throughout intervention. This is my first client in treatment and I’m looking forward to other types of clients as I will not always get this type of client, but the rule of thumb is always intervene with understanding.
My sessions with my client were more fixated on basic activities of daily living as were trying to improve independence and some client factors first. The client had already had compensatory techniques they learnt themselves, example brush their teeth using both their hands. Improving dressing was one of the first activities we wanted to tackle.
Doing the activity on paper is very different from practical as so many factors can change at any given point during the activity. The biggest thing I noticed in my planning was that I was not prepared enough, I was there to carry out the session on paper and not intervene therapeutically.
My supervisor was concerned about my principles of treatment. She felt as if I was not pushing my client enough and I could see that she was right as my client flew through the activities with ease and considering his stage of recovery.
We can never leap before looking as OTs. So it is essential as we are client-centred to understand the client holistically for optimum therapeutic intervention.
https://youtu.be/HD6PdW5vHkQ - An Occupational Therapist's Role in Person-Centered Design | Rebecca Langbein | TEDxJeffersonU
Law M, Baptiste S, Mills J. Client-centred practice: what does it mean and does it make a difference? Can J Occup Ther. 1995 Dec;62(5):250-7. doi: 10.1177/000841749506200504. PMID: 10152881.
Hammell K. R. (2013). Client-centred practice in occupational therapy: critical reflections. Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy, 20(3), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.3109/11038128.2012.752032
