Otherwise known as "the art of relating",
therapeutic use of self is a concept that I knew about but did not have a term
to describe it. I think this idea is at the very core of who we are as
occupational therapists. We can know intervention techniques and theories
frontwards and backwards, but all of that really means nothing if we cannot
relate to our clients. A term that goes hand in hand with this idea is
empathy. For our clients to trust us, we must be able to put ourselves in
their shoes. If we cannot relate to our clients on a personal and
emotional basis, what makes OT so unique? Wouldn't we be just like any other
branch of medicine that simply sees them as a diagnosis? I believe the very
core of our distinct value of OT is the therapeutic use of self. I look forward to learning more and practicing this intervention technique in the future!
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