Arbetsterapeuters erfarenheter av den terapeutiska relationen : En kvalitativ studie

Sammanfattning: Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate and describe professional occupational therapists' experiences of what characterizes a good therapeutic relationship between the occupational therapist and the client. Method: The study was designed based on an qualitative approach where data is obtained via semi-structured interviews. The selection was made through strategic selection. Results: The following four main categories emerged: Flexible approach, Client-centered approach, Creating a safe relationship and Confident as an occupational therapist. The category Flexible approach reflects the occupational therapist's ability to adapt to person and situation. The category Client-centered approach means seeing the uniqueness of each client and working based on the client. The category Create a safe relationship reflects various aspects needed to create security in the relationship. The category Confident as an occupational therapist means being confident in the professional role of occupational therapist and also making preparations that provide security for the occupational therapist. Conclusion: These results increase the understanding that there are important aspects that form the basis for a good relationship between occupational therapist and client and how it promotes participation. Additional aspects based on the study are the time perspective required to promote a good relationship, but also the confidens of one's own professional role. The experience of occupational therapists shows that there is an awareness of what constitutes the basis for the good therapeutic relationship and its significance. The study also show that the occupational therapist works actively with the therapeutic relationship in their daily work. The relationship is affected by the occupational therapist's ability to be flexible, confident in himself/herself and his/her own professional role, the ability to work client-centered and the ability to make the client feel safe. Without these aspects, it becomes more difficult to create a good relationship and thus more difficult to promote participation. The relationship requires commitment from the occupational therapist, both to build and maintain it. Further research in the subject could be security in one's own professional role and how it affects the creation of relationships with the client. Other research that may be of value is the time perspective needed to establish a therapeutic relationship in relation to the cost-effectiveness of care