Occupational Therapy’s Role in Understanding the Subjectivity of Spiritual Suffering

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to inform occupational therapy practitioners about the concept of spiritual suffering and to reaffirm a focus on spirituality. Through an understanding of existential and postmodern philosophy, practitioners may address the lived experience of spiritual suffering that may go unnoticed due to time, knowledge, understanding, and the social-cultural factors that affect service delivery. This article expands on the construct of spirituality as defined in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (4th ed.) and provides a lens for knowledge translation to assist practitioners in narrative assessment and mindful treatment regarding spiritual suffering.

Keywords:

• Spiritual suffering
• existentialism
• postmodernism
• logotherapy
• narrative

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher V. B. Lazzaro

Christopher V. B. Lazzaro, MOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist for Marlborough Public Schools in central Massachusetts and former graduate student of Worcester State University. With a minor in philosophy, he seeks to promote the integration of cannon philosophy into OT practice and education.

Cheryl B. Lucas

Cheryl Lucas, EdD, OTR/L is the current Development Coordinator for AESIS and former Program Director of the Entry-level OTD program at Quinnipiac University. She is the founder of Lucas and Associates Training and Consulting.