Appreciative Inquiry with Children and Youth: Harnessing a Powerful Approach to Occupational Change

Abstract

Although the appreciative inquiry approach naturally complements and directly aligns with the shift toward occupation-centered practice in occupational therapy with children and youths, it has not yet been explicitly considered for application in occupational therapy for children and youths. Intentionally using an appreciative inquiry approach will change the questions occupational therapists ask in practice, changing perspectives on framing the problem, how to solve it, and indeed what is regarded as a solution. By definition, the approach is both client- and occupation-centered and will contribute to the benefits and positive impact of occupational therapy with children and youths.

Keywords:

• Occupation-centered practice
• strength-based approach
• appreciative approach

Acknowledgments

The first author thanks Drs. Terry Krupa and Cheryl Missiuna for their ongoing mentorship and Dr. Wendy Pentland for introducing her to appreciative inquiry and acknowledges the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program, and the Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation for their generous support. The manuscript is based on part of the first author's doctoral comprehensive examination process in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.

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