Client-centred practice: Perspectives of persons with a traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Background: Client-centred practice is well established as a core foundation of occupational therapy; however, there is little research evidence concerning the client experience. Objectives: To understand client-centred practice from the perspective of adults with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) participating in community-based occupational therapy. Methods: Six adults with a moderate–severe TBI participated in two semi-structured, qualitative interviews each. In total 12 interview transcripts and additional data were coded using constructivist grounded theory methods. Results: Data analysis produced three main themes and sub-themes: (i) Experiencing the client–therapist relationship: Seeing me as the person I was; Getting to know me in the now; Making a positive connection; (ii) Actively participating in therapy: Valuing the therapist; Being partners in therapy; and (iii) Finding my place in life: Adjusting to who I am now and Sharing my journey. Conclusion: The results present a framework for understanding client-centred practice as a person-centred process of engagement between the client and the therapist, as informed from the client perspective. Significance: Occupational therapists are encouraged to value and invest in the development of relationships with clients whilst the importance of seeking and integrating the client perspective into practice and research is affirmed for the profession.

Key words:

• Acquired brain injury
• brain injury
• consumer perspectives
• person-centred practice
• therapeutic alliance
• therapeutic relationship

Ethics approval

The Faculty Human Ethics Committee, Faculty of Health Sciences at La Trobe University approved this study. All participants gave written informed consent before commencement of data collection.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants who took part in this study.

Declaration of interest: The authors report there is no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the article.