Reviving Nostalgia for an Era of Practice: An Illustration of the Therapeutic Use of Projective Methods/Media in Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Projective methods have long had their roots in psychosocial occupational therapy and they remain valuable to the profession. In this article, the author hopes to reawaken interest for an era of practice that was strongly influenced by psychoanalytic theories. She critiques the conceptual models that inform their use in mental health and argues the importance of having a sound theoretical stance in light of the profession’s unique value in this area. She articulates the methods’ clinical utility and relevance to occupational therapy practice and recovery-oriented care. Using a clinical illustration, she demonstrates the potency of the unfolding process between therapist, client and activity.

Keywords:

• Occupational therapy
• expressive media
• psychoanalytic theories
• intervention