Importance of Therapeutic Interactions in Occupational Therapy

Running head: THERAPEUTIC INTERACTIONS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

THERAPEUTIC INTERACTIONS
1
The brief summary of the learning experience
During my posting in the rehabilitation center as an occupational therapist, I had
encountered many incidents through which I gained the understanding of the importance of
therapeutic interaction with the patient before providing patient-centric care. As an
occupational therapist, it is my responsibility to prioritize the needs of the patient to provide
accurate support and care for their recovery which can be identified through prominent
therapeutic interactions and interpersonal skills. During my posting before interacting with the
client, I was unaware of the potential power of therapeutic communication, cultural competency
and family involvement which I gained the understanding of these values.
Description of critical incidents:
During my posting in the rehabilitation center, I was unaware of the therapeutic
communications and I encountered a patient who had mobility issues because of the lower limb
injury. Before engaging in therapeutic communication with the patient I started intervention.
Since he was anxious he refused to corporate in the intervention but I incorporated his family
members in the process. The second incident was when I was appointed to provide care to an
Aboriginal woman with the hand injury and before providing care without engagement I started
the intervention where she felt offended.
The most valuable things:
The first incidence helped me to identify after client interaction, the leading opportunity
of proper therapeutic communication with the patient. The second incident also helped me to