Negotiation-centred versus client-centred: which approach should be used?

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Health Sciences
• Social Sciences

Background:

• The client-centered approach is a cornerstone of Canadian occupational therapy practice.
• Key concepts of respect, power, and partnership require clearer definition within this approach.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive clarification of these fundamental concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the concepts of respect and power in the therapist-client relationship.
• To explore the balance of power dynamics within professional-client interactions.
• To propose 'negotiation' as a more applicable term than 'partnership' for occupational therapy practice.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.
• Included occupational therapy, health, and social sciences literature.
• Analysis focused on defining respect and power in the therapeutic context.

Main Results:

• The concepts of respect and power in therapist-client relationships were clarified.
• The study questions whether power should solely reside with the client or if a balanced approach is more effective.
• Negotiation is proposed as a more practical term for therapist-client interactions.

Conclusions:

• Clearer definitions of respect and power enhance the client-centered approach.
• A balanced power dynamic, characterized by negotiation, is beneficial for occupational therapy practice.
• Further analysis is stimulated regarding the application of negotiation in therapist-client relationships.