An Embodied and Intersubjective Practice of Occupational Therapy

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Clinical reasoning
• Embodied cognition

Background:

• Traditional clinical reasoning models in occupational therapy often overlook patient-therapist interaction and context.
• Existing cognitive, narrative, and instrumental theories inadequately capture the complexity of clinical reasoning in practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a theoretical foundation for an extended mode of clinical reasoning in occupational therapy.
• To introduce embodied intersubjective clinical reasoning as a complementary approach to traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical exploration integrating cognitive theories, narrative approaches, and instrumental perspectives.
• Conceptualization of embodied intersubjective clinical reasoning through key concepts: the ambiguous body, incorporation of things, and shared meaning-making.

Main Results:

• Embodied intersubjective clinical reasoning offers a more holistic view of clinical practice.
• This approach highlights the therapist's influence on the patient's perception of body, self, and world.
• It enhances the understanding of embodied performances and co-constructed meaning.

Conclusions:

• Embodied intersubjective clinical reasoning can augment traditional clinical reasoning in occupational therapy.
• This enhanced reasoning promotes greater awareness of therapist-patient dynamics and their impact on perception.
• It ultimately contributes to improved occupational engagement, participation, and health outcomes.