Pornography: What Occupational Therapists Need to Know for Clinical Practice

Occupational therapists are increasingly likely to encounter clients who intentionally view sexually explicit media (i.e., pornography). Pornography use may be adaptive, neutral, or maladaptive depending on several variables: whether its use is causing the client distress; whether it is affecting their daily occupations and relationships; its degree of congruence with their values; and environmental constraints, such as client privacy, isolation, and disability. In this column, we argue that all occupational therapists should be prepared to work with clients who use pornography and to recognize how pornography use as a health management or leisure activity may support or interfere with participation, routines, roles, safety, and client well-being.