Skip to main content
Log in

Spirituality in Occupational Therapy: Do We Practice What We Teach?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Religion and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This mixed-method study examined the responses of 97 occupational therapists on the subject of spirituality in occupational therapy practice. The inclusion of spirituality into the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (2008) implies that clinicians address spirituality as a component of client-centered practice. This research revealed a gap between education, theory, and practice as evidenced in the quantitative and qualitative data. Although occupational therapy is intended to be holistic, therapists require a more complete understanding of what spirituality is and what the role of the occupational therapist is when addressing spirituality in evaluation or treatment. The discussion of this research provides information for future occupational therapy educators and educational programs as they seek to incorporate the construct of spirituality into curricula.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). (2008). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process, 2nd edition. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(6), 625–683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belcham, C. (2004). Spirituality in occupational therapy: Theory in practice? British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67(1), 39–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. S., Paul, S., & West-Frasier, J. (2001). The utilization of spirituality in occupational therapy: Beliefs, practices, and perceived barriers. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 14(3/4), 73–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Csonto, S. (2009). Occupational therapy students’ consideration of clients’ spirituality in practice placement education. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(10), 442–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donica, D. K. (2008). Spirituality and occupational therapy: The application of the psychospiritual integration frame of reference. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 27(2), 107–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egan, M., & Swedersky, J. (2003). Spirituality as experienced by occupational therapists in practice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(5), 525–533.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Engquist, D. E., Short-Degraff, M., Gliner, J., & Oltjenbruns, K. (1996). Occupational therapists’ beliefs and practice with regard to spirituality and therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(3), 173–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finlay, L. (2001). Holism in occupational therapy: Elusive fiction and ambivalent struggle. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55(3), 268–276.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hemphill-Pearson, B. J., & Hunter, M. (1997). Holism in mental health practice. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 13(2), 35–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, B. S., & Howard, J. R. (1997). Occupation as spiritual activity. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(3), 181–185.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh, H., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277–1288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirsh, B., Dawson, D., Antolikova, S., & Reynolds, L. (2001). Developing awareness of spirituality in occupational therapy students: Are our curricula up to the task? Occupational Therapy International, 8(2), 119–125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, D.N. (2007). Personal spiritual well-being, perceptions of the use of spirituality, and spiritual care in occupational therapy practice. Doctoral dissertation. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. (Publication No. AAT 3256147.).

  • Morrison-Orton, D. J. (2004). How rehabilitation professionals define the concepts of spirituality and religion when working with individuals with disability. Journal of Social Work & Rehabilitation, 3(2), 37–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roley, S. S., & Delany, J. (2009). Improving the OTPF: Domain & process. OTPractice, 2(2), 9–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, E. K. (2004). Spirituality and disability: An analysis of select themes. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 18(4), 57–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, B. E., & MacNeil, C. (2006). A phenomenological study exploring the meaning of a seminar on spirituality for occupational therapy students. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60(5), 531–539.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vrkljan, B. (2000). Put it to practice. The role of spirituality in occupational therapy practice. Occupational Therapy Now, 2(2), 6–9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas N. Morris.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 1.

Table 1 Study questionnaire items with participant responses

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Morris, D.N., Stecher, J., Briggs-Peppler, K.M. et al. Spirituality in Occupational Therapy: Do We Practice What We Teach?. J Relig Health 53, 27–36 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9584-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9584-y

Keywords

Navigation