The practice experience of evangelical Christian occupational therapists

Abstract

Background Occupational therapists who are religious are more likely to address spirituality in practice; however, little is known regarding the practice experience of therapists who hold particular faith perspectives. Purpose To examine the practice experience of evangelical Christian occupational therapists in the context of professional emphasis on spirituality as a largely secular domain of practice. Methods. A qualitative, interpretivist approach was used for this study. Seven evangelical Christian occupational therapists were engaged in in-depth interviews; verbatim transcripts were thematically coded. Findings. Christianity was viewed as a practice resource through the use of private prayer and Christian values to support compassionate practice. Evangelical Christian occupational therapists navigated the tensions of working in a secular healthcare system through awareness of work environment and client cues, restrained expression of faith, as well as the experience of increased scrutiny for potential boundary violations. Implications. Evangelical Christian therapists may struggle with secular interpretations of spirituality in practice. Yet they may also display heightened awareness concerning potential boundary violations.