Content area
Full text
This article is the third of a series of articles that introduces new models and concepts presented in the latest set of Canadian occupational therapy guidelines entitled, Enabling Occupation II: Advancing Occupational Vision for Health, Well-Being and Justice through Occupation (Townsend & Polatajko, 2007).
In Enabling Occupation II, the Canadian Model of Client-Centred Enablement (CMCE) is presented. This model is "a visual metaphor for client-centred enablement" (see Figure 4.3) (Townsend et al., 2007, p. 109) and depicts the relationship between therapist and client, as well as an array of enablement skills used in therapeutic relationships. Chapter four of Enabling Occupation II describes how the CMCE, "embraces enablement as the core competency of occupational therapy" (Townsend et al., p. 109). The chapter is exciting to read because it makes explicit the ideas about enablement that have implicitly guided occupational therapy practice for years. The CMCE displays 'what' occupational therapists 'do' with their clients who may be individual, families, groups, communities, organizations or populations. Furthermore the CMCE defines a spectrum of enablement skills that include the actions of adapt, advocate, coach, collaborate, consult, coordinate, design/ build, educate, engage and specialize as the key skills for client-centred, occupation-based enablement.
A fascinating idea portrayed in the CMCE is that enablement may fall on a continuum. While we would wish for all enablement to be effective, there are a "continuum of possibilities from ineffective to effective enablement" (Townsend et al., p. 128). Four decisionmaking points for the enablement continuum have been established and include; ineffective enablement, missed enablement, minimal enablement and effective enablement (see Figure 4.4). The text encourages us to critically reflect on enablement, recognizing that "complex practice conditions as well as therapist choices determine possibilities for enablement" (Townsend et al., p. 130).
Last fall, the CMCE and the enablement continuum was discussed with a group of occupational therapists with diverse practice backgrounds. These 15 therapists were participants in a distance-education theory course at Dalhousie University's School of Occupational Therapy. Here are some of the comments they made in their on-line discussion.
Monday, September 10, 2007 6:43 pm
Jill Phillips
While reviewing the CMCE (Townsend, Polatajko, Craik, & Davis, 2007), I found it to be an interesting experience as it prompted me to reflect, re-visit and re-evaluate what...