Mary Alice: Thanks for your input. On my second to last visit, I did exactly as you suggested. The patient gave me a few things that she did, both when she was in her 20's and more recent.
What I took from this is that much of this patient's worth revolved around physical looks and activity. Know, I'm giving my opinion and it's quite possible that I'm way off base. I did think this was a good way to build rapport and find some common ground, but I just couldn't break through her barriers. As I've thought about this case and read comments, I still have mixed emotions. On one hand, I think I "messed up" or missed something, but on the other hand, I feel like I provided a valuable service and what ever I "gave" this patient she is using to "get better". It's still a "weird" case, at least to me! Ron -- Ron Carson MHS, OT ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Alice Cafiero <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Client without goals MAC> I have two comments/questions. MAC> Ron, I think the other thing that I thought of with your patient is MAC> about when she said she wanted to be normal. Could she tell you in any MAC> way what normal was to her? I think I would have tried to use that as MAC> a starting point to find out what she thought she was lacking. MAC> Neal and Ron, I think hope/faith/whatever term you want to use like MAC> this is very important. I am always careful not to share my specific MAC> beliefs, especially when I don't know the patient's background or MAC> belief system. I think talking about hope, personal satisfaction/ MAC> stability (can't actually think of the word I'm looking for here) is MAC> fine but that recognizing the validity of other people's belief MAC> systems is also very important. I don't see my role as an OT including MAC> testifying to someone about my personal beliefs. It's just dangerous MAC> ground in my mind. MAC> Respectfully, MAC> Mary Alice MAC> Mary Alice Cafiero, MSOT/L, ATP MAC> [EMAIL PROTECTED] MAC> 972-757-3733 MAC> Fax 888-708-8683 MAC> This message, including any attachments, may include confidential, MAC> privileged and/or inside information. Any distribution or use of this MAC> communication by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is MAC> strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the recipient MAC> of this message, please notify the sender and permanently delete the MAC> message from your system. MAC> -- MAC> Options? MAC> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com MAC> Archive? MAC> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
