Bringing sexuality out of the closet: What can we learn from occupational therapists who successfully address the area of sexuality in everyday practice?

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Sex has been recognised as an activity of daily living, and sexuality as an important part of our identity, with implications for our self‐esteem and quality of life. Although this brings sex and sexuality within the scope of occupational therapy practice, empirical and anecdotal information suggests that neither are routinely included in therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of therapists who are comfortable addressing sex and sexuality in practice, with a view to influencing future research and practice. The research question posed was as follows: “What can we learn from occupational therapists who successfully address the area of sexuality in everyday practice?”
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to explore the research question. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 11 Australian occupational therapists who were purposively recruited. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed following the guidelines for IPA data analysis.
Four master themes and five sub‐themes emerged from the analysis and are discussed under the following headings: sexuality matters; know your boundaries; just do it; and seek support and mentoring. The themes provide insight into how occupational therapists successfully integrate sexuality into everyday practice.
According to the participants in this study, addressing sex and sexuality during therapy is part of providing holistic client‐centred care. With clear personal and professional boundaries, occupational therapists can address sexuality within routine practice utilising core occupational therapy skills, such as communication, collaborative problem solving, pacing, positioning, and adaptive equipment. Furthermore, participants demonstrated that this can be done within a range of settings. It starts with a commitment and the motivation to find a way.