Question

The occupational therapist completes an intake interview for a work hardening program. As the individual is leaving, the person gives the therapist a hug and expresses much gratitude. The individual then tries to kiss the therapist on the lips. Which action is best for the therapist to take in response to this situation?

a Forcibly push the individual away while telling the person that the behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable.
b Say nothing but decline the person's admission to the work hardening program based upon the person's inappropriate behavior.
c State that the individual's behavior oversteps professional boundaries and makes the therapist uncomfortable.
d Tell the person the behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable and decline the person's admission to the program.

Answer 1

The therapist should state that the individual's behavior oversteps professional boundaries. Clear and professional communication is essential, reflecting the importance of maintaining appropriate patient-professional relationships.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the situation where an individual tries to kiss the occupational therapist on the lips, the most appropriate action for the therapist to take would be to clearly state that the individual's behavior oversteps professional boundaries and makes the therapist uncomfortable. It is important for healthcare professionals to maintain a professional boundary while also addressing the behavior in a direct but compassionate manner. Pushing the individual away or declining their admission to the program based solely on this incident might not be a constructive approach, as it could adversely affect the individual's treatment. Instead, the therapist should discuss the proper professional relationship and the importance of maintaining such boundaries for the sake of both parties and the therapeutic process.

Anthropologist Summerson Carr's research into the role of language in therapy suggests that communication is an essential part of the therapeutic process. This insight can be applied to the present situation, emphasizing the need for the therapist to engage in healthy talk by responding to the individual's behavior with clear and constructive communication. By doing so, the therapist reinforces the norms of communication and behavior expected within the therapeutic context.