Canadian Occupational Performance Model

According to Elizabeth Anne McKay (2009, cited in Duncan, 2009 p??),‘Reflection is an essential component for the competent and capable therapist practising in the 21st century’. In this report I will be reflecting on my experience using both the Canadian Occupational Performance Model (COPM) (REF) and the OCAIRS (REF). I will consider the reflection from my experience as an interviewer and an interviewee. To aid my report I will employ a model developed by Fish et Al (1991). These strands of reflection are effective as they provide a structured and systematic method to review an event or experience, Duncan (2009).

Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
THE FACTUAL STRAND: I employed the COPM for the initial interview where I met with a
As an interviewer I clarified my role as an occupational therapist to the service user and explained how I could be of benefit to her. I used the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure to evaluate her main problem areas and we were able to establish what her priorities and goals were. As an interviewee I also thought that the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was an effective yet subtle way to be interviewed. At times my interviewer paused and allowed for silence. Although it was initially uncomfortable, as an interviewee it allowed me to reflect and really think about the answer I had given. I found this silence so effective that I decided to implement it when I was carrying out my interview. Although I was ultimately pleased with the interview I conducted there were certain faults. I discovered that my client’s depression had developed as a result of her husband’s death. Without having knowledge of her bereavement I asked her about her family. This upset the client and she found it difficult to continue the
I felt as though I improved slightly since the first interview using the COPM. As an interviewer using the OCAIRS I was more aware of the service user’s body language and I made sure to decipher and understand it. For example when I asked the client about attending parties or social events her body immediately became rigid and tense. She crossed her arms and would not make eye contact. This nonverbal communication revealed her anxiety in public places. However I did feel as though my lack of interviewing experience became apparent as the interview progressed. The conversation was much less fluid and became more of question and answer style interview. This made it difficult to expand on the answers given and probe deeper into the client’s response. As an interviewee I felt as though the interviewer was prompting a lot of my answers instead of allowing me to think of an original response. Perhaps this technique would be useful in another setting, however I felt as though it was influencing the answers I gave. For example if the interviewer asked “What in your life are you proud of?” and then added “you mentioned you were the captain of your team.” As an interviewee I would be inclined to respond “yes I’m proud of being the captain of my team”, rather than really reflecting on the things