Shift In Occupational Identity

Occupational identity is a dynamic construct and is constantly shifting over time in response to a person’s experiences and life transitions (Bryson-Campbell, Shaw, O'Brien, & Holmes, 2016). Traumatic events, illness or injury often play a large role in shifting a person’s occupational identity, as they impact the ability to engage in the occupations that were once meaningful to the person (Walder & Molineux, 2017b). Occupational Therapy interventions usually occur during the period of a loss of or shift in occupational identity. The therapist will identify the person’s pre-injury/illness/trauma occupational identity, present occupational identity and what they wish their future occupational identity to be (Braveman, Kielhofner, Albrecht,