Power and confidence in professions: lessons for occupational therapy
ABSTRACT
Background: Powerful professions have the capacity to obtain leadership positions, advocate successfully in the policy arena, and secure the resources necessary to achieve their professional goals. Within the occupational therapy profession, cultivating power and confidence among our practitioners is essential to realize our full capacity for meeting society’s occupational needs.
Purpose and Key Issues:Drawing from a historical analysis of the medical and nursing professions, this paper discusses the implications of power and disempowerment among health professions for their practitioners, clients, and public image. Theoretical perspectives on power from social psychology, politics, organizational management, and post-structuralism are introduced and their relevance to the profession of occupational therapy is examined.
Implications:The paper concludes with recommendations for occupational therapy practitioners to analyze their individual sources of power and evaluate opportunities to develop confidence and secure power for their professional work in venues both in and outside the workplace.
Clark, F.A. (2010) Power and confidence in professions: lessons foroccupationaltherapy, Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(5), pp264-9
- Tags:
-
17th April 2025A very warm welcome to our next chair – Samantha Shann MSc, PGCert, Dip COT (UK), FRCOT
Following a recent recruitment campaign, the Board of Trustees are delighted to announce that Samantha Shann will be the next Chair...
-
31st March 2025Systems are a go!
Our new portal has launched! Thank you for bearing with us while we took our old system down.
We are delighted to share that application business can -
13th March 2025Exciting Portal Changes Afoot!
We are currently upgrading our application process to a new portal system.
-
17th February 2025Welcome to Charlie, Helen and Phillip
A warm welcome:
Our three new trustees! -
23rd September 2024Mentor training morning
We would like to invite OTs interested in becoming a mentor for the Elizabeth Casson Trust mentoring programme to join us for our mentor training...
-
15th July 2024Welcome our new Executive Officer….
The Trust is pleased to announce that Dr Kate Turner will be joining as our new Executive Officer in October. Kate came into the field of OT as a...
-
1st July 2024Come join us as a trustee!
As the end of the year approaches us, the terms of office for three of our trustees are also approaching an end. Before these trustees leave, we are a
-
19th April 2024Recruiting for our Executive Officer
Are you interested in working with the Elizabeth Casson Trust as our Executive Officer?
-
22nd March 2024The Employability And Career Hub for Occupational Therapists (EACHOT): Doing, Being and Becoming my best self
We want to involve as many Occupational Therapists as possible from across the UK occupational therapy community – in whatever context you are working
-
10th January 2024Dee Christie recognised with an OBE
The trustees are proud to announce that Dee Christie, chair of the Trust, has been honoured with an OBE in the New Years Honours for....
-
27th November 2023Elizabeth Casson Fellow announced
To celebrate the Elizabeth Casson Trust’s 75th anniversary, the trustees created our prestigious Elizabeth Casson Fellowship to honour our founder...
-
30th August 2023Enter our video competition