Introduction to Complementary Health Approaches and Integrative Health in Occupational Therapy

Course Description

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) identifies health and wellness as a key practice area in the 21st century for improving health outcomes and quality of life (AOTA, 2020). CHAIH falls within this area to support occupations and to promote health, wellness, and disease prevention across all areas of OT and the life span. The United States health care system has primarily addressed the “disease and illness” or biomedical model, rather than promoting health or prevention of disease (Feldman, 2016; Rocca & Anjum, 2020). However, dissatisfaction with conventional medicine focusing on disease is the force towards health promotion and preventative services. 

For years, some approaches that are now considered to be complementary have been utilized in occupational therapy, including guided imagery, massage, meditation, and yoga to address pain, promote relaxation for restorative sleep, increase participation in meaningful occupations, and improve quality of life (Advance, 2016). This basic course will define complementary health approaches and integrative health (CHAIH) and describe how to incorporate these approaches with the occupational therapy process, according to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (AOTA, 2020c). Additionally, this basic introductory course will describe common complementary approaches for enhancing occupational therapy practice while addressing the contraindications, precautions, and cultural, and ethical considerations. Further continuing education and training in complementary health approaches is required to ensure service competency for Occupational Therapy Practitioners.