Why Spirituality Cannot Be Neatly Compartmentalised: A Perspective

This paper examines the complexities of integrating spirituality into occupational therapy practice, arguing that spirituality, being dynamic, personal, and culturally embedded, resists compartmentalization within predefined models. While frameworks and tools may offer an initial point of enquiry, they often fail to capture spirituality’s fluid and pervasive nature. The paper advocates for contextually grounded, culturally responsive approaches that honor lived experience, particularly within multicultural settings such as Australia. It highlights the limitations of Western-centric tools for working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations and emphasizes cultural humility, spiritual care competencies, and meaningful dialogue as central to holistic, person-centred occupational therapy practice.