Occupational Therapy: Is it the Creative Problem Solving Process which the Profession claims?

The process of creative problem solving, the acclaimed basis of occupational therapy practice, is examined. It is suggested that the fostering of creative problem solving or creative analysis skill requires a particular approach to progressional education — that is, adherence to a systematic problem solving framework together with encouragement of, and provision of opportunity for, individual and group experimentation with creativity enhancing techniques. The extent to which occupational therapy education programmes embrace such an approach is questioned. So too, therefore, is the claim that occupational therapists, by virtue of their professional preparation, are creative problem solvers.