Patient Narrative in Rehabilitation Sometimes the meaning given by this narrative trajectory can be crucial. One of the best examples of this comes from the work of a rehabilitation centre in which a...

Patient Narrative in Rehabilitation

Sometimes the meaning given by this narrative trajectory can be crucial. One of the best examples of this comes from the work of a rehabilitation centre in which a patient recovering from a head injury is introduced to the centre by an occupational therapist and shown where the various therapeutic activities will take place (Mattingly, 1994). The therapeutic activities, however, are not introduced simply as activities. As Mattingly points out, there is a deliberate effort by the occupational therapist to outline to the patient how the activities can be used so that he can eventually leave and move on to a life beyond therapy. Mattingly's point is that without this narrative trajectory, there is a risk that the patient would find the therapy meaningless and might not collaborate with treatment. This is another situation in which the meaning of the clinical situation can have a dramatic effect on what happens and how well patients do. It is also clear from this example that the healthcare professional has to persuade the patient to accept this narrative trajectory.