Introduction: To achieve successful pediatric occupational therapy outcomes, it is crucial for parents to manage their roles effectively. The COVID-19 pandemic made this challenging by halting in-person therapy. To address this, in our practice, we held collaborative online support groups for parents, using discussions, presentations, and experience-sharing. Throughout this time, we identified many success stories and then began exploring the factors that contributed to them.
Objective: To explore how online sessions steeped in a foundation of collaboration contribute to achieving occupational therapy outcomes.
Methods: We used a ‘reflection on practice’ approach to understand how parents and therapists collaborated during online sessions. Three therapists and two mothers of children with different needs shared their experiences through informal discussions and reflection essays. These then underwent an iterative thematic analysis process to identify key factors contributing to successful occupational outcomes.
Results: The analysis identified two themes: change in approach and increased self-reliance. A key finding was the change in approach to interventions. For instance, through the course of the reflection, the therapists found that their views on being client-centered were limited and a shift was evident when they moved towards deeper collaborations. Parents began to assert themselves strongly and started to view themselves as active partners in the therapy process rather than passive recipients. This resulted in a feeling of empowerment, which helped parents feel more confident in managing everyday challenges, thus leading to success.
Conclusion: Occupational therapists must demonstrate adaptability and collaboration, all while remaining grounded in the profession’s core principles to ensure successful outcomes.