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Low motivation (strategies)

Find out how we can help

Small steps that build towards to motivation and success

Now and then we all experience periods when we lack motivation, whether or not we know the reasons why. But persistently low motivation can cause us to under-perform at work, as well as cause problems at home and in our relationships.

We speak to many clients, family members and professionals concerned about lack of motivation and the impact this has on a person's daily life. Our understanding, non-judgemental assessments can help identify an individual's barriers to motivation, and allow us to plan to overcome these with practical strategies in an achievable time-frame.

How OT's help

We regularly help clients overcome temporary or long-term episodes of low motivation. Some of the most common triggers for approaching us include:

  • Loss, or the threat of loss, of employment due to persistent lateness or under-performance
  • Persistently low mood or self-esteem, leading to strained relationships with family and friends
  • Anxiety and reduced appetite
  • Difficulties in maintaining concentration beyond very short periods
  • Inability to maintain a routine or structure in everyday life

Our sensitive assessment process can allow a specialist occupational therapist to identify such problems along with the reasons for them, informing our recommendations and allowing us to plan a pathway to improved mood and motivation.

Our approach

Our aim is to provide practical, non-obtrusive support to help improve motivation, so our assessment may involve looking at:

  • A client's medical history and any current diagnosis
  • Their social circumstances and support networks
  • Changes to daily routines
  • The roles and responsibilities they feel obliged to meet
  • Longer-term wishes and goals for the future

Common recommendations

Some practical solutions that we may advise to help stimulate motivation include:

  • Identifying realistic goals that can be broken down into small, achieveable steps
  • Management of anxiety or fatigue
  • Routine planning

Public sector, charities and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

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Common conditions we help with

Find out more about how our OT’s can help by visiting our pages dedicated to specific conditions associated with low motivation.

Why The OT Practice

We recognise the importance of knowing that you are in safe hands. That is why, when you first make contact with us, you will straightaway be able to explain your concerns to a member of our client management team who will be able to provide relevant information about our services, answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on next steps. This dedicated team will then remain in charge of your case through any subsequent assessment and treatment we provide.

Other reasons to rely on The OT Practice include:

  • We visit you in your own home and at a time convenient to you and your family, and are happy to offer evening and weekend appointments
  • We do not have waiting lists and so can offer appointments within 7 working days of referral or sooner
  • Our extensive nationwide network of registered occupational therapists allows us to find you the right local therapist
  • We can provide ongoing support for as long as you need it
  • Our clear, fixed pricing system will be provided to you in writing for you to consider in your own time
  • Your occupational therapist will be a specialist in their field, with over 5 years' clinical experience including time in social services or NHS practice
  • Our team are well connected to networks of local and national equipment providers, stair lift and building companies

Your Clinical Services Manager

Victoria

Victoria

Clinical Services Manager (Adults)

Victoria, an experienced OT, is the Clinical Services Manager supervising the team looking after adults cases, mainly working on referrals from case managers and solicitors.

Email the team

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Case managers

We help your client's achieve optimum independence through assessment, treatment & advice.

Find out more

Solicitors

We provide solicitors with professional reports for educational tribunals or rehabilitation needs.

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Healthcare concierge

Assessment and treatment services for clients in their own homes both in the UK and internationally.

Find out more

Next steps

Initial enquiry

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with a member of our client management team, who will be able to understand what your difficulties are, provide information and advice on our services and identify the right OT from our team.

Quote

If therapist input is recommended, we will send you a detailed quote via email or in writing explaining what, after a full assessment, we would propose and how much it would cost, as well as rates for further work that might be recommended in the future.

Referral

Once you have had time to consider the options and costs, and if you would like to go ahead, the next step would be to fill in our online referral form. In the meantime, if you have further concerns or questions then our client manager will be happy to discuss them with you.

Assessment

Our therapist will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange a visit at your home. Normally this first visit will comprise a full assessment, after which you will receive a comprehensive written report.

Advice

The report will include a clear record of our findings and recommendations. These may include useful items you can buy or activities you can do independently, but they may also include more complex recommendations such as home adaptations or additional treatment by the occupational therapist. Where additional involvement is required, we will follow up the report with a detailed quotation so that you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.

As Private Occupational Therapists our aim is to provide choices and guidance to help you decide what the best options are for you

A few of our rehabilitation specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who are experienced in strategies to increased motivation and engagement.

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Gillian

Southampton, Wiltshire

Gill is an expert Occupational Therapist working across the south of England and London, visiting clients in their own homes.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Self care, Postural management

Jen

Suffolk, East Anglia

Jen specialises in rehabilaition, seating & postural management and housing & equipment for adults.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Anglia, London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Counselling, DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Balance, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Sign Language, Anxiety management & relaxation

Sarah S

Southampton, Hampshire

Sarah works with clients across Hampshire and provides detailed assessments and treatment plans to clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Hampshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration

Carlie

Merseyside, North West England

Having worked in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Carlie provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Salford

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Kirsty

Wrexham, North West England

Qualifying in 2001, Kirsty specialises in housing & equipment, moving & handling and rehabilitation for adults and children.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Powys, Wrexham, Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Salford

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration

Heather

Northamptonshire, East Midlands

Located in Northampton, Heather provides specialist neurological assessments to clients in their home environment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Warwickshire

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, Splinting

Sarah

West Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Qualifying in 2007, Sarah specialises in seating & postural management, housing & equipment and rehabilitation for adult clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Self care, Social integration

Corinna

Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Corinna provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with housing & equipment and seating & postural needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland, Ireland, Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Tyrone

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation

Louise

Suffolk, South East of England

Trained in advanced sensory integration techniques, Louise treats both children and adults at home, school and work.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, South East of England, Essex, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Carolyn

Southampton, Hampshire

Working across Berkshire, Hampshire and London, Carolyn specialises in Neurological and Functional Rehabilitation and is an expert in her field.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Hampshire, London - South, London - West, Southampton

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care

Samantha

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Samantha is an expert occupational therapist, delivering specialist seating, hand therapy, neurological and functional rehabilitation assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills

Paula

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Paula is an expert neurological occupational therapist, delivering specialist functional and vocational rehabilitation assessments to clients at home.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, South East of England, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care

Gaynor

Leicester, Warwickshire

A highly skilled occupational therapist, Gaynor provides expert neurological, vocational and functional rehabilitation to clients in the East Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, London - North, Nottingham, Leicester

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Ganga

West Sussex, South East of England

Qualifying in 2008, Ganga specialises in rehabilitation for adults and children. She visits clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, London - South, London - East, Brighton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Social integration

Karen

Hertfordshire, South East of England

Karen is an Occupational Therapist based in London, delivering specialist rehabilitation and Housing & Equipment assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, London - Central, London - North, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care, Postural management

Salma

London - East, Middlesex

Working in London & Kent Salma is an expert occupational therapist working with clients with rehabilitation and manual handling needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Jura

London - East, London

An expert occupational therapist based in London, Jura specialises in seating & postural management, moving & handling and rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural management, Wheelchair accreditation

Rachel

Bristol, Avon

Working across the south west and south Wales, Rachel is an expert OT working with adults in their own homes.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Wales, Avon, Bristol

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Ali

Sheffield, West Yorkshire

Trained in advanced Bobath techniques, Ali provides expert occupational therapy specialising in moving & handling, rehabilitation and hand therapy.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Nottingham, Derby

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Charlotte

Wiltshire, South of England

Based in Hampshire, Charlotte is an expert housing and rehabilitation OT, working with clients across the south of England.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

Rebekah

Plymouth, Devon

Located in Plymouth, Devon, Rebekah is an Occupational Therapist offering Functional Rehabilitation for adults across the South West.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Devon, Plymouth

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Derek

London - Central, London

Derek is an Occupational Therapist based in London who has over ten years of rehabilitation experience across various clinical settings.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South of England

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening, Ergonomics

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Community access, Anxiety management & relaxation

Joanne

Manchester, Greater Manchester

Joanne is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation, working with clients in their owns homes across Manchester.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Greater Manchester, Manchester

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Angela

North Yorkshire, North East England

Angela is an Occupational Therapist, located in Yorkshire. She specialises in Housing & Equipment and rehabilitation for adults and children.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Counselling, PIPs, Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

Alison

Powys, Wales

Trained in advanced hand therapy and rehabilitation techniques, Alison helps clients by assessing and treating at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Wales, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Torfaen, The Vale of Glamorgan

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments

Lois

Perthshire and Kinross, Scotland

Based in Scotland, Lois provides expert assessments to clients at home, specialising in functional and neurological rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Angus, Clackmannan, Dundee (City of), Falkirk, Fife, Perthshire and Kinross, Stirling

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills

Jo

Cheshire, North West England

Based in Cheshire Jo works with adults with a range of difficulties to enhance their well-being and quality of life.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Holly

Manchester, Cheshire

Trained in advanced hand therapy techniques, Holly helps clients by delivering rehabilitation assesments in their home environment.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Liverpool, Manchester, Derby

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination, Self care, Splinting

Stephanie

Wrexham, North West England

Based in Cheshire, Stephanie provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients. She specialises in neurological rehabilitation.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Wales, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Wrexham, Liverpool, Manchester, Salford

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Self care

Louise

Derby, Derbyshire

Based in Derby, Louise provides expert occupational therapy helping clients with housing & equipment, neurological and rehabilitation needs.

View profile

Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, London, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Channel Islands, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural management, Anxiety management & relaxation

Client feedback

Further reading

Our Experts' Blog

Achievable Fatigue Management Techniques

Fatigue is something that is part of most of our client’s rehabilitation journeys. OT's work with clients to break down tasks & build strategic rehabilitation programmes whilst managing the need for rest & recuperation allowing clients to realise their goals & stretch their capabilities.

Read more

Our Experts' Blog

Mental and Physical Health: Why they go hand in hand.

Four million people develop mental health problems after a long term physical disability. A holistic approach encompassing both physical & mental health is an essential ingredient in client led rehabilitation. This article explores their important relationship & the impact on therapeutic success.

Read more