Occupational Therapy’s Role in Understanding the Subjectivity of Spiritual Suffering

Abstract The purpose of this article is to inform occupational therapy practitioners about the concept of spiritual suffering and to reaffirm a focus on spirituality. Through an understanding of existential and postmodern philosophy, practitioners may address the lived experience of spiritual suffering that may go unnoticed due to time, knowledge, understanding, and the social-cultural factors that affect service delivery. This article expands on the construct of spirituality as defined in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (4th ed.) and provides a lens for knowledge translation to assist practitioners in narrative assessment and mindful treatment regarding spiritual suffering.