Earn 1 AOTA-approved OT CEU from this course on the CO-OP Approach and Cerebral Palsy with Helene Polatajko! The OT treatment approaches that are gaining support from evidence, seem to have one common thread between them: The clients set their own goals. Today, we look at a pioneer of this client-centered process, The CO-OP Approach™. We’ll dive into a new research article where, yet again, we see CO-OP outperforming conventional therapy—this time for children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida. We’re honored to welcome to the podcast the founder of this approach, Helene J. Polatajko, PhD, OT Reg(Ont). Her and I discuss the implications of her work for all OTs, when it comes to goal setting and focusing on performance in our treatments. Learn more about our guest Helene Polatajko, PhD: Join the OT Potential Club to take a test to earn your 1 hour occupational therapy continuing education unit: Website and Social: Episode page: Podcast page: Linked In: Episode article: The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) Approach is superior to ordinary treatment for achievement of goals and transfer effects in children with cerebral palsy and spina bifida – a randomized controlled trial: Timestamps: 00:00:00 Intro to CO-OP Approach and Cerebral Palsy 00:01:50 OT Potential Podcast Intro 00:03:44 What is the CO-OP Approach™? 00:04:38 Does the CO-OP Approach™ work? 00:05:16 Intent of this research 00:05:43 Research Methods 00:08:40 Research Results 00:09:38 Discussion 00:11:06 Conclusion 00:13:12 How the CO-OP Approach was born 00:21:00 Formally researching the Approach 00:22:48 Initial impressions of this research 00:29:20 Addressing performance versus specific components 00:33:41 Who is a good fit for the CO-OP Approach? 00:34:54 Explaining the importance of setting your own goals 00:39:32 Explaining the importance of trial and error and reflective questions 00:45:20 Important therapist qualities 00:50:50 The Olympic Spirit in OT 00:54:00 Final Thoughts