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Ernst Westerlund – a Swedish doctor of occupation

1998; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Volume: 5; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/oti.73

1557-0703

Hans Jonsson,

Occupational Therapy Practice and Research

Abstract The treatment methods of Dr Ernst Westerlund (1839–1924), one of the people often named in the history of Swedish occupational therapy, are examined in this paper. During Westerlund's lifetime, he built up a reputation as the wonder doctor from Enköping using various occupations in treating patients. The basis for his practice was individualization of treatment and a genuine engagement and authority, combined with a deep belief in patients' will to recovery. He stressed balance between various types of occupation and viewed work as essential from a meaning‐centred point of view. He also used the town of Enköping itself as a therapeutic environment. The ideas put into practice by Westerlund leave much for us to learn in today's practice of occupational therapy. His ideas are consistent with the moral treatment movement of the nineteenth century. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.