Background: The Canadian occupational therapy profession has proclaimed its allegiance to client-centred practice for three decades. However, official definitions of client-centred practice have been inconsistent, and its defining features, underlying assumptions, and power relations have been subjected to little critical reflection.
Purpose: The aim was to reflect critically on Canadian conceptions of client-centred practice and its core values.
Key issues: Definitions of client-centred practice have evolved and changed, suggesting that the occupational therapy profession in Canada may have abandoned those values that originally underpinned its vision of client-centred practice by electing to focus on the enabling skills of therapists. However, evidence suggests that clients value those qualities of client-centred practice that underpinned the profession's original vision.
Implications: This paper proposes a renewed focus on respect-respect for clients; respect for clients' strengths, experience, and knowledge; respect for clients' moral right to make choices concerning their lives-and on fostering respectful, supportive relationships with clients.