Abstract
The aim of this study is to clarify the meanings and experiences in building therapeutic relationships of occupational therapists (OTR) and clients (CL) in a convalescent rehabilitation ward. This qualitative research used an interpretive phenomenology, in which three pairs of CL and OTR were separately interviewed following observation of an occupational therapy session. The data regarding the relationship narratives were analyzed, and thematic analysis was performed from the viewpoint of interpretive phenomenology． The analysis revealed six themes of CL and five of OTR, suggesting that there is involvement between the OTR and the client in building the relationship, between the OTR and CL through sharing of experiences, and involvement between the two towards the end of the relationship. Regarding the therapeutic relationship, OTR revealed the meaning of <Attitude to try to understand feelings>, while CL revealed the meaning of <actual signs of improvement> and <OT let me discover my current self>.
