Today we are speaking with one of my biggest OT inspirations – thought leader, deep thinker and not-afraid-to challenge the status quo, Professor Michael Iwama.
Michael Iwama is most famously known for creating The KAWA Model – an occupational therapy model that uses the metaphor of a river.
In this episode, Michael and I explore:
- belief systems
- understanding a client’s narrative
- moving beyond the medical model
- re-thinking evidence-based practice
- nature and the environment
- why he challenged many OT assumptions (and how he summoned the courage to do so)
- theories and the KAWA Model
- the true essence of occupational therapy and…. SO MUCH MORE!
Michael Iwama is currently a professor at Duke University in the United States. Michael published his book – The Kawa Model: Culturally Relevant Occupational Therapy in 2006, and since then he has given over 350 invited national and international lectures and over 40 keynote addresses at scientific and professional conferences. He has authored more than 25 publications in both English and Japanese professional journals. And this list of Michael’s achievements is just scratching the surface. What really inspires me about Michael is the incredible impact he has made within our profession and the ripple effect he is creating with his constant curiosity and questioning.
