From waiting to relating: Parents' experiences in the waiting room of an occupational therapy clinic

Objective. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of parents' perceptions of outcomes of occupational therapy intervention wing a sensory integration approach. Method. Interviews with parents regarding their children's participation in occupational therapy were analyzed using grounded theory Results. The parents' experiences of sitting in the waiting room while their children received occupational therapy emerged as a powerful outcome theme. Through their interactions with other parents, this particular group of parents gave and received naturally occurring support for parenting children with sensory integrative dysfunction. Additionally, by virtue of repeated experiences of waiting, parents moved to positions of liminality, shared weekly rituals engaged in downward social comparison, and reframed their views of their children. Conclusion. Implications are proposed for expanding the definition of family-centered intervention; attending to the meaning of the cultural world of practice and directing future research related to how a physical setting, such as a waiting room, might shape naturally occurring support and social interaction.