Asnat arts in health virtual presantation

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EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY IN AN OPEN SPACE ENVIRONMENT AT THE PEDIATRIC WARD CHILDREN SCHOOL

Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

Asnat Weinfeld MA EXAT

Proprietary Information of Asnat Weinfeld © 2013

The Arch of Arts in Health International Conference

Haifa, Israel March 17-19, 2013

Child Population

Ages 3-21

Short term hospitalization or long term due to chronic disease

Children are entitled to school during hospitalization according to to Free Education Law for Sick Children on behalf of the Ministry of Education - 2001

Diverse and heterogeneous population: Jewish and Arab (Muslim and Christian), ultra-Orthodox and secular, and children from the Palestinian Territories

Socioeconomic diversity: from large, poor families, as well as from affluent families


Open space setting Ideal and classic therapeutic space

Lack of walls A safe and intimate room

Time and space varies Fixed time and place

Noisy and full of stimuli Quiet and without interference

EXA Therapist comes to the client Client comes to the therapist

EXA Therapist adjusts to the medical area Custom space for arts therapy

Acute physical condition is the first priority Priority to emotional issues

Expressive Arts Therapy in an Open Space Environment


The child’s willingness to

participate

A " therapeutic bubble"

created by both therapist and

client

Cooperation of the medical

staff in maintaining minimal

intervention during the session

Giving emotional

interpretation to the child’s

art, dialogue and behavior

What are the necessary conditions for EXAT in the open space enviroment ?


Therapeutic open space – a new working model

It requires a complete new set of therapeutic principles, techniques and approaches:

Mobile equipment

Children that cannot move from their medical treatment area must have EXAT come to them

A “therapeutic bubble” held by therapist and client together replaces walls and doors

Creating a boundary between the therapeutic focal point in a session and the surrounding medical activity

Time session and duration varies


Mobile equipment

Medical equipment cart becomes a portable art studio

The art supplies are familiar to children from their normative lives outside hospital walls


EXAT comes to the client

The therapist is responsible to assess whether a meeting is appropriate and to what extent to offer services without being intrusive or aggressive

The child’s decision whether or not to accept art therapy gives him a sense of control in his otherwise disempowering hospital experience


The “therapeutic bubble” becomes a replacement for walls and doors

A unique physical presence is required from the therapist : Limit reaction to noises,

sounds, sights and smells Refer only to the EXAT

session events Avoid conversations with

others during the session as much as possible

The child is an active partner in achieving privacy


Creating a boundary between the therapeutic

experience and the medical reality Behavioral codes differ

from those regularly expected in a medical environment: mess and noise are allowed

Legitimacy to express emotions in sublimated way

Contact with an adult in the hospital based on the child's strength and abilities as opposed to contact associated with pain or discomfort Proprietary Information of Asnat Weinfeld © 2013

Session time and duration varies

The therapist must be aware of the child’s physical abilities and limitations during the EXAT encounter

Attention to physical distress in order to alarm the medical staff if necessary

The therapist displays empathy

to the child and conveys an understanding of the difficulties the child faces in dealing with the disease

Being flexible & providing EXAT

at irregular times supports the child, medical staff, parents and the medical process


Some of the EXAT sessions themes in the open space environment

Medical procedures processing Identifying with others in a similar situation

Coping with anxiety, anger and frustration


Final Word

Clearly, EXAT is of substantial importance despite the extreme conditions at

the hospital, as these children would not be receiving therapy otherwise

Open space conditions are appropriate and often more effective in the

hospital environment

The processing work done achieves similar results to conventional therapy

There are advantages to open space EXAT practice, such as legitimizing the

expression of emotions in public and regaining a measure of control

Therapeutic open space is a new working model and a portion of it was

presented here


Thanks

Mrs. Helena Bogopolsky – Music therapist

Mrs. Sara Shoshany – Principal and of the Pediatric Ward Children School - Shaare Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem

The entire staff of Pediatric Ward Children School

The hospitalized children and their families


Documents

Asnat arts in health virtual presantation