Articles

Experiential Therapy at Rogers Memorial Hospital
Experiential Therapy Department 2007

Clinical Groups
Learn to break down barriers, increase self-esteem, identify personal goals, establish healthy relationships and work toward stabilization.

Experiential therapy encompasses a belief that personal growth and self-recognition emerges through action-oriented experiences. Rogers Memorial Hospital provides experiential therapy in all of its treatment programs, and the hospital's Experiential Therapy Department (ETD) has been a cornerstone of Rogers Memorial programming for over 25 years. ETD implements and facilitates clinical programming for a wide variety of ages and diagnoses. Rogers Memorial experiential therapists use their expertise within the setting to connect actions or behaviors with needs and/or issues. They also focus on a variety of group and individual topics including but not limited to: trust, adaptability, leadership, decision making, cooperation, goal-setting, self-esteem and confidence. The therapy takes place in art therapy studios, indoor/outdoor ropes and challenge courses, a gymnasium, fitness room, multi-purpose building, group rooms and open green spaces.

The goal of the Experiential Therapy Department is to help all hospital patients or residents address their physical, social, cultural, recreational, health maintenance and rehabilitation needs. We provide encouragement and support as well as interpretation and redirection, skill education and non-intrusive observation.

A clinical program may include two or more of the following experiential therapy components:

Recreation Programming
that focuses on treatment objectives, such as ropes and challenge course (indoor and outdoor) sport skills development, cooperative games, problem solving initiatives and outdoor programming.

Music
Provides an opportunity to broaden musical interests, develop self-awareness, explore and express feelings and develop interpersonal relationships through music-oriented activities such as song discussion, composition and improvisation.

Movement
Addresses the body, identifying movement and interaction to establish more realistic perceptions of the body. Individuals are assisted with self-perceptions of body size and boundaries. Through the ETD modalities, this area will assist the patient/resident in improving functional abilities (social, physical, cognitive, emotional).

Art
Allows expression of inner experiences through verbal and non-verbal communication. These images are then a visual record of experiences to share and explore in a safe and supportive environment. Materials include paint, clay, chalks and collage media. Other mediums include poetry, creative writing and photography.

Adventure/Outdoor Education
This area is presented with a non-competitive emphasis and offers the unique and highly recognized therapeutic approach of adventure-based programming. This approach allows residents to escape the traditional hospital setting and utilize therapeutic adventure as a catalyst for inner change, transformation and stabilization. Experiences may include cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, sensory walks, canoeing, biking and other environmental education components.

Fitness Room
The fitness room is utilized by the experiential therapy staff to create an awareness of a holistic understanding of personal health. Issues surrounding emotional, mental, and physical health are incorporated into programming as a way to discuss an exercise program that will address sedentary lifestyles, addictive behaviors, and obsessive-compulsive issues.

Leisure Education
These educational experiences are presented in a structured and non-structured environment to aid development of a functional leisure lifestyle. Areas addressed involve leisure awareness, attitudes, values, resources, money and time management, socialization, barriers, needs, interests, strengths, abilities, skill development, planing and community reintegration.

The Experiential Therapy Department's focus includes:

Trust Building Groups
Patients or residents explore their trust in themselves and others. Trust development in ourselves, personal relationships and family enhances decision making, communication, group cohesiveness and cooperation.

Group Problem Solving
The group works together, identifying group and individual strengths, discussing goals of treatment, and developing strategies for stabilization. Group problem solving initiatives are useful in exploring achievement, communication, and support systems.

High Challenge Success Climbs
Climb elements on our Ropes and Challenge Course.This experience promotes group involvement, individual empowerment and interdependence in a team approach. Depending on the climber's goals, climbs range from one to thirty feet high.

Self-Expression
Patients or residents use art, role playing, and movement to expressively integrate body, mind, and spirit.

For more information about Experiential Therapy , please contact Rogers Memorial Hospital at 1-800-767-4411.

Top of Page
Go Back to Articles Page