Rogers Memorial Hospital

A catalyst for change

Experiential therapy helps patients identify social, coping and life skills through a variety of guided tasks or activities. Once patients identify these behaviors, they build their ability to shift old patterns to new, self-supporting ways of thinking.

Research has repeatedly demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of experiential therapy across a wide range of diagnoses and behavioral barriers.

The use of physical actions or movement connect with a patient’s perceptions, patterns of thinking and historical beliefs. Experiential therapy at Rogers Memorial Hospital covers a variety of therapy components including, movement, art, music, recreation, adventure/outdoor education, and fitness.

Rogers Memorial Hospital has 23 specialized experiential therapists who either carry the credentials of their chosen discipline or have demonstrated their clinical abilities in a professional setting.

Throughout these programs, therapists provide:

• Encouragement and support
• Interpretation and redirection
• Skill education
• Non-intrusive observation
• Community reintegration

Components of Experiential Therapy

Movement Therapy

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 experiential therapy modalities, this area helps patients/residents improve their functional abilities (social, physical, cognitive, emotional).

Music Therapy

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

Recreation Therapy

Focuses on treatment opportunities and skill development using ropes and challenge courses (indoor and outdoor), cooperative games and outdoor programming. Allows patients to practically apply problem-solving skills through hands-on activities. Through leisure education, patients learn to improve their quality of life.

Art Therapy

Encourages creative problem solving using image, metaphor and the creative process to facilitate life changes and strengthen the recovery process. Through art media patients have opportunities to challenge cognitive distortions, in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

Adventure/Outdoor Education

Presented with a noncompetitive emphasis this approach provides a unique and highly recognized therapeutic experience. Outdoor activities and other environmental education components may include cross-country skiing, camping, fishing, sensory walks, canoeing, biking, caving or adventure-based programming.

Fitness Room

Used to create an awareness of personal health and discuss issues surrounding emotional, mental and physical health. Illustrates the benefits of an exercise program that will address sedentary lifestyles, addictive behaviors and obsessive-compulsive issues.

Objectives of Experiential Therapy

The main theories of experiential therapy involve the following principles:

• Develop coping skills, life skills, and social skills.
• Provide action-oriented activities and/or unfamiliar environments to eliminate preconceived expectations, and use improved personal skills and knowledge to promote change and growth.
• Support positive change through an increased focus on solutions and successful behaviors.

Experiential therapy presents structured activities that incorporate opportunities for change and personal growth. In doing the activities, patients experience feelings of self-worth, learn new coping and decision-making skills.

Along with empowerment, experiential therapy promotes personal accountability, which is a key treatment component for maintaining lasting positive change in people of any age who are dealing with behavioral health issues.

Supportive Therapeutic Environment

Experiential therapy at Rogers Memorial Hospital takes place in a variety of environments, including art therapy studios, indoor and outdoor ropes and challenge courses, gymnasiums, fitness rooms, group rooms and open outdoor spaces.

Experiential therapists at Rogers Memorial 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:

• Problem solving
• Self-esteem
• Confidence
• Adaptability
• Leadership
• Decision making
• Cooperation
• Impulse control

Qualified Experienced Staff

Depending on the therapist’s specialty or area of expertise, they may carry accreditation, certification, or registration as signified by the following designations:

ATR: Art therapy registered
RMDT: Registered movement/dance therapist
CTRS: Certified therapeutic recreation specialist
BM-MT/BC: Board certified music therapist

The manager of our experiential therapy department has been providing and supervising experiential treatment at Rogers Memorial Hospital for 20 years and in the field for 27 years.